Reality Czeck - Moonlight Brewing Company

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.4/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz counter filled bottle thanks to SubpeonaDeuces. Dated 9.11.11.

A - Pours a pale, hazy medium orange with a one finger white head. The head slowly fades and leaves some slight lacing on the glass.

S - Malts, lemon, wheat, and oranges.

T - The usual pilsner malts and wheat, plus a citrus rush of oranges and lemons on the sides of my tongue.

D - Good carbonation - Whew! Average body.

O - Delicious, and this not a style I ususally go for.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 03:15:57 | More by HuskyinPDX

Forb

Nebraska

4.7/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to SubpoenaDeuces for this one!

Appearance: Translucent golden body with a decent head and retention.

Smell: The traditional pilsner scent here amid spicy, dank notes.

Taste: Potent hops that don't overpower with a faint bitterness that doesn't break through the mellow sweetness of this one.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation within a refreshing body.

Overall: Pilsener at perfection.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 00:59:44 | More by Forb

jrallen34

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review number 1800!.. 32oz growler poured into my Narke tulip. Thanks to Rodney X for one of my last real top 100 ticks... This looks like great for a growler, a medium honey gold slightly murky. A great head white head with an incredibly long lasting head and good lacing. Looks great... The aroma is sweet grains and very floral, a musty hay note with a bitter finish... The taste is really good, the best czech pils I've had. Light sweet hay on the front with a floral finish.

Great for the style but not an elite beer, really glad I got to tick it.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 00:40:02 | More by jrallen34

orbitalr0x

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The final 22oz bomber I'm trying from RedwoodG. I've been greatly looking forward to this one. Pours from the bomber into my glass a wonderful light golden yellow with a hint of orange. A small white head appears with plenty of bubbly, active carbonation. Very nice! Aromas begin with a nice crisp, grainy maltiness that has a faint toastiness. Herbal, grassy hops are quite prominent and blend in wonderfully. Really vibrant while at the same time quite laid back.

First sip brings a clean, crisp lightly grainy maltiness that has a very mellow toastiness. It's quickly followed by a wonderful grassy, herbal hoppiness. Flows down with a nice smack of bitterness on the back of the palate. Incredibly clean, crisp and bursting with flavor. Simply a wonderful pilsner all around. I get a light floral hint as well. Quite simply a wonderful beer.

Mouthfeel is light, smooth and even somewhat creamy. Plenty of bubbly carbonation flows down with each sip. Supremely drinkable...I could seriously enjoy the hell out of this brew all night long. A stellar pilsner with a plentiful hop bite. At 4.8%, if I was near Moonlight and somewhere that had this on tap regularly, I think I might be in trouble. Now it's time for me to visit California and get more....yum.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2006 04:10:14 | More by orbitalr0x

mntlover

Tennessee

4.35/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Want to thank RedwoodGeorge for making this all possible.

Pours a nice pale straw yellow light chill haze. Small bubbles rising leisurely to a two finger white head that falls to clumped bubbles that lace nicely.

Aroma is nice pilsener malts, crackers, some nice hop presence grassy, spicy, hints of lemon.

Taste is nice crisp malt loaded with hops, light citrus mostly lemon mixed with grass and spice that kick in and stay thru the finish. Nice easy drinking beer that has lots of hops on a good clean malt base.

Mouthfeel is good approaching medium seems a little fuller then I would expect for a pilsener. Nice level of carbonation.

Drinkability is good a nice crisp clean pilsener, make a hell of a session brew. Pilsener's not my big thing, but this one is nice.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2006 01:32:33 | More by mntlover

