Try?
So there I was sitting at the bar at my local Taco Mac perusing the draft beer menu. You may look at the food selection before you think about what beer you'll be drinking, but with me, the beer always comes first. Anyway, the first beer that caught my eye was Victory Saaz Pilsner, part of Victory's Braumeister (German for brewmaster) series of beers. These pilsner beers showcase a single variety of hop, and as you've likely already guessed, the one I sampled featured the Saaz hop.
I should explain I'm fairly new to this location in Canton, Georgia, just a mere three miles from where I live. We just moved here a month ago, after all. So, they don't know me yet. The bartender seemed a tad hesitant when I ordered the beer, as if she wasn't sure if I liked craft beer or not. At this I was disappointed (I was wearing my "Lord of the Beer" T-Shirt after all), and assured her that if it was from Victory, I was sure to like it. Anyway, a pint of the beer soon arrived, and I was exulting in it's hoppy glory.
Victory Braumeister Saaz Pils made the perfect first beer of the afternoon, and was as sunny and bright with herbal hops as the warm April day on which I enjoyed it. The beer pours to a pale golden color with a slight spritzy head formation and a very grassy, herbal bitter hop nose. The palate is very crisp and biscuity, like chewing a handful of fresh pilsner malt.
The hops soon take over, herbal, grassy, and a tad minty, and they become quite bitter in the finish. I love the earthy character of Saaz hops, and they were certainly well represented here in all their glory. Comparisons between this beer and Victory's perennial favorite, Prima Pils, are inevitable. To be sure, this beer is lighter in both body and hop assertiveness than Prima, but is a delightful refresher, well suited to washing down spicy foods. Perhaps a plate of spicy wings? Then too, at about 5.5% alcohol by volume, you can drink a few without becoming overly tipsy.
However you enjoy it, enjoy it soon, as this one is a rarity indeed.
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
