Jinx Proof
Brewery: Three Floyds
Type: Pilsener
Alcohol: 5.1%
Country: USA
When I was in Indiana, and Three Floyds overflowed the shelves of the liquor stores, I went a little nuts buying everything I set my eyes on. When it came time to make cuts for my suitcase home, there were tough decisions to make. Pilsner is not one of my favorite styles, not by a long shot in fact. So when I came to this bottle of Jinx Proof, I had to seriously ask myself; is it worthy of a place in the bag? Well if I had not tasted it at the brewery it's place surely would have been taken by another Zombie Dust. This pilsner though is special. It's one I like. I thought it would be important to finally put up a positive pilsner review on Rock on Beer. So with that in mind, Jinx Proof was wrapped carefully in cling film and given a place of honor amongst the other brews making the transatlantic journey to their new home in Denmark.
Pours hazy straw yellow with a small bright white head that lasts about 30 seconds. Looks like your standard every day pilsner, maybe a little more hazy due to not being filtered. The nose will also be instantly recognizable. The floral and earthy hay notes of noble hops, combined with the sweet bready notes of pilsner malt. What sets it apart is the intensity and clarity of these notes. Three floyds are infamous for their hop profiles, and yes their magic extends to noble hops as well. Instead of being a dull normal pilsener smell this pops, the hops are intense and rich and the malt is sweet honey and bread. This is hands down the best smelling tradition lager I have ever had. The taste is very full. Good maltiness coming through, bready and slightly sweet, standard craft pilsner malt profile. The hops are far more present then your standard pilsener. You are not going to argue that this is a three floyds beer. The hops are like you are face down in an earthy bale of hay. Really quite bitter for the style, not IPA bitter, but you are gonna feel the bite. A little alcohol taste sneaks in towards the warmer side of drinking it, but I mean this is a style to drink cold so I don't worry about it too much. Quite a bit fuller mouthfeel then your average pils as well. I am betting they forgot to add a ton of water to thin it down in order to make more money at bottling! Seriously though this is an exciting take on the style. Traditional enough that it's instantly recognizable, yet with a little Three Floyds twist that makes it cool and exciting. Worth the place in my suitcase, and worthy to be dubbed my favorite "Pilsener". A little bittersweet since I can hardly ever get it. So cheers to Three Floyds for making an example of one of my least favorite beer styles that I really like.