kmpitz2

Tennessee

4.85/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

22 oz bottle. Hand bottled via counter pressure filler. The beer is a brilliant straw yellow color with absolutely no haze at all. A massive carbonation is seen maintaining a finger of head over top of the brew. Very good looking beer. The nose brings a mild honey-kissed pilsener malt sweetness, a mild grainyness, and a solid herbal and spicy noble hop that really entices me to drink this one. As I sip it, I find this one brings an excellent herbal noble hop that moves to a moderate to strong bitterness. Behind this is a mild grainy character and a very subtle sweetness. The bitter lingers really nicely into the finish, drawing me back for more and more of this one. The balance here is fantastic. Definitely one of the best pilsener beers ever to grace my glass. After letting my palate sit for a minute after a drink, there is a sweetness that sticks to my tongue and works really well against the bitterness that clings. Mouthfeel is moderate with a very solid carbonation that breaks it up and keeps it feeling really light and smooth. Drinkability is top notch on this one. This is a beer I would love to see on tap so I could belly up and drink it till the keg was done. It is big in flavor, balance, and clarity. I really enjoy this beer. I believe the hype, and will be looking for this one when I hit California early next year. This is a great Czech pilsener.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2006 03:38:12 | More by kmpitz2

Phatz

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I sample this beer with another BA who owes thanks for the opportunity to a trade with RedwoodGeorge.... Hand-bottled via counter-pressure system, this beer was interesting and the effort is appreciated.

As a guy who is not all that eh into to Pilsener's, I must admit in advance I tend to be hard to please in this style.

Appearance: Pour is a yellow gold with a small white head that fades fast. No notable lacing.

Smell: Odd. It had a Pilsener malt base with a attribute that seemed a bit farmhouse Saison sitting lingering atop in the nose. It had a cat-pee-ish/saison spicy overtone that caught me off guard.

Taste: It is dry and bitter and certainly a bit aggressive for a Pilsener with grain and pils malt and grassy floral hops that bite in the throat.

Mouthfeel:This is a light bodied beer that is creamy and smooth yet dry and and clean. Apropos.

Drinkability: As I got further along on this beer I started to warm up to it a bit more. By the time I was really enjoying it the bottle was gone. So, it must not have been to bad.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2006 04:48:53 | More by Phatz

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.35/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

"Bottled on October 3, 2006. Pay to the order of: Reality Czech Style Pilsner, 22 fluid ounces of malt, hops, water, yeast, love and dedication. Signed: Saint Humulus."

--Reality Czech label


What better way to start off "George's Unauthorized Home Bottling Project II" than with what is sure to be a pils for the ages. Glowing lemony gold with paler, moonlight edges. The head is polished ivory in color and is a collection of fine, glassy bubbles that makes the beer look regal and refined. Sheets upon sheets of delicate, lace-like lace are beginning to stick to all available surfaces.

The nose isn't quite as hoppy or an explosive as anticipated. It's still a humdinger though. I wish I knew which variety (or varieties) of hops the brewer uses because the aroma isn't especially grassy or floral or spicy or any of the other characteristics that I usually attribute to the Czech nobles. Muskily fruity is the closest that I can come to an adequate description.

There's no shortage of flavor, that's for damn sure. As expected after the sniff test, Reality Czech is a balanced beer. While the hophead in me wanted something more hoptastic, the lover and appreciator of world-class beer is more than satisfied with this incredibly delicious, fantastically drinkable pilsener.

Moderately sweet pale malt carasses and coddles the palate while the alpha acids attempt to slap it around a little bit. That perfectly meshed relationship between malt and hops is what makes this beer what it is. Still though, I'm trying to resist the impulse to call for more of the little green cones. As I enter the bottom half of the bomber, one thing has become crystal clear. If I lived in Sonoma County, Reality Czech just might be my session beer of choice.

I give George all the credit in the world for what he's been able to accomplish with his Home Bottling Projects. This is the first beer, however, that I think may have taken a small hit in terms of mouthfeel. It's still good (lightly creamy, softly carbonated), it just isn't as amazingly transcendent as I imagine it is fresh from the tap.

Reality Czech is my first Moonlight brew and I have to say that I'm impressed, especially with its balance and its drinkability. Not that I needed any more impetus, but savoring the final few ounces of this incredible beer leads me to cast my mind back to that too-long-delayed trip to Santa Rosa. In addition to wallowing in great food and great beer, I'd love to be able to thank RedwoodGeorge in person.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2006 22:03:29 | More by BuckeyeNation

merlin48

Kentucky

4.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

RedwoodGeorge made this possible. Pours a slightly hazed, pale yellow body topped by a small white head. Lush carbonation is lovely to behold in the tall pilsner glass. Head retains well and leaves some decorous lace on the glass.

