Renaissance Paradox Pilsner

Brewed by Renaissance Brewing
Style: Pilsener
Blenheim, New Zealand

Serve in Flute, Footed Pilsner

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nicey drinkable, but a bit undecided & bland.

Considering the use of Riwaka Hops (as does Emersons Pilsener I am lead to believe) it was a slight disappointment. Being a fan of NZ Pilseners I held high hopes. Minimal earthy notes on the nose. Slight citrus tang. Big fizz (too much) when poorer to the glass. Big foamy head. Cloudy, straw colour with a strange pink hue (I asked others, it was pink). Prominent butter hit. Then biscuity malt. Nice clean bitterness. Zesty. Nice beer.

330ml bottle old stock, written off. Pop cap and the usual Renaissance carbonation volcano, luckily I was prepared. Aroma is Beautiful, delicious passionfruit and citrus just like it says on the label, and there’s no need to go looking for it, it comes to you. Taste is very full for a 4% beer, sweet malt tangy citrus and just the right bitterness. Very well balanced. Definitely try this again.

’As soon as you flip the top off the bottle you know you’re in for something’ firkin explosive! This one did more to add a hoppy scent to my kitchen bench than it did to the mere 200ml that actually made it to the glass. Messed up once it was there; hazy with a sinking yeast pack inside a yellow gold body. Of course there was head but after the madness it settled to a meagre slate of white. More pine than a state reserve and as forestal as one on the nose with little twitches of manky aged lemon rind. Overly foamy mouthfeel with a tangy, cloying citrus sweetness that fills out the rest. Too much pine on the palate. Awkward all round. Pilsner? (33cL, no date stamp, Freo Doctor, Fremantle)

Another Renaissance beer that gushed out of the bottle otherwise this was ok, clear golden body with lasting white head, citrus on the nose with pleasant bitterness in the taste.

High carbonation very gassy gold pour aromas citrus passionfruit bright malt the flavours strong ibu citrus pip taste pasionfruit citrus hop biscuit maltiness some lemon soapy touch the finish lasting bitter sharp hops bright malt enjoyable pilsener to drink

Pours amber with a large, lasting head. Nose shows soft tropical fruit and honey. Nectarines, lychee, pears, floral notes. Also some cookie dough-like malt. Very nice. Similar flavours, more of the cookie dough character and overt floral notes, along with some spicy hops. Carbonation is much too high, annoyingly so.

Not only have Renaissance branched out to - shock horror - a lager, but jove, they’ve nailed it. I felt the Paradox blonde ale was a bit underdone, but this one hits the pilsner spot perfectly. A bit of resiny hops on the nose carried up a bit of butterscotch and biscuit. In the mouth it’s a big bold bit of crisp lemon cheesecake, with a lovely dry lingering after taste. Very impressive, and right from the first bottle I might be thinking this may replace Croucher’s Pilsner as my favourite New Zealand lager.

Bouteille de 33 cl. Arômes très invitants de houblon fruité (pêches, mangues). Robe blonde et trouble, belle dentelle tenant bien et effervescence moyenne. En bouche, la bière montre un caractère minéral assez présent et le malt n’est pas aussi bien défini que dans le cas des meilleures pilsners néo-zélandaises. Le tout est cependant compensé par un fort houblonnage fruité et aromatique. Finale très sèche et amère.

Bottle. Gold with a huge white head. High bead. Aroma of lemon/ lemon pudding, passionfruit. Taste has light sweet and slightly sour grain, tropical fruit, dry finish with lemon and some herbs. Perhaps a touch overcarbonated. Crisp and lean.