I went out this afternoon to get the ingredients I needed to make barbecue sauce this weekend. But as long as I was at the store, I figured I'd check out their beer selection. They've incorporated a lot more craft brews recently, so I wanted to see what they had.
Well, I couldn't really make up my mind what I was in the mood for until my eye fell upon Victory Prima Pils; their version of a German Pils. I respect Victory; I've had their beer before, and they know their stuff. Heck, I even have their tee-shirt! But the really important thing to me is that one of my entries in Homebrew Alley VIII is my Pearly Pils; my version of a German Pils. It occurred to me that Victory's Prima had to be a good representation of the style, as well as a commercially viable beer. So I bought it.
Clear and very light straw color, with a moderate white head which dissipates fairly quickly. Not much lacing. Aroma is balanced between hops and malt. Definite European hops, although I can't tell exactly which. Taste is crisp and bracing with the hops bitterness not dominant, but a little forward, with the malt sweetness coming through after the swallow, mingling with a lingering bitterness. Very pleasant and refreshing.
This is close to what I achieved with my own Pearly Pils. Because of my own superstition, I've held back two remaining bottles of Pearly Pils for competition weekend, when I will drink them as a karmic influence. But I think I'll actually do a side-by-side comparison between my own German Pils and an example of the style which the BJCP includes in their Style Guidelines. (Holy flurkin' schnit!
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