Since 2017
A seemingly little known fact about TJ’s is their line of house beers, sold under the label of Josephsbrau. They cover a number of styles and are generally priced for about $1/bottle. So I stopped by my local TJ’s and picked up one each of their current offerings (which varies by season and store). $6 got me a bottle of Oatmeal Stout, Pilsner, Hefeweizen, Red Ale and Summer Lager, including tax. Here’s what I thought about the brews.
On a recent trip to my local Total Wine and More, I was perusing the beer aisle when a rep asked me if I would like to try a sample. On offer was a shot of Pilsner Urquell, a beer I was assured was the very first pilsner brewed on earth. Brewed in Pilsen, Czech Republic since 1842, Pilsner Urquell definitely had history in its side, but how does it taste?
Keeping up with the summer theme, I decided to review Victory Brewing Company's Prima Pils! What's better on a hot summer day than a clean, crisp, refreshing pilsner beer? Would Victory's offering meet expectations? Or would this be a mediocre player in a heavily saturated market?
And here we are. The final full review of the six-beer competition that was Battle of the Beers - Summer Brews. This one is very much the traditional summer-style pilsner beer. This is in no way a bad thing. Light, crisp and refreshing pilsner style beer can be a God-send on a 100+ degree summer day in Texas.
Well, another month has come and gone and 2017 is passing in the blink of an eye. In the month of July, we reviewed 15 beers. It's time to rank them from worst to first! Starting with number 15:
While Sierra Nevada is a world-renowned craft brewery, particularly due to its annual Beer Camp release, I had never tried one of their beers before. I picked this one up as something to consider in my Battle of the Beers - Summer Brews article. In this review, I welcome myself to the world of Sierra Nevada with their 2017 Summerfest Pilsner.
In response to my previous review of Shiner Light Blonde, I was advised to try St Arnold 5 O'Clock Pils. What I enjoyed about Shiner's offering is the improved depth and flavor profile compared to the traditional American lagers such as Bud Light, Miller Lite and Coors Light.
As we come to the end of July, it may seem as though Summer is almost through. But here in South Texas, we are just starting to hit our stride of 100 + degree days. Summer sun means pools, beaches, rivers, barbecues and trying anything possible to beat the heat.
Given the time of year, I took it upon myself to collect (and drink) a number of breweries' seasonal offerings, in the name of science. In this Battle of the Beers, I will be ranking these brews from worst to first.
Sgt. Suds 