All's Common in the Commonwealth

In the quietest way ever, I've accumulated plenty of beer brewed within Pennsylvania's state lines. Cases of Rivertowne Babbling Blonde, Hala Kahiki Pineapple and RT Lager are currently being worked on. I still have half a case of Troegs Sunshine Pils hanging around as well.

This all has led me to one conclusion when I take into account my big-time birthday trip next weekend. As work ends on Thursday night next week a Pennsylvania beer only weekend shall commence.

Or at least that's how I'm planning it as of now. It's certainly not out of the question to visit the Blue Dust coolers and create my own Pennsylvania six pack. Maybe grab some Full Pint, Troegs, Stoudt's or Voodoo? I'd love to get a hold of another bottle of Wynona's Big Brown Ale as well as some White Lightning.

This is all in order to celebrate one of this state's (rather Commonwealth's) greatest and most important historic events as I try to do annually by trudging through woods, creeks, high grass and over rocks to study topography and troop movements. There's even more Pennsylvania beer where I'm going. Some I've had and look to rekindle with. Others are a source untapped. More on that next week.

Only in Pennsylvania.

Hey, Sunshine

Yesterday I decided to pop open a few bottles of the beer that's stocked under my kitchen table and around the washing machine. Yea, it's got to that point. The two lucky brews? Hofbrauhaus original Lager and Troegs Sunshine Pils.

The Original Lager is a Munich Helles Lager and was the official German response to the creation of Czech Pilsner. I guess the Germans felt that they needed to counter in some way? Sunshine Pils is a German-style pilsner. I'm guessing that this came much later than the first brewing of the Munich Helles. Just in case you ever need to tell German Pilsner from a German one, the latter is usually spelled just "pils."

I used to really enjoy the Czech style, but I've recently found myself enjoying more and more of the two styles that inspired this post. The Munich Helles is a lot maltier and the pils is a bit more hopped, but has a citrus-like zing to it.

Luckily, I had a case of Sunshine Pils drop into my possession late in the season last year. I'm still working on it. Thus, that's how I was able to open one up. If you follow the Troegs Twitter account, you might have noticed that it's a bit closer to being the time of the year for Sunshine Pils.

@troegsbeer #sunshinepils began shipping to our Central PA market today and cases, sixers & singles are now available in our General Store!
— Tröegs Brewing (@TroegsBeer) March 25, 2013

Beer Review: Troegs Sunshine Pils

Serving Type: Bottle

ABV: 4.5 percent

Appearance: The body of Sunshine Pils is very complementary to its namesake. It pours a golden straw color and is crystal clear in its own, sleek way. This beer has a hefty portion of carbonation that rises up towards the crown of the glass, leading up to an extremely alive and fizzy head. If you don't put this beer in a pilsner glass, you're missing out on one hell of a visual experience.

Smell: This beer has an interesting smell. It features plenty of lemon zest and grassiness, which are frequently found in numerous summer brews. Some floral notes come along with the other flavors. Surprisingly, there wasn't much hop character present in the aroma.

Taste: The hop character lacked in the aroma of Sunshine Pils, but the beer does more than just make up for it the taste department. Sunshine Pils provides pilsner lovers with that trademarked biscuit taste, but takes you on a journey to the hillsides of Europe with the hop punch that tingles the back of your tongue. Keep in mind that this is  German Pilsner, which are generally a bit more hoppy than normal.

Overall Rating: 

Sunshine Pils is truly one of the best beers in existence, in my opinion. I think that the biscuit and hop mix in the beer's taste vaults this to the top of the pilsner style. Once again, Troegs Brewing hits the nail on the head. One could make a case that it's very different than most pilsners since it's more of a German take, but I still rank it among the best. Pilsners are pilsners.