Summer heat has now well and truly arrived so it’s time to crack out the Pilsner. Bach Brewing’s Polygamy (maybe one of the weirdest naming decisions ever) Pilsner is a re-brew of one of Bach Brewing’s early beers, a Bohemian style Pilsner called Czechmate (itself a rebrew of Limburg Czechmate*, the winner of back-to-back trophies at the NZ Beer Awards in 2006 & 2007, it should be noted).
Like its first incarnation, this traditional Pilsner doesn’t cut any corners, utilising Bohemian malts and Czech Saaz hops (one of the parents of both Motueka and Riwaka). Fresh and deeply grainy on the nose with brown bread crust and that unmistakable grassy, herbaceous character of Noble European hops. Slippery smooth on the palate, with a full malt body and significantly more intense hop character and bitterness than typical Saaz driven beers.
This is what old world Pilsner is all about; serious, stern and satisfying.
*Bach Brewing owner Craig Cooper was a part-owner of the legendary Limburg alongside brewer Chris O’Leary, hence the lineage of this beer. And there’s some good background by Geoff Griggs.
