Brought to you by:
BrewTools Homebrewing iPhone App

Latest Reviews

Double Dry Hopped pseudoSue
Toppling Goliath
Modus Vivendi
Wild Beer Co.
Spaceman
Brewfist

Recent Articles

Shameless
Craft brewer sellouts become as tone-deaf and underhanded as their new overlords. Great Taste Eve
Check out the burgeoning Madison beer scene the night before the best fest in country. Good Beer Makes Good Conversation
The effects of drinking beer worth talking about. The Beers of Walmart
The largest retailer in the world now has its own line of beers. Our Take on the Lagunitas-Heineken Deal
Fuck Lagunitas. archives »

Beer Reviews

Bavik Premium Pils

Brouwerij Bavik
Harelbeke-Bavikhove
Belgium
http://www.bavik.be

Style: Pilsener
ABV: 5.2%

Rings’s Rating:
   (Recommended)


Comments:
It’s International Month here in the digital beer universe, so I’m sticking with the theme as I procured a small supply of Bavik Pils, which is generally regarded as Belgium’s (and one of Europe’s) finest pilsners.

I don’t know whether this is the time or the place to get into the history of pilsner beers, other than saying Miller Lite is NOT an example, but will err on the side of caution and save it for another day due to the backlog of reviews I have to get through.

I had some expectations for this one, however, as Bavik was well regarded by beer maestro, Michael Jackson (for those of you who do not know, he was not the MJ who danced), and had fared well at an international blind tasting of 27 renowned pilsners conducted by Beer Passion Magazine in 2000. In addition, the brewery has survived the InterBrew-Labatt juggernaut that has gobbled up many of the traditional, independent brewers … as I’ve contended in the past, the good stuff in Europe, as in the U.S., is not made and/or controlled by the big guys.

This pilsner pours pale straw in color, with a floral herbal nose. Unfortunately, the thin, white head falls quickly even though it retains a bit of lacing. (A good pils, as a German brewmaster friend of mine once told me, should take seven minutes to pour—allowing the head to dissipate. “Any less than that, send it back,” he claimed.) Regardless, Bavik has a balanced mouthfeel, with plenty of sweetness to compliment the crisp, herbal finish.

While I have to consider that this style—or any lighter lager—will take a beating as an import, this is a good effort … albeit nothing more than what was to be expected, which earns three mugs on my scorecard.

Reviewed by Rings on February 16, 2011.

Drinkin’ And Thinkin’

Beer Dorks News

Deschutes long-delayed Virginia brewery is apparently being downsized. Anyone else sense where this is going? More on Green Flash: Apparently not just a "sale", but a complete collapse of their business. Let's hope this is a one-off. Green Flash, already having dropped most of the country from its distribution footprint, is auctioning off its East Coast hub in Virginia. Brewpubs in ballparks are trending. In this case, Revolution provides the only reason to go to the garbage dump that is the White Sox stadium. Brewers Association creates category for NEIPA's, called "Juicy/Hazy IPA's". We prefer our title choice, "Non-IPA IPA's". Peeps beer. Because of course... 19th century-era aluminum tariffs imposed by a "very stable genius" likely to lead to higher costs for consumers across the beer industry. The New York Times covers the positive economic impact of the continued growth and localization of craft beer. Girl power: The women of Revolution Brewing team up to create a special release brew. Stone Brewing suing the MillerCoors Big Beer Evil Empire over emphasis of "Stone" on packing of shit beer Keystone.