Bohemia is Reminiscent of Famous Dutch Pilsners
Written: May 11 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Firm malt base with spicy hop nose
Cons: Somewhat hard to find
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| mrkstvns's Full Review: Bohemia |
Mention Mexican beer to most Americans, and they automatically think Corona. If Corona was the only Mexican beer you knew, you might think Mexican beers weren't much different from the stuff churned out by mainstream U.S. breweries. You'd be wrong.
Light bodied American style lagers are, without doubt, the most widely sold beers -- both north and south of the border. Yet unlike U.S. industrial brewers, Mexican brewers often augment their innocuous mainstream products with really good beers. True, Modelo produces nondescript swill like Corona, but they also make Negra Modelo. Likewise, Cuahtemoc Moctezuma makes swill like Carta Blanca and Tecate, but they also make an outstanding pilsner beer -- Bohemia. In my opinion, this is the closest to a european style pilsner lager than any major North American brewery produces.
Style Notes:
In my epinion on DeGroen's Pils, I described the classic Czech pilsner style (which is what DeGroen's emulates), but there's a lot more to pilsner in the modern brewing world than just the classic Czech model -- pilsner is also the numerous variations, sometimes subtle, sometimes dramatic. The pilsners made in Germany are a bit different from the Czech, as are those made in the Netherlands or Scandinavia, which are themselves very different from the bland versions mass-marketed by U.S. industrial brewