Samuel Adams Noble Pils

20110504:
I wrote: "Noble Pils. Crispy fresh. Tasty."

[20110605]

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Samuel Adams Noble Pils

Relevant Links:
Noble Pils (Samuel Adams Website)
Samuel Adams Website MM DD YYYY ; YYYY
The Perfect Pour (Samuel Adams Website)
My Samuel Adams White Ale post

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Website Information:

About:
Samuel Adams® Noble Pils is brewed with all 5 Noble hops for a distinct hop character and fresh taste. Deep golden in color with a citrusy hop aroma, Samuel Adams Noble Pils is a traditional Bohemian Pilsner. The honeyed malt character from traditional Bohemian malt is balanced by delicate yet pronounced citrus, floral, and piney notes from the Noble hops. The winner of our 2009 Beer Lover’s Choice® election, this beer was chosen by over 67,000 drinkers for its crisp complexity and refreshing taste.

History:
The Czech Republic has a long history of brewing dating back to the 12th century. In 1842, a brewer in the town of Plzen created a beer that was the first of its kind. Brewed with newly available pale malts, aromatic Czech Saaz hops and bottom fermenting lager yeast, the pale, clear, refreshing beer was in stark contrast to the dark murky ales of the day. Known as pilsner for the town where it was created, it became a sensation across Europe. Samuel Adams Noble Pils follows in the tradition of this first pilsner.

Brewing:
Samuel Adams Noble Pils is brewed according to the Bohemian tradition. We start with a special Bohemian spring barley that has been crafted using old world, labor intensive techniques, called floor malting. This traditional malt adds a rich malt character and a distinct pilsner flavor to the beer. The beer is also brewed with all five Noble hop varieties to deliver a fresh and citrusy hop aroma and flavor. Noble hops are grown in the world’s oldest growing regions in Bavaria and the Czech Republic and are prized for their delicate aroma and flavor. Each of the five Noble hop varieties adds a slightly different aroma and flavor to the beer, from citrus and spice to pine and floral. The result is a beer that is crisp, complex and refreshing. Its bright flavor and lively, citrus hop character remind us that the warm days of spring are just a few weeks away.

Profile:
Flavor Profile: The five Noble hop varieties in this beer deliver a fresh and citrusy hop aroma which is nicely balanced by the honeyed malt character from the traditional Bohemian malt.
Color: Deep golden
Original Gravity: 12.7° Plato
Alcohol by Vol/Wt: 4.9%ABV - 3.8%ABW
Calories/12oz.: 169
Malt Varieties: Two-row Harrington, Metcalfe, and Copeland pale malts, and Czech pilsner malt
Hop Varieties: Hallertau Mittelfrueh, Tettnang Tettnanger, Spalt Spalter, Saaz, and Hersbrucker Noble hops
Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams lager yeast
Availability: Seasonal (January - March)
First Brewed: 2009

Noble Pils - Course Pairings
Smoked Salmon / Smoked Salmon is a flavorfull and rich fish that needs a moderate to full hop character to contrast. Boston Ale, Samuel Adams Latitude 48, or Noble Pils would all be excellent choices.

Bruschetta / Bruschetta can be a difficult pairing with its combination of flavors so it calls for a balanced and flavorful beer like Samuel Adams Boston Lager or Noble Pils. The initial maltiness works with the bread while the Noble hop finish helps cut through the cheese and acidity of the tomatoes.

Guacamole / Guacamole's blend of avocado, lime, and cilantro makes a perfect pairing with a crisp pale lager or wheat beer. The hop character of our Noble Pils will cut through the creaminess of the avacado and compliment the herbal cilantro notes, while the crispness of the wheat and citrus in Summer Ale or Samuel Adams Coastal Wheat compliment the lime and fresh green cilantro flavors.

Nachos / Now, this pairing definitely depends on what you pile onto your nachos, but look for a beer like Samuel Adams Boston Lager with balance and some sweetness to match most of the toppings' flavors without overshadowing them. The sweetness of the malt will put out some of the fire while the hop bitterness will cut through the cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. For extra spicy nachos, try Noble Pils or Sam Adams Light to soften more of the heat.

Fresh Tuna / Tuna is incredibly flavorful yet delicate and less oily than salmon. We recommend our Summer Ale or Noble Pils to pair with fresh tuna. Summer Ale and White Ale have unique blends of spices and malted wheat which can help add some lightness to the pairing. Noble Pils has a full hop flavor and long malty finish to help balance the flavorful tuna, particularly in sushi.

Oysters & Clams (raw) / With fresh shellfish, you get the briny flavors of the sea but there's also a delicate sweetness from the meat as well. It may not seem to be a natural pair but the combination of oysters and stouts has been loved for centuries for the perfect pairing they create. The deep roasted character and subtle bitterness of our Cream Stout seems to brighten the sweet and salty taste of the oysters. Our Black Lager has some of the same roasted malt characteristics but with a lighter body to contrast the creamy texture of the shellfish for another great pairing. For a more herbal note that contrasts with the sweetness of the raw oyster, Noble Pils is also good pair.

Sushi / The distinct cereal note and citrus in Samuel Adams Coastal Wheat and Summer Ale will compliment and brighton the raw fish flavors without overpowering their delicate taste. Sam Adams Light also has a lighter body but the malt will work well to put out the fire of the wasabi and ginger and balance out the soy sauce. The hoppiness and lighter body of a Noble Pils will also make a great pairing.

Lasagna / The malt base in Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Noble Pils match the seasoned beef or sausage used in this sauce. The citrusy and floral hops will also complement the tomato's acidity and help lighten the taste of the cheese and pasta that often accompanies this sauce.

Marinara / The tomato character is going to drive the flavor in this sauce. To match that robust and acidic flavor try a Noble Pils for its medium body and hop bitterness that will work with the flavor of the tomatoes. Pale Ale's earthy hop flavor will also compliment the tomato based sweetness of the sauce.

Spicy Indian / Spicy curries are full of flavor both in spice and heat so there are two directions to go for choosing a beer. The first approach is to subdue the spice with a sweeter malt body. Pale Ale and Sam Adams Light have the right balance of malt smoothness while not adding heaviness to the dish. Another approach is to highlight the spice (rather than the heat) in the curry to bring out the aromatic qualities. The floral noble hop aroma of the Noble Pils will nicely pick up the spices in the curry.