Judge’s Review: 91 Rating – Radapils by Väsen Brewing Co.

German Pils | Seasonal | United States

By John C. Tull

Judges Rating: 91
Aroma: 21
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 38
Mouthfeel: 8
Overall Impression: 18

Radapils by Väsen Brewing Co. was judged as a German Pils (5D). The aroma is very clean with a grainy, slightly bready quality and a mix of floral and herbal hop characteristics. There is a touch of sulfur that releases after it rests in the glass for a few minutes. It has a very straightforward, simple aroma like you would look for in a German pils, though the hop aromas could be a little more assertive. The color is pale straw, very bright with a persistent, light head of fine, white bubbles. There is a moderate malt graininess that is slightly sweet, not quite as dry as expected, particularly in the finish as you’d find in some versions of German pilsner. The hops are, again, floral and herbal, and they balance nicely with the malt flavor and carry well into the finish. Hop bitterness is balanced and well-tuned to the style. The mouthfeel is medium with a little more body than expected. Carbonation is medium-high. All said, this is a great German pils that leans a little more towards the malts, though with a good hop profile to help lend balance. There are absolutely no off flavors, which allows this beer to maintain the focus on malts and hops very nicely. A great example of the style, and likely to be much fresher than any authentic German example you will find outside of Germany.