Lovely aroma has sweet, biscuity malt accented by lemon and honey. Solid hop backing is fresh, floral, and grassy. Hops are basically fresh cut hay and country club grass, but much more delicate. Spicy notes are picked up as well. Lovely!

Mouthfeel is light medium in body, with a solid velvety carbonation. Feels wonderful to slosh around in the jaws.

I'm surprised at how well balanced the taste comes off. Very similar to the aroma, lemon and honey notes accent the biscuity pils maltiness, as the fresh and leafy hops presence jumps to centerstage. Lemongrass, a hint of bitter florals, and the fresh grassy presence meld together exceedingly well. Mouth watering and juicy all the way through, with a spicy and dry hop finish.

This is the ultimate session beer. Certainly, the best pilsner I've ever tried. The 22 oz. bottle provided by George filled two tall pils glasses which emptied in what seemed to be record time. Damn! This stuff is off the scale in drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2006 00:10:30 | More by merlin48

goodbyeohio

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

"Sampled through the efforts of RedwoodGeorge without which it would not be possible." -Zorro

might not sound like it, but confidently stating that this looks like a fresh glass of budweiser is quite a compliment. essential yellow with caramel amber edges. a herd of tiny bubbles rise effortlessly through the crisp brew. creamy topper that leaves crowns of pilsner lace.

sweet, nutty aroma with light floral earth tones. fruity sugary notes remind me of boiling wort and fresh-baked holiday bread. there is even a slight candied orange waft that reminds me of a rich, dense belgian golden maltiness. smells much larger than 4+%.

hops say hello in the taste, right off the bat. the bitterness of the floral, perfumey hops is low/medium octane, and allows this flavorful brew to remain very drinkable. the base beer here is a very malty pilsner, providing some interesting honey, brown sugar, and graham cracker flavors. finishes dry, a bit chalky, and certainly jars the drinker into surprising submission.

the things that makes this beer the stuff of legends are not excessively creative flavor blends or double extreme anything. it's the presentation of a fresh, flavorful session beer that incorporates massive amounts of taste, practically nothing off-kilter, and the ability to session the hell out of it. i would drink the shit out of this beer if it was available to me locally. a true treat and an excellent, green west coaster.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2006 00:34:18 | More by goodbyeohio

Zorro

California

4.65/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled through the efforts of RedwoodGeorge without which it would not be possible.

A medium aggressive pour into my Pilsner glass rewards me with a slightly chill hazed golden yellow Pilsner. The beer almost seems to glow in the glass. One thing that does seem to be lacking is head formation.

Smell is quite aromatic. High level of lemony and herbal hops aroma with the characteristic grassiness that you expect to be present in a Pilsner. Quite grainy with a lot of clean and fresh Pilsner malt in the smell.

Taste is dry with an up front sharp and pleasant herbal hop hit that lasts. Quite herbal and woody after a few sips. Good lemony note and lots and I do mean LOTS of aggressive hop in the flavor, this is no pumped up macro lager. This is hopped so that the bitterness never lets up.

Mouthfeel is good and full.

Drinkability will be questionable for lots of people. This is a VERY aggressive Pilsner, if you loved Sam Adams imperial Pilsner you will love this. If you like regular type lagers and try this as just a little stronger you will get shocked. This is A LOT stronger than most any lager you could name. Like a big hop smack you will love it; if you don't you will be over powered.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2006 01:28:16 | More by Zorro

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

(on tap at Toronado)

A: real light yellow gold, slightly hazy (dry hopping? dirty lines?).... nice, cloud-like white head, sticks around in collar, lil spatters of lace

S: bright and refreshing.... not the level nor relative richness of malt the taste soon reveals.... mostly a blend of floral and orange-lemon hops, dense yet delicate

T: wonderful smooth butter cookie malt.... lemony grassy hops, lasting bitterness.... mmm, pale and caramel malts really shine....approaching bold yet drinks light and clean.... moreish, as the malt gives way to the spring-like hops

M: starts off with a tease of medium body only to spread and attenuate back over the palate

O: solid overall... great balance, foundation and separation of constituent parts.... tastes like a Czech Pils more than anything else.... probably oughta do a follow-up review ASAP

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2013 04:34:24 | More by Bouleboubier

mactrail

California

4.1/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Lovely dark golden color in the tall pint nonic. Perfect head and foam down the glass. Pleasing nose of grain and fresh straw.

