Session # 144 | Heater Allen | Pils | 5% ABV
Czech Pilsner | McMinnville, Oregon | Rating: 91/100
One year ago: Boulevard Tank 7
Heater Allen is one of those breweries that you read about and they just fascinate you. Owner/Brewer Rick Allen is one of many who started off home brewing and saw his passion become a reality in 2007. As their website suggests, Heater Allen specializes in producing distinctive all-malt lager and other German and Czech style beers. While pretty much every other brewery in the states produces ales, this prompted me to dig a bit further. Their Pils was a very clean and straight-forward Czech-style Pilsner that gave me a good idea of what to expect from this small artisan brewery. It poured from the bottle with a nice warm hazy yellow color that made it look a touch more like an American Wheat than a Pilsner. The aromas were pretty muted, mainly because it was poured a touch cold. However, closer to the middle of the beer those malty and bready characters came out a bit more and also unveiled some nice grassy and floral hops. The taste was spot on, too, with its nice maltiness and light floral hops. The mouthfeel was the true winner with its velvety smooth texture and insanely high drinkability. If you’ve had the Boulevard Pilsner and Victory Prima Pils, this one situates itself right in the middle of those two because it has slightly more hops than the Boulevard Pilsner but less than the Victory Prima Pils. This is really what a good Czech Pilsner should be and it’s made right here in the United States. Very nice start for this brewery…
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This beer can be found in these states.
Listening To: Future Islands “Vireo’s Eye”
Let us know your thoughts by rating and commenting on this video.
Posted by Jon on February 16, 2011 at 9:57 AM
Sounds like a beer I need to try. It’s good to see more Pilsners made in the US as freshness is always an issue when they have to travel here from Europe. I’m planning a trip up to Washington this spring and I have a feeling that the weight of the car entering Oregon will be a lot lighter than the weight leaving.
By the way, I’m not sure what information use to be in the extra 3 to 4 minutes on your reviews, but I don’t miss them.
Posted by thehopry on February 16, 2011 at 1:01 PM
Hahaha…yeah definitely trying to make the videos more concise. They’re a bit longer when Tim joins me, but I’m really just trying to put out what is relevant and sometimes that’s five minutes and sometimes it’s ten.
As for your trip, I envy your trunk. Portland and Seattle are crazy. Make sure you hit up Belmont Station in Portland…
Posted by Big Mike on February 16, 2011 at 12:42 PM
I’ve been feeling Pilsners lately. Been keeping it simple after tons of hop bombs and big Stouts. Nothing quite like a nice refreshing easy to drink Pils!
Cheers!
Big Mike
Posted by thehopry on February 16, 2011 at 1:00 PM
You’ve hit it on the head, Mike. It’s like watching a ton of intense movies for a long time and then one day just saying to yourself, “Man I just wanna watch Anchorman.”
Posted by Jon on February 16, 2011 at 2:44 PM
I’m right there with you. I even bought a case of Noble Pils this year.
Posted by Jeff on February 16, 2011 at 9:21 PM
Continue to enjoy your blog. Any plans to review any upright brewing beers? I only ask because you had the Oregon teaser in this post. Had the 6 a few years back and it has stuck with me. Have a 7 in the fridge that I’m not sure why I haven’t cracked yet. Interested in your take. Be well.
Posted by thehopry on February 17, 2011 at 8:41 AM
I’ve been trying to get a hold of Upright’s Gose for a long time now with zero success. I would also love to try some of their others, though I currently don’t have any on hand. But don’t worry, they’re on my “to get” list and I will have some of their beers on the show sometime this year.
Posted by jason h on February 22, 2011 at 12:21 PM
Thanks for the review. Knowing Rick from the wine boards I was happy to hear he was brewing beer. Can’t say that I ever thought much of Pilsners until spending a day with Rick at the brewery. I was very intrigued by the complexity and intensity of flavor.
I am hoping to get a taste of what Upright is doing. Hearing good things.