Judge's Review: 92 Rating - Trooper Sun and Steel by Robinsons Brewery

Trooper Sun and Steel by Robinsons Brewery is a pilsner brewed with lager and sake yeast and is being evaluated as a German Pils (category 5D in the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). German Pils are noted for their light color, high attenuation, clean lager fermentation, German hops and a dry, crisp finish. Sun and Steel is the sixth collaboration between Robinsons and Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden. Iron Maiden has produced 16 studio albums over 39 years and is known for touring across the world many time over in their custom “Eddie” themed Boeing jets dubbed “Ed Force One”. Sun and Steel is partially fermented with Japanese sake yeast.

Sun and Steel pours light straw in color, is crystal clear and sports a medium, fluffy white head. The aroma is moderate herbal and spicy hops with a light crackery malt backdrop; the aroma is very clean with no esters detectable. The flavor similarly showcases herbal and spicy hops along with a background of toasty malt. The body is clean and crisp and the beer finishes dry with a lingering herbal hops.

Sun and Steel is a solid German Pilsner across the board. Unfortunately, the character of the sake yeast fermentation does not stand out among the pilsner base. Regardless, this is a well-brewed beer that all lager lovers should thoroughly enjoy. Cheers and prost!