Warm tones with a biscuity malt flavor. Resiny and clean sharp flavors, but the mellow malt gives it a pleasurable mouthfeel. Long hoppy aftertaste with just the right Pilsener bitterness.

This is kind of the ideal lager sort of beer. Reminds me of the way Mexican beers used to taste in the 1960s, at least in my mind. On tap at the Trappist in Oakland and a great quaff for lunch.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2013 20:33:20 | More by mactrail

Lakemonster

4.24/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I have tasted very few high quality pils. This one blew me away. It was refreshing, light and full of good pils flavor. I was fortunate enough to have this on tap at Toronado with a good friend who was showing me the local brew scene. I won't forget it and would highly recommend you try it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2013 22:00:53 | More by Lakemonster

jethrodium

California

4.1/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

On tap. Pours a clear light amber with a one finger white head that has good retention and leaves a decent amount of lacing on the glass. The aroma is hay and straw. Quite earthy with bread and biscuit and a bit of grass. The taste is dry and earthy with straw, grass, and biscuit. The finish is drying with a very light bitterness and a lingering earthiness. Medium carbonation. Medium-light body. A great American Pilsener.

Serving type: on-tap

11-01-2012 05:40:16 | More by jethrodium

FosterJM

California

4.25/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

1551st Review on BA
Draft to Pint

@Toronado San Francisco

App- It's truly a light yellow. Amazingly clear and lite looking in the glass with a small 1/4"-1/2" head. Again like most pils in that there was no cling and lace on this one.

Smell- Damn lagers. Just can't get passed that grassy, butter kinda Heineken thing. However, this seems more dry hopped, less lager and generally more spicy and alive.

Taste- Holy cow! Why aren't all lagers like this. Keeps the pils flavors from the malts, however as with the aromatics the hop additions do wonders for this beer. It's much more complete and clean. The flavors aren't as muddled either as most pils.

Mouth- A lighter medium body which surprised me. Was thinking it would be the usual light body. Again the thicker carbonation was a shock! More pepper and dry hops on the finish.

Drink- Much like Bombay, was hearing the hype but couldn't believe how good this was. Sad I only had one pint.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2012 02:36:33 | More by FosterJM

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I think the defining achievmemt of this beer is its smooth tone. So many pilsners seem to have some aftertaste or lingering tone that is a distraction or detractor. This one does not. Smooth with a mildly grassy tone and subtle hop spicy bits added in. This is extremely drinkable.

Beers like this show why the American brewing scene is now king, and will be so for a very long time.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2012 17:08:41 | More by RblWthACoz

Alieniloquium

Florida

4.13/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Toronado SF. Poured into a pint glass.

Appearance - Pale straw yellow with a white head. Settles to just a ring and some wisps.

Smell - Earthy and very slightly grassy hops. Mild. Biscuity pale malts. Spicy?

Taste - Mimics the smell. Slightly more emphasis on the hops. Hardly what I'd call hoppy, but it's got a presence. Clean pilsener malts. Just a little toasty. Dry in the finish. Exactly what I'm looking for.

Mouthfeel - The finish seals the deal for this one. Yes, it's light and drinkable,nut so are many average pilseners. This one is dry and slightly spicy. Excellent.

Overall - I'm not a lager fan, but so many pilseners are awful. This is an exception. When it's good, it's very good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2012 04:28:45 | More by Alieniloquium

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Toronado in SF, poured into a pint glass.

A- Pours a pale gold color, topped with a thin white head, leaves decent lacing.

S- Lots of floral hops with spices, grainy pale malt, has a lot of spice and some honey in the center with a grassy bitter finish. The flavor is classic pilsner flavor, but fuller and more interesting than any pilsner I've had before.

M- Light-bodied, smooth, crisp feel, long slightly bitter finish.

