Beer of the Weekend #1,167: High Point Pilsner
The beer of the weekend last weekend was High Point Pilsner, brewed by the Field Day Brewing Company of North Liberty, Iowa.
Serving type: 16-ounce can. “CANNED ON 07-29-26” is printed on the bottom.
Appearance: Poured into a pilsner glass. The color was hazy gold. (I can’t say I have had many hazy pilsners before.) A dense, cream-colored head settled very slowly.
Smell: Floral and earthy. Spicy. Malt, hops, zest. Lots of spice with some light grass and caramel.
Taste: Floral and earthy. Good and spicy. Crisp and clean. Light malt, floral and earthy hops, spicy bitterness. It had a zing of zest as well.
Fun facts about High Point Pilsner:
• Style: Czech pilsner.
• Price: $12.99 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans at the Field Day Brewing Company taproom in North Liberty, Iowa.
• Alcohol content: 5.5 percent ABV.
• Here is the description from UnTappd:
• What is decoction? According to Mosher’s Tasting Beer, decoction is when a brewer removes some of the mash, boils it, and returns it to the rest of the batch for “a temperature step-up” (p. 139). It “figures heavily in traditional German and Czech styles of lagers, where it adds a unique and delicious caramel touch” (p. 139). So, is Field Day’s “triple decocted” hype all hot air, a marketing ploy? Maybe, though Mosher writes that the most complex decoctions “are rare now, for reasons of time and energy use” (p. 48).
• The name makes me think of the Hi Point Golf Course in Iowa City. It closed sometime recently, maybe last year, but it was one of the IC courses where I caddied for family and friends when I was a kid. (Both courses are now closed, sadly. The other was Fairview.) Shamefully, the last time I was there was probably in the spring of 2000.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
Serving type: 16-ounce can. “CANNED ON 07-29-26” is printed on the bottom.
Appearance: Poured into a pilsner glass. The color was hazy gold. (I can’t say I have had many hazy pilsners before.) A dense, cream-colored head settled very slowly.
Smell: Floral and earthy. Spicy. Malt, hops, zest. Lots of spice with some light grass and caramel.
Taste: Floral and earthy. Good and spicy. Crisp and clean. Light malt, floral and earthy hops, spicy bitterness. It had a zing of zest as well.
Fun facts about High Point Pilsner:
• Style: Czech pilsner.
• Price: $12.99 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans at the Field Day Brewing Company taproom in North Liberty, Iowa.
• Alcohol content: 5.5 percent ABV.
• Here is the description from UnTappd:
The pinnacle of Czech Pale Lager. We sourced exceptional Whole-Leaf Saaz Hops, delivering a fresher, more vibrant sensory experience than what you'll find in most beers. Paired with specialty floor-malted Moravian Barley and crafted through a meticulous Triple Decoction, this lager represents the highest expression of the style.
• What is decoction? According to Mosher’s Tasting Beer, decoction is when a brewer removes some of the mash, boils it, and returns it to the rest of the batch for “a temperature step-up” (p. 139). It “figures heavily in traditional German and Czech styles of lagers, where it adds a unique and delicious caramel touch” (p. 139). So, is Field Day’s “triple decocted” hype all hot air, a marketing ploy? Maybe, though Mosher writes that the most complex decoctions “are rare now, for reasons of time and energy use” (p. 48).
• The name makes me think of the Hi Point Golf Course in Iowa City. It closed sometime recently, maybe last year, but it was one of the IC courses where I caddied for family and friends when I was a kid. (Both courses are now closed, sadly. The other was Fairview.) Shamefully, the last time I was there was probably in the spring of 2000.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
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