German Afternoons German-Style Pils

Review Date 9/20/2024 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Pilsner   Brewery: Notch   Country: USA   State: Massachusetts   $ Per OZ: $.23 (B)   ABV: 4.6%

I was having a German afternoon, and it wasn’t even afternoon. Well, technically it was after noon, because it was evening, which is indeed after noon. Even if it isn’t the afternoon. It was a Thursday evening to be precise, a little after 7. And, it was a sort of German evening when I was having my German afternoon, or more specifically, a German Afternoons German-Style Pils from Notch Brewing of Salem and Brighton Massachusetts.

It was a German evening because I had just enjoyed a Rittmayer Hallendorf Hefeweizen, and now I was also enjoying this lovely German-style pilsner. It was also a New England evening though, because Notch is obviously a New England brewery, and I had a few more New England beers lined up. I was waiting for 8:15 PM and some New England football, as the Patriots were playing the Jets that night.

Now that we have all that established, a little on Notch German Afternoons, my first beer from Notch. The brewery says:

Brewed with 100% Bavarian heirloom Pils malt, Perle, and Spalter Select hops and fermented with a classic Bavarian yeast strain. German Afternoons has an upfront malt fullness that quickly leads to a pleasant drying balanced bitterness. The floral hop aroma comes from Notch's favorite German variety - Spalter Select. Named for the John Prine album, a German Afternoon is a spontaneous afternoon spent enjoying yourself, with a beer or two, instead of doing the errands or chores you "should" be doing.

German Afternoons German-Style Pils has an alcohol content of 4.6% by volume and I paid $5.49 for a half pint can from Half Time. You can buy it for $15.99 a 4-pack at the brewery, or for $14.49 a 4-pack at Total Wine in Natick, Massachusetts. The month is not clear on the freshness dating for my can, it looks like maybe a 7 then 15/24. The beer is single decocted.

German Afternoons German-Style Pils pours to a pale golden color with a towering white head of foam and a nose of crisp malt and very spicy lemongrassy hops. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body, just right for the style. The malt adds body but not a lot of flavor because the hop aroma quickly overpowers it. Herbal earthy grass notes, and citrusy lemon bring back the lemongrass vibe, with a dash of oregano to boot. Finishes quite dry bitter with a soft lingering bitterness.

Very interesting, I enjoyed the hell out of this beer.