In the immortal (immoral?) words of JT, “I’m looking for a beer that tastes like beer”. After quaffing a peachy apricot wheat and a bombastic blonde blowout, JT’s fearless philosophizing rings true for me. Enter Grand River and their Czech Pilsner. According to GR, this beer “tastes like beer” and although JT is no bowler, this brew sounds like it’s right up his alley.
For you Starbuckers, the river in question is not Demi, or Short, or Tall, it is Grand. * Although Grand River Brewery is no longer located on the Grand River but has been in Vaughn since 2020. Perhaps it should be renamed Humber & Don River Brewing? ** Meanwhile, back at the Grand and Farm League Brewing moved into the Cambridge GR facilities in 2021.
A bright clear golden glass of pils, a foamy pop top scene but the foam didn’t show up in the glass. Some bubbles. A fresh malt nose. The first taste is malt bread with a crisp very dry finish, which coincidentally helps to offset my very dry start. A bit of an acerbic finish but instead of being detractive or distractive, it’s actually attractive. A solid pilsner with full flavour and that classic dry finish but without the chalk and caulk finish that can sometimes spoil a pils party.
A beer that tastes like a beer? This one Czechs that box.
*Editor’s Comment: The Grand River, located between Georgian Bay and Lake Erie, is 275 kms long with a change in elevation over the length of the river of 525m.
**Editor’s Comment: Magnotta Wines bought Grand River Brewing in 2018. By 2020 the brewery operations were moved from Cambridge (on the Grand River) to Magnotta’s Vaughn facilities. Vaughan is located between the Humber River and the Don River. Farm League Brewing moved into the former Grand River facility in Cambridge in 2021.
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