Style: Kellerpils or Zwickelbier

ABV: 5.3 IBU: 33.0

99/100

Aroma:	12
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	19
Mouthfeel:	5

Russian River Brewing Co - Santa Rosa STS Pils

What the brewers say

STS Pils is a hop-forward pilsner with a mild malt foundation, strong lager-yeast characteristic, and a dry, bitter finish.

What our panel thought

Brilliant lasting head. Crisp, spicy hop character out front, with floral, citrus, and raw grain notes. Pronounced malt flavor throughout—clear, dry toasted notes with subtle, layered sweetness. The bitter-and-sweet balance of hops and grain flourishes on the tastebuds. Finish is fairly aggressively bitter, with a grassy lingering aftertaste. Bright throughout, trends toward bitter, but that works.

What our editors thought

A mix of perfume-floral and spice offers an amped up nose. In the sip, a soft woody note along with bread crust balances the sweet with the herbal. A bit of yeast expression in the sip remains, softening it while floral hops open their compelling bouquet. Despite the softness, it remains clean and engaging.

Review printed in: The Rebirth of Cool: Inside the Lager Evolution (June-July 2021) (View All Issues)

Print Shelf Talker

How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Russian River Brewing Co STS Pils

“Medium bitterness with light pine, orange, melon flavor. A light pink Starburst-type hop flavor toward the back. Dry, grainy finish just begs for another sip. Flavor-forward and well-executed.”

Russian River Brewing Company Velvet Glow

“Classic aromas of soft bread and Noble hops, reminiscent of crushed Mexican oregano. Touch of sulfur in the taste, clean and lean. Balancing hop bitterness, fresh warm bread rolls, spritzy carbonation. Quickly dissipates and leaves a clean impression.”

Russian River Brewing Co - Santa Rosa Row 2, Hill 56

Pale yellow, clear, with a crazy-impressive head—big boulder-like bubbles. Orange and grapefruit aroma. In the flavor, perfume-like, bitter orange zest gives way to muted malt sweetness. Finishes dry and bitter. Easy-drinking and delicious.

FRESH BEERS >

The best new craft beers available in a beer store near you. Sponsored content.

New Belgium Dominga Grapefruit

New Belgium wood cellar blender Lauren Limbach was gifted a new foeder that she aptly named Dominga—a play on the Spanish word for Sunday. She first created a mimosa-inspired golden sour called “Dominga: Goddess of Brunch.” Now we are excited to introduce the cocktail-inspired version, Dominga Grapefruit Paloma. Inspired by the classic cocktail of Mexico, Dominga packs a refreshing combo of bright grapefruit and lime flavors, along with agave and a pinch of salt.

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Oaktoberfest is our oak-inspired homage to the great German tradition of Oktoberfest. We go the extra mile of maturing this beer in French oak barrels to create an amazingly smooth mouthfeel. The result is a classic German festbier with a hint of West Coast hoppiness. Grab your stein, don your lederhosen, and enjoy!

Firestone Walker Parabola ’24

Parabola is always a beast of a beer, with intense flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, and roast coffee—yet each annual release also bears its own subtle imprint. For this latest edition, we aged the beer for a year in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels. These coveted bourbon barrels imparted signature notes of charred oak, caramel, and cinnamon, taking the Parabola experience to new heights. Pour some out in your favorite snifter; behold the impossibly opaque color as you allow it to warm up a bit; and then let the dark magic of Parabola stun your palate with its unrivaled flavor and complexity.

Sierra Nevada Cosmic Little Thing Hazy Double IPA

For the latest in the Hazy IPA series, ride Sierra Nevada’s interstellar wave of tropical flavor in this Cosmic Little Thing, a hazy nebula glowing with Comet, Strata, and Helios hops for notes of citrus, berries, and lychee. Head into orbit with this 8 percent ABV hazy double IPA before the next Hazy IPA rotator hits. Look for Cosmic Little Thing in six-packs and 19.2 oz singles.

Firestone Walker Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA

Out-of-this-world flavor that packs a punch—take a journey with Cosmic Crusher. “Cosmic Crusher is our crazy adventure into the realm of imperial juicy IPAs,” says brewmaster Matt Brynildson. Cosmic Crusher is built around two ultra-tropical hops—Galaxy and Strata. The result is a level of flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel that can only materialize at high strength, crossing the line into a whole new cosmos of punchy mango and pineapple character. SKUs available: 12 oz six-pack cans, 19.2 oz single serve, and Mind Haze Variety Pack.

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion

Luponic Distortion is the Firestone Walker trailblazer that continues to break the rules, back for the first time since 2021. The classic Luponic Distortion base recipe returns with an all-new hop blend to deliver a fresh blast from the past. Brewed with a secret blend of new-age hops, the 2024 edition of Luponic Distortion turns up the volume with mind-bending flavors of lychee, peach, nectarine, and strawberry. Available exclusively in the Beer Before Glory IPA Mixed Pack.