Na Zdravi !: New Zealand Stache

Monday, February 08, 2021

New Zealand Stache

"Made with 100% New Zealand hops and Italian grown malt. The limey Motueka and gooseberry filled Nelson Sauvin play together to create a pleasant, aromatic, but balanced, drinking experience. The malt adds rich notes of honey and wheat bread crust which last into the finish."

Very tasty. Much hoppier than most pilsners I've had ... not a bad thing, just different.
Overall very good!

ABV 5.5%, 15 IBU

Hops: Nelson Sauvin, Motueka, Rakau

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.