Review Date 2/22/1997
Try?
Re-buy?
I must admit that I was, at least in part, very skeptical about trying this beer. Yes, I knew that the brewer, Kurt Musselman, had done great things at Trinity Brewpub before jumping ship for GP. I also knew, however, that the company seemed more interested in selling stock than beer. For the past six months, they have been hawking shares in the company, yet no mention was made as to when the beer would be available. A call to the company last week that I made to inquire about the availabilty of the product yielded no information, but I was told that a packet of such would be sent to my home if I would provide my name and address. This was getting to be very depressing.
Well, the company has recently been airing radio ads (which again seem to be more concerned with the stock than the beer), and only at the end of the ad do they tell you the few locations where the beer can be purchased. One of them is the newly constructed Westin Hotel in Providence, so I decided to stop by and try the stuff, available for the moment only on draught and contract brewed at Independence in Philadelphia. I asked for a glass, and it was poured and placed in front of me. "Can't be that good," I thought as I peered at the golden brew. "Too much emphasis on marketing, and not enough on the beer." Then I sniffed the slightly floral hop aroma. "OK," I thought, "They got that part right. But it will probably taste like a Bud." Then I sipped the beer. Wonderfully soft malt character. Just a touch of diacetyl, as is appropriate for the style. Powerful, lingering hop bitterness in the finish. A dynamite pilsner! My fears were allayed, and my skepticism was put aside. It seems that there IS a great beer behind the hype. If you live in or near RI, try this beer. It took a while to get here, but it is definitely worth the wait.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler
