Pivotal Brewing Company Bryter Pilsner Lorien

Loads of Noble hop character with a lovely sulfur character as expected in German-style pils, however...the quality of the hop character itself is perhaps not in its finest form. Pleasant cracker and bread notes in the aroma blend well with perfume and lightly grassy hop notes. The lightly sweet, almost corn-like malt body is nicely balanced by a clean, floral bitterness creating a snappy and refreshing sip. Fermentation is squeaky clean and well-lagered but that sorta-Noble, sorta-not-Noble hop note raises questions. The finish is lightly bitter creating a nice cripsness that, despite needing just a touch more carbonic bite, sets things up well for the next sip.

“Chocolate fills the nose, suggesting roasty sulfur, dark fruit, and coffee. Flavor carries notes of semisweet chocolate, plum, roast coffee, butterscotch, toffee, and cherries. Low hop bitterness, rather sweet. Lower carbonation. Mineral-water finish ends with herbal hop bitterness.”

“Spicy herbal hops and a hint of piecrust malt come together for an inviting aroma. Clean, floral, and perfume-like aromatics are balanced by a hint of malt and create a pleasant and inviting nose. Cracker and lightly grainy malt notes serve as a perfect canvas to both balance and showcase the floral and soapy hop bitterness. That bitterness, while distinct and present, is sufficiently restrained allowing for a near-perfect balance. The flavor develops the hops character nicely, adding a little more detail with some light floral notes. There’s enough clean malt to balance the crisp bitterness, without cloying or softening the finish. Hops flavor and bitterness last into the dry and taut finish—clean and refreshing with just a hint of lingering bitterness.”