California Dreamin’

Hello friends! I have to say, I am jealous of anyone on the East Coast right now, enjoying your balmy mid 60s weather. Here in sunny SoCal, I have been sweating my tits off with temperatures in the 90’s and higher than average humidity. But but but it Los Angeles, it’s supposed to be a desert, they cry! Well, fuck me if I know where the dry air went. It must be cooling off somewhere near Antarctica. LA didn’t get the memo that it’s mid-September and should be cooling off. I’ll admit that I find myself getting confused about why it’s 7:30pm and dark out, but still 90 odd degrees. You expect that a shorter day will be accompanied by a lower temperature. Well not here apparently! And that is one of the many reasons for cracking open a cold malted hoppy beverage.

Because it’s been so hot, I thought we might enjoy a walk on the lighter side this week, with a Czech Pilsner straight from San Diego brewery: Mikkeller. San Diego currently has 160 breweries, according to Google, and that’s not counting tasting rooms. Well, what do you expect? Everyone has to get drunk down there to forget about the epitome of sadness that is Seaworld. So raise your glasses to all the whales that evil marine corporation has killed over the years, and join me as we discuss California Dream Pilsner.

Because it’s so disgustingly humid in my apartment and I’m dripping sweat faster than the insides of my bra can absorb the salty liquid, I find myself unable to come up with pretty metaphors for this beer. So I’m just going to give it to you straight and narrow (just like my first boyfriend haha.)

When pouring this beer, use the clearest and cleanest glass you have. I’m telling you, this beer is blonder and more bubbly than a Real Housewife after happy hour flirtinis in Beverly Hills.
I feel like Pilsners often get a bad rap in the beer world. Grab any can of trash beer, and it usually identifies itself as a Pilsner of some sort. That being said, Miller Light is my American style Pilsner trash beer of choice, but to call that swill a true Pilsner is like calling Fifty Shades of Grey literature, or literate for that matter. Pilsners originate from the Czech city of Pilsen and are the OG blonde lager. They are usually light-bodied and make excellent summer session beers.

The accompanying head was light and frothy like a very dry nonfat cappuccino (or a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills..ok no more mean jokes I swear.) The foamy head fades quickly, leaving no lacing, which is great as I believe a Pilsner requires no foam. The carbonation bubbles are very noticeable, which is pleasing in an unclouded beer. I like to picture little ping pong balls bouncing around a glass, excited to pop and fizzle against my tongue.

Let us put on hats of pretension now for a moment, as we tap into our olfactory senses and rate the aromatics of CA Dream. My first impression is simply grain, but I mean that in the best possible way. I think of fields of light wheat swaying with a warm summer breeze, and bins of uncooked oats at the brewery supply store. It is a classic pilsner smell, malty, warm, and grainlike. Very clean, this is not a dirty smelling beer.

The mouthfeel is on the lighter side, but I don’t find that to be a negative here. It’s not so light as to veer into American Pilsner style, but light enough that you can crush one easily (even on a cold day.) The first flavor notes I pick up match the aroma, a lightly toasted wheat. I can imagine running around a wheat field on a warm summer day, while the dried stalks nip at my clothes and the pollen assaults my nose, wait that sounds terrible! I picked up some malty notes next, but not overly sweet. More of a yeasty, doughy type maltiness. The maltiness is complemented with mild floral undertones that help to balance out the liquid. There is a slight piney note as you finish your sip. Overall, the taste is very mild and even keel. This makes a great session beer, and at 4.2% feel free to keep crushing them as you California Dream in the shade, which is still hot and humid as fuck.

4/6 Miller Light Cans