O- A great pilsner, it's light, refreshing and very drinkable but still has loads of flavor, I don't drink a ton of lagers but this is easily the best pilsner I've ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2012 21:59:48 | More by WillCarrera

tewaris

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed a couple pints on draft at Monk's Kettle. Nice and clear with a pillowy head. Good retention and lacing. Aroma is pils malt and noble hops... quite mild but definitely appealing. Tastes grainy sweet with light malt, mild bitterness and a long bittering finish. Like the other features of this beer, the bitterness in the finish is mild and accessible.

Light and crisp and extremely clean, Reality Czech's highlight is its extremely high drinkability. It is not often that one finds a good beer that asks to be drank by the pitcher!

4, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 4.5

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2012 18:22:59 | More by tewaris

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.93/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a very light straw beer with amazing clarity and pristine virgin white head 1.5" thick at Toronado SF. Aroma wasn't great, a bit of that funky saaz noble hop thing going probably, no skunkiness, but if you read my reviews, thats not always frowned upon compared to your average lager reviewer.

Crisp, clean, easy drinking, slight hop and bitter twang but no aftertaste or lingering flavors, just bam, done. A very good lager and all, but allow me to fulfill the stereotype and just say that there's easily one hundred ales I'd rather have than this beer. A good beer though and something worth looking for and seeking out if you're a lager guy or girl.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2011 05:51:56 | More by Beerandraiderfan

brystmar

New York

4.6/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On draft at Flavor next door to the Russian River brewpub in Santa Rosa.

A: Pours clean and golden with copious amounts of thick, white head. Excellent retention, leaves tons of lace. Didn't know pilsners looked this good.

S: Sweet malts, hops, pine, more fresh hops.

T: Malty and hoppy as we start things off. Bready. Spices sting the tongue midway through. Fresh hops resurrect themselves as the drink finishes, leaving a pleasantly bitter aftertaste that lingers. Clean, dry, smooth, yet still interesting; this is everything a pilsner should be.

M/D: Medium-bodied, plenty of carbonation, and very easy to drink if you enjoy the style. I'm not a big fan of pilsners in general, but I've gotta tip my hat to Moonlight for brewing the best interpretation of the style I've ever tasted.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2011 21:29:56 | More by brystmar

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Toronado in SF. Notes from 10/24.

A- Pale clear gold with a small white head. Frothy ring and spotty lace.

S- Simple nose of citrus zest, floral hops, biscuit and cracker malt, as well as some nice yeast bread.

T- Crisp flavor. Slightly sweet light malt with great yeast bread flavor. This is enhanced by floral, grassy and citrus zest hop notes.

MF- Light body with substantial carbonation and a smooth feel. Moderately bitter finish.

Good Pils that rivals my favorite Prima Pils. All of the good flavors in a nice balance.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2011 04:58:19 | More by cbutova

dubinsky

California

4.43/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at City Beer

A - Pours a super clear straw yellow with a short half finger head. The carbonation reminds me of champagne. As the head fades it leaves some nice paterned lacing.

S - Mostly straw and hay with some very faint nondescript citrus

T - Super crisp, "Like Santana champ" but seriously this is a very tasty and refreshing beer. Nice hop bite is followed by bready and strawlike flavor.

M - Medium bodied with high carbonation. very crisp and dry.

O - Like Prima Pils only better. I see this as a a prime example of what the style should looked and taste like.

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2011 01:40:33 | More by dubinsky

emerge077

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Flavor Bistro, review from written notes.
Served in a 12 oz. wilibecher glass.

Bright gold with sharp clarity and visible ascending trails of champagne bubbles. Thin layer of compact foam on top looks like a round buttermilk biscuit. Lasting head retention, sea spray foam, and concentric rings of lace on the way down.

Grassy noble hops, dry and herbal. Clean, dry crackery pilsner malt, hint of sliced apples.

Similar flavors, very crisp, dry and refreshing with a lingering bitterness from the ample noble hops. Light bready flavors of crisp crackers and sliced apple again. So crisp and clean, with enough hops to keep interest, superbly balanced with equal malt and yeast character. Extremely versatile, a timeless classic to pair with just about anything.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2011 22:24:10 | More by emerge077