Victory knows pilsner

June 15, 12:13 PMSuburban Philadelphia Craft Beer ExaminerMichael Hoster

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I must admit that summer is my least favorite beer season. I am not a fan of watered down, American-style wheat beers, witbiers and golden/blonde ales. Many renditions of the aforesaid summer styles are tremendously sweet, redundant and simplistic. Even on the hottest August afternoon, you will never find a bottle of Shock Top or Blue Moon in my house.

That being said, I do, however, enjoy a good, refreshing pilsner when the heat of summer forthrightly descends. And, without question, few craft breweries produce better pilsners than Victory. So, for all of you summer-style beer lovers, here is a review of Victory’s Prima Pils, Saphire Pils and Harvest Pils.

• Victory Prima Pils is one of the highest rated pilsners in the world. It is the only beer that truly rivals the quintessential Bohemian-style pilsner, Pilsner Urquell. The brewmasters at Victory take great pride in accurately and authentically replicating German beer––and, Prima Pils is the best example of their meticulous attention to detail.

Prima Pils pours a sharp golden yellow, with a thick white head that lingers for several minutes. It demonstrates a crisp, floral/grassy aroma with subtle hints of lemon and citrus. The flavor is just as exciting as the aroma, presenting a spicy blend of saaz hops and German pale malt. The mild, bitter finish is clean and refreshing, with no trace of soap or excessive carbonation. Definitely a first-rate pilsner.

• Victory Saphire Pils is member of Victory’s Braumaster Collection of pilsners that are brewed exclusively with one type of hops. It demonstrates a bit more doughy malt and assertive spice than Prima Pils. Like Prima Pils, it pours golden yellow, with a frothy white head. The aroma is slightly more grassy and floral than Prima Pils, as is the flavor. The saphir (not “saphire”) hops demonstrates a fresh spiciness that ideally compliments the malt profile. The finish is very smooth and clean, much like Prima Pils. If I had to choose a victor between Saphire and Prima, I would likely decide upon the former.

• Victory Harvest Pils is another member of Victory’s Braumaster Collection. Harvest Pils is brewed with fresh leaf hops directly picked from the vine, which serves to intensify its spicy presentation. It pours marginally darker than either Prima or Saphire, and features a slightly higher ABV (6.1%). Upon consumption, Harvest Pils demonstrates ample notes of tangy grass and earthy yeast. And, as the beer warms a bit, the spicy hops presentation becomes more apparent, not unlike an American pale ale. The finish is fairly smooth, but a hint of alcohol manages to shine through the mild bitterness. Because of this, Harvest Pils is best consumed with food.

Prima Pils can be found on tap at Victory and most noteworthy beer bars in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It is also available by the case at any local beer distributor throughout the year. Currently, both Saphire Pils and Harvest Pils can be found on tap at Victory.

For more information, visit www.victorybeer.com.