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+.
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+.
