Beer Review – Piercing Pils by Dogfish Head

Piercing Pils is a new seasonal release from Dogfish Head.  Ever fond of going against the grain, DFH have released a Czech Pilsner as their winter seasonal.  After all when the temperature drops to single digits who doesn’t reach for a Pilsner?  There are many boring Pilsners out there that give the style a bad name, but when done well Pilsners are one of my favorite styles.  Think what you will about Dogfish Head but “boring” is one thing their beers are not.

Vitals

• Brewery: Dogfish Head (DE)
• Style: Czech Pilsner
• ABV: 6.0%
• IBUs: 35
• Price: $8.99 for a 4 pack

Here is the description of this beer from the DFH website

“A Perry-Pils hybrid, Piercing Pils is a Czech Style Pilsner brewed with a White Pear Tea and Pear juice.  Both the juice and the tea were added in the kettle during the whirlpool (after the boil) for maximum flavor and aroma contribution.  The Pear fruit complexity pierces right through the spicy Czech Saaz haps beautifully adding a gentle acidity to this pale lager tan makes for a crisp refreshing sipper.  Amarillo hops add nuanced citrus notes that meld perfectly with the fruit”

My Review

The color is a clear, pale gold with plenty of effervescent carbonation that leads to a big chunky white head that settles out slowly leaving an intricate lacing pattern in its wake.  The head and lacing are impressive for a Pilsner.  The nose is sweet malts with a distinct fruitiness that must come from the pears.  The taste is biscuity malts that mingle with the pear flavors.  The hops are pretty far in the background, but there is a hint of peppery spiciness in the finish if you search for it.  The mouthfeel is surprisingly thick and coating for a Pilsner.

Summary

Overall this is an interesting beer, unlike any Pilsner I’ve tried before.  The appearance is outstanding and the mouthfeel is unusually thick, which I like, but I wish it had more black pepper spiciness from the hops.  I don’t think it quite measures up to the best examples of the style (like Prima Pils from Victory or Heater Allen Pils) but it is definitely above average and gets points for being unique.  I’m glad I picked up a 4-pack of this beer.

Rating = 7

Rating scale: 10 = perfection, 9 = excellent, one of the top beers in the world, 8 = very good, one of the top beers in its style category, 7 = good, a solid beer I’m happy to be drinking, 6 = average, not bad but not something I’m likely to buy again, 5 = below average, 3-4 = poor, should be avoided, 1-2 drainpour.