Switchback’s Citra-Pils Kellerbier is being judged as a Pale Kellerbier (2015 BJCP Category 7C) despite its use of Citra hops in a German lager.
A bright peppery, floral hop character with a hint of lemon verbena will first greet you followed by moderate crackery malt. It’s clean from fermentation except for a bit of sulfur which isn’t off putting in the least.
This Kellerbier was poured into a perfectly clean Pilsner glass to showcase the brilliantly clear beer with a burnished gold color. A bone white, frothy head remains for several minutes.
The moderate crackery malt is balanced by a similar level of hop bitterness that’s ever so slightly rough around the edges due to a bit too much sulfate in the water. The hop flavor consisting of generic floral, white pepper, and lemon supplants the malt and lingers in the aftertaste after a dry finish.
Switchback’s Kellerbier is quite the unique beer that straddles the line between a pale kellerbier and a German Pils. None the less, the beer is a solid offering and thirst quenching even in the middle of the summer.