Welcome, my friends, to a tale I shall shortly recount to you. A tale of intrigue and suspense, a tale of daring and adventure, a tale of….three pilsners. One of those three pilsners is the beer under consideration today, Narragansett Bohemian Pilsner. It’s a beer I can’t get in Georgia (though I hope someday ‘Gansett expands here), but was fortunate enough to receive in a beer trade.

Before I tell my story, a little background on the beer: Narragansett Bohemian Pilsner is a recent addition to the brewery’s lineup. It’s the baby of brewer Sean Larkin, he of Trinity Brewhouse fame, and I’ve shared a beer with Sean in the past in my capacity as columnist for the Yankee Brew News. I can tell you he’s a great guy; a sip of Narragansett Bohemian Pilsner will tell you he’s a great brewer.

Narragansett Bohemian Pilsner is made with “Pale malt, Pilsner malt, Wheat malt and Cara Blonde malt up front, balanced with the bitterness of Northern Brewer and Hallertau hops” per the website. The beer has an alcohol content of 5.3% by volume, 30 IBUs and is available year round. It runs about $7.99 for a six-pack of 16 ounce cans. Still no word on when Narragansett intends to build a brewery, but they really should in the opinion of this reviewer. For now, the beer is brewed by Genesee in Rochester, NY.\

From the kinger can label:

Narragansett Brewing Co. was founded in 1890 by six German immigrants with a passion for European-style lagers and ales. Throughout our proud history, lager beers have remained our signature style. We are pleased to offer you this Bohemian-style pilsner, a craft-brewed tribute to the original lager. Our Bohemian  Pilsner delivers an enjoyable malt profile with flavorful, aromatic hop characteristics from Northern Brewer and Hallertau hops. Narragansett Bohemian Pilsner is sure to please.

Yes it is. It pleased me, I can tell you that. Now back to the three pilsners I said I was going to tell you about. It just so happens that I did indeed enjoy three pilsners the other night, including Narragansett Bohemian Pils. The first one was brewed by a local brewery here in Georgia, Three Taverns, and didn’t work so well for me. It was brewed with fruity American hops and just didn’t capture the style. Mind you, it was tasty, but it didn’t seem like a pils to me.

Narragansett Bohemian Pils was the second of the three, and I enjoyed its smooth creamy texture and refreshing drinkability. It compared favorably to the last of the three, longstanding favorite of mine Konig Pilsner from Germany. These days, many beer aficionados eschew lagers for over the top, super hopped triple IPAs, and those certainly have their place. On a hot day, though, I’ll still take a satisfying crisp pilsner like Narragansett Bohemian Pilsner anytime I can get it.

Narragansett Bohemian Pilsner pours to a bright golden color with a thick creamy head formation and a soft biscuity malt nose layered with fragrant herbal hops. Taking a sip, the beer has crisp, bready biscuit malt up front and a smooth, creamy malt body and texture. The finish is nicely balanced with herbal grassy hops and a soft balancing bitterness. I think I want more hops, but they're definitely here, and balance off the soft, creamy malt.

Very nicely done, Narragansett Bohemian Pilsner is a beer I’d love to see on tap and in cans here in Georgia. It’s a taste of my Rhode Island roots, even if its own roots lie in old Bohemia.

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

 



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