5.9

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5

The basic 'Pilsener' by this Büttgenbach microbrewery, with a name referring to a Rolling Stones song like most others in their range - clearly the brewer is a huge fan. Foamy, snow white, very thick, membrane-lacing head slowly thinning over a misty yellow blonde robe with lively sparkling - clearly unfiltered. Aroma of wet white bread, clear DMS (overcooked broccoli), field flowers, watercress, spoiled cucumber, cold vegetable soup, cooked onion, sourdough and a very vague 'fishy' note of not really fresh seafood. Restrainedly sweetish onset, vague hints of apple and pear, prickly carb with still soft, even somewhat 'fluffy' mouthfeel; white-bready middle, cereally and round, with extra bready yeast effects but also something slightly 'dirty', plus the DMS which returns retronasally; mild floral hops bring some soft bitterness, while the bready yeastiness or yeasty breadiness continues. There is something 'fishy' about this - almost literally, with the cooked vegetable DMS effect not bringing any redemption - frankly I was not expecting such clear off-flavours in a style normally aiming for sleekness and cleanness (though I saw the brewing equipment and am almost sure that this is a top-fermented blonde rather than an actual lager, in which case it is perhaps more accurately referred to as a 'pseudo-Pilsener'...). Too bad.