Had a change of plans with the boys coming over here tonight for the Bledisloe Cup game so that means I can drink from my keg rather than the Coopers Pilsner. I'm actually cleaning a keg to fill tomorrow at the moment so I guess that means I deserve a beer right now! :icon_chickcheers:
So let's have a look at this Coopers Pilsner. I'm going to type as I taste.
It's a straw/light golden colour as you would expect and pours with that average mass-produced-force-carbonated head with larger bubbles and dies away fairly quickly. Low hop aroma but I can't make out that distinctive Saaz aroma if this beer is pure Saaz like someone else mentioned. Can pick up the background DMS but that's fine, its definitely background as it should be and would be lacking something without it.
It's fairly dry but with lower than expected bitterness and definitely too little carbonation for the style. I'd say this is a low carbonated beer, you could tell as soon as you popped the top with a very faint hiss. I'd have to say that there is again, not as much hop flavour as I would have liked compared to German Pilsners. Mind you, the low carbonation probably has something to do with it (yes, it is very low for the style).
Overall, the flavour is not bad. Mouthfeel is a bit lacking again probably due to the low carbonation. There's probably the right amount of sulfates in there because
I think I can taste the addition rather than it being in your face. There is that slight bitter aftertaste from the hops as it should be.
Just had another sip. Carbonation definitely leaves this one short.
They're 355ml bottles which I don't like and they're twist tops so I like them less. The style, done right, is something to be appreciated. They've mostly nailed the style but the whole carbonation issue leaves this one short.
I'm half way through the glass and I can't believe I'm actually doing a review of this!!
Look, this is better than Toohey's/XXXX/VB. Where it sits is with the premium lager sector like Boags Premium, Hahn Premium etc. I'd take their ales any day over this. It's not crap, but it's not great. I probably won't drink the rest, there are unsuspecting friends who'll be more than happy to consume it.
BTW: There's no labelling on the bottles or the 6-pack carton saying 100% saaz hops etc so I doubt that is the case. Labelling is totally minimal with just the required barcode and alcohol % around the neck. Embossed into the body of the glass is: "62" which is the only other labelling apart from the whole "Coopers family has been brewing since 4200BC..." etc etc etc) on the carton.
Hop aroma & flavour, carbonation, and mouthfeel leave this one short. For the $16, I'd rather buy a Coopers ale 6-pack for less or get a German Pilsner for not much more.