Beer of the Weekend #465: Rebel

The beer tonight, another candidate for my forthcoming LV recommendation, is Rebel, brewed by the Měťanský Pivovar Havlíčkův Brod, A.S. of Havlíčkův Brod, Czech Republic.


I have a craving for grassy, dry, refreshing pilsner and think something Czech would be a good fit for July. However, I drank a Staropramen today and was unimpressed. It lacked the freshly cut grass and hay aroma I wanted. Sünner Kölsch is in the lead, I think.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. There is no freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a pilsner flute. The color is clear, deep gold. A finger of white head dissipated fairly quickly and left an even skim and ring around the edge.

Smell: I got a whiff of delicious grassiness when I popped the cap — a good sign, no doubt. Scents of apple, grape, strawberry, and maybe a touch of banana make it sweet and fruity. It is grassy as well, though the grassiness is pretty tame. There is a touch of skunk, too.

Taste: The mouthfeel is dry and the flavor offers a nice pilsner bite that jabs the tonsils. It is very herbal at first with touches of spice, but then the esters take over: apple, grape, strawberry, and a touch of banana. As it warms, the taste is reminiscent of apple juice — albeit with a beer-like bite.

Drinkability: I wish it would have been a little grassier or skunkier, but it is tasty and refreshing.

Fun facts about Rebel:

-Style: According to BA, it is a “Czech Pilsener.” (I cannot remember the difference between “pilsner” and pilsener.”)

-Price: $2.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 40-45ºF.

-Alcohol content: 4.4 percent ABV.


The Quiet Man’s grade: C+.

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