Great Lakes Brewing Company The Wright Pils

Every so often, GLBC makes one of their brewpub exclusives available in bottle at their gift shop. The Wright Pils does not appear to be the wright choice. Great Lakes seems to make a great beer but they already have a Dortmunder, which is very similar in style to a pilsner. Also- what craft drinker really wants to spend the nine dollars on a pilsner? Not us but it's GLBC (we'll forgive them for Glockenspiel and Farmhouse) and we are faithful followers so here it goes:

The color and smell is typical of the style except for a light floral and sweet scent almost reminiscent of their Grassroots Ale. When the brew hits the tongue, you get a malt taste that is not so common in the style. The Wright Pils is well balanced but still has that pilsner fizziness that you'd expect. This medium bodied brew leaves you with a finish that thirsts you for more.

For a regular pilsner, you aren't going to find many beers better than this. It has all the characteristics of a great pilsner plus some malt happiness thrown in there for good measure. However, it is a pilsner- and pilsners are middle of the road and made for your average beer drinker. The craft spirit is alive in The Wright Pils so let's hope this keeps them on the wright track. How about Imperial Black and Wright Pilsner? Just a suggestion....

Oz Scale: 6.7

Mike Scale: 6.6

Rogue Morimoto Imperial Pilsner

Pilsner- the Webster's dictionary defines this style as "a dumbed down beer for frat kids and rednecks." It is not the preferred style in any beer drinker's book but what drew us to this brew were two words - "Rogue" & "Imperial." Fifteen dollars for a bomber seemed a little excessive but any imperial brew from Rogue can't be that bad, right? Joining us today, for the first time, is the newb x-Tina.

The brew pours a cloudy light honey color and a citrus smell. Upon delivery to the beer hole, you experience a different mouth feel than that of an American pilsner- much heavier as it leaves an almost chalk like trail when it drains down the throat. Smell and taste collide when lemon undertones come out from hiding. The alcohol taste is hidden, though hops are definitely prevalent on the back end of the brew.

In the end, Morimoto Imperial Pilsner would be better classified in with classic European-style pilsners. It is, however, overpriced. Fifteen dollars for a 750ml bottle could better be spent on a four pack of Founders Breakfast Stout or it is almost enough money for a six-er of Hopslam. For what it's worth, it is a good brew. If we weren't the snobs we were, it would rank higher. It's hard to get over the negatives this style brings to our palette. Even a TV Chef couldn't help us overcome these convictions.

Oz scale: 6.4
Mike scale: 6.4
x-Tina scale: 5.6