I saw this fun-looking beer at the store, and figured I'd give it a go. It's a 6.20% ABV keller pilsner from Nicaragua's Nicaragua Craft Beer Co. A keller pilsner, also known as a keller pils, is a style of beer originating in Germany. "Keller" means "cellar" or "basement", and it refers to an unfiltered style of beer that was often stored in the cellar. I expect it to be a fuller, less attenuated version of a German pilsner. Plus it's from Nicaragua! Cool. And check out the shorty can - 8oz. Perfect camouflage for a "roadie."
Ok - pours out swiftly into my Fremont snifter. Projects honey notes, soft, yet somehow fuller. I like it! In terms of taste, it echoes the fullness of the nose, with a touch of citrus (like lemon), and a refreshing and quite satisfying flavor. It's definitely heavier than most pilsners, which I consider a good thing, but still has the effervescence I'd want in a lighter beer. Slightly bready notes round out the beer, and the finish leaves a crispness that's very pilsner-like. Pilsnerian, if you will.
I do like this, and I'd certainly recommend it for anyone seeking to try a craft beer from Nicaragua. According to their website, the brewery is located in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, and was started by two Americans trained at Cisco Brewers in Nantucket (Cisco's "Grey Lady" is good!). So definitely an American craft brew angle here, but nothing wrong with that. The only sticking point is the cost - $9.99 for six stubby 8oz cans. While it's not the end of the world, it's a tad pricy for such a small format. The format is cool, for sure, but affects the cost / benefit ratio. Otherwise, a good representative of the style and nice to see something from Central America.
