Na Zdravi !: SMaSH Galaxy

Monday, August 26, 2019

SMaSH Galaxy

"A balanced aroma gives intense passion fruit, light guava, and herbal notes similar to thyme, and hints of exotic citrus. The hop aroma is balanced by light honey notes that are characteristically associated with the malt of a crisp Pilsner. The flavor has an initial rush of tropical fruit and herbal notes that linger intensely."

Complex fruit flavor. Peach, pineapple, passion fruit? Not sure, but there's a whole lot happening here.
Deceptively sweet and smooth ... and delicious.

ABV 8.5%, 86 IBU
Hops: Australian Galaxy
Malt: Northwest Pilsner

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.