A Pint Half Full

Purchased from: 
Whole Foods, Fair Lakes, VA

ABV%:
5.3%

Type:
Pilsner

Color:
Golden yellow straw color with a pure white, thick head that lingers and carries the aroma

Aroma:
Malt, lemon, apple in the background with hops up front

Taste:
Hop bitterness, light carbonation that is refreshing, crisp and clean.  Finishes with light malt sweetness. 

Overall:
After trying Dale's Pale Ale at Rustico, I wanted to check out some more offerings from the Oskar Blues Brewery based out of Colorado.  This brewery is unique in that they package all their beers in cans.  I think that cans carry a stigma amongst the beer world as being cheap or imparting the metal taste to the beer.  However, according to their website, Oskar Blues decided to use cans after finding out that there is a barrier between the metal and the liquid so that no aluminum actually touches the beer.  In addition, no light can touch the beer which preserves freshness and reduces chance of skunk.  I have to say, the theory holds true as this beer was great out of the can and tasted as good as it would out of a bottle and even, dare I say, on tap!

Aside from the freshness, Mama's Little Yella Pils is smooth, drinkable, and very well balanced, delivering a solid pilsner taste.  I love the bitterness and slight sweetness, with a little bit of acidity from the citrus flavor.  The hops leave your mouth a little dry in the end making you want to drink more.  With a lighter ABV%, it is quite easy to get through a few of these in no time.  The cans are quirky and attractive and I love this brewery's attitude - and they back it up with quality stuff.  Both Dale's Pale Ale and the Little Yella Pils are yummy.  Highly recommended if you can find it.

4.5/5

Ah Labor Day weekend. Had a good time this weekend relaxing and having fun with some friends - and of course, drinking a few beers! First up was the Maryland Renaissance Festival (Renny Fest). You get all the campiness that you'd expect: turkey legs, miscellaneous meats on stakes/sticks/lances, fat guys posing as knights in shining armor, and impossible carnival games (those crossbows do NOT shoot straight). In addition to exceeding the expectations for festival cliches, the Renny Fest offered a decent selection of beer. On tap was Sam Adams Octoberfest and Cream Stout, Killians, Coors Light, and Hardcore Cider. I was excited about the 2 SA offerings and mainly sampled those during my afternoon in the mediaeval times.

Sunday, the merriment continued as my wife and I went back to Rustico for the second time. This restaurant has a HUGE beer selection with about 15 beers on tap and a whole book of bottles. Food is better than the usual new american and their woodfired pizzas are quite good with a tasty dough. They sort their beer by flavor (crisp, hoppy, roast...). I was in the mood for something hoppy and crisp after the cream stouts I had on Saturday and tried the Southern Tier Harvest Ale and Dale's Pale Ale. Both delicious with pizza and fries.

Impressions of all beers after the link.