moving sucks

Good, but not as hoppy as they would have you believe

We’re getting our house ready to put on the market.  Those words right there should give you a good idea of my current state of mind.  This is our first house as owners, and something they don’t tell you when you buy your first house is how much it costs you ($ and time) to sell it.  Yeah…I am stressed.

No better way to handle that than with a beer.  This Firestone Walker Pivo Hoppy Pilsner piqued my interest when I was at the Tin Bucket last week.  I wouldn’t classify it as hoppy, per se.  There are some notes of lemon and grass in the nose, but it’s pretty subdued.  Instead you get more of the pilsner malt that many describe as “biscuity”.  It smells like a pilsner to me, whatever you want to call that aroma.  The flavors are crisp and clean (think grass and crackers with a hint of lemon), with a dry finish.  Again, the hops are not forward in this beer, and are almost non-existent relative to what I was expecting.  It doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of it, but I was hoping for more.  Not to beat a dead horse on this blog, but Victory Prima Pils is what this beer wants to be.

As for the hops, I had never heard of Saphir before I purchased this. This German variety has a low alpha acid %, which may explain the subtleness of the aroma and flavor.  I am clearly in need of some time with the more subtle hop varieties.  I have gotten used to beers hopped with Simcoe, Cascade, and Amarillo here in the NW, which are great, but not so subtle.  They are hoppy and up-front about it.  If I am ever going to develop a better idea of beer flavors, I am going to need to spend some time getting to know more beers like this.  Good thing selling your house makes you thirsty.