Firestone Walker Brewing Co STiVO
What the brewers say
“The mashup of two iconic California pilsners, STiVO is an unfiltered and dry-hopped keller-style pilsner brewed with our friends at Russian River. This collab features German Saphir and French Aramis hops for subtle herbal and lemony hop accents.”
What our panel thought
“Pale yellow in color, unfiltered, with a nice bright white head that lingers. Bright floral hop aroma with a touch of dank in the background. Pleasant soft citrus in both the aroma and flavor is tempered by a moderate and very clean bitterness. A lifting herbal and light melon citrus hop flavor builds, but just when it’s about to reach the upper limit, it lets off the gas and the grainy malt starts to come into balance. Slightly minerally, with a clean, dry finish. Overall, a very fresh and soft quality with a quick and clean finish. Well-crafted with no flaws. Aggressive without hitting the limit.”
What our editors thought
“Melon, lemon, and punchy herbal notes on the nose with a bit of pink peppercorn. Soft and inviting but subtly structured. The flavor exhibits the same accessibility—welcoming immediate fruit notes evolve into brisk pepper as it lingers, for a surprisingly taut finish. The flavorful allure of more fruit-forward hoppy lagers, with a classic structure that’s instantly familiar.”
