Pikeland Pils

Sly Fox Brewing – Royersford, Pa.

Style: German-style pilsener

Alcohol content: 4.9% abv

Serving temperature: 38 F

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            The winner of  the first-ever Great American Beer Festival gold medal winner for a canned craft beer, this pilsener packs astonishing hops flavor into a small aluminum can. The brightly colored cans are a go-to favorite, perfect for stashing into portable coolers for softball games, picnics or a day at the beach.

            Brewery Brian O’Reilly’s pils has been piling up medals since he first made it at a now-closed brewpub in 2000. His inspiration was Jever, the classic pilsener from northern Germany.

            The hop choices are vital to this pils. Noble hops – Hallertau from Bavaria, Saaz from Bohemia – provide the dryness; Tetnanger gives it a slight brassy aftertaste.

            One might be tempted to pour this wondrous golden lager into the proper glassware to enjoy its beauty and aroma. Go ahead, but this beer seems even more special after a long, hot day of work or play, guzzling one after another straight from its gold-medal can.

            Its pine-like or floral aroma rises from a thin, quickly dissipating collar of foam. Light body, somewhat grainy and earthy with distinctive German hop bitterness. Crisply refreshing with a dry finish that encourages one sip after the next.

-Joe Sixpack