Bohemian Pilsener – Matilda Bay Brewers
Bohemia is the old name for a part of the world which now covers about two-thirds of what we now know as the Czech Republic. It is the home of Bohemia crystal, it is the name of a Punjabi rapper, and it is the original home of a town called Plzeň. Plzeň is the fourth most populous city in the Czech republic and seemingly unrelated to beer, but it is the home of Pilsener, and according to the Czechs any beer brewed outside this area is not a true Pilsener, much like the whole Champagne and Sparkling wine thing.
Even if this is not a true Pilsener, it is a pretty excellent Australian attempt at it. The brew has a beautiful lighter yellow colour, making it look like a plain and not particularly interesting lager, but it has some complexity of flavour. There is a bite or a kick to this one, with a floral nose that entices you in.
The beer is very refreshing on the palate. It has a hoppy and floral aroma and taste, but it is all well balanced. Nothing overpowers anything and the touch of bitterness certainly adds to the thirst-quenchingness of the beverage.
This is a real hot, sunny day libation. A real session beer and on the day we sampled it, it was the one that went down quicker than the others.
We were very happy with this one and rated it 4 barrels.
Matilda Bay Brewing has a website here and a tool where you can enter an Australian postcode and the site will find your nearest stockists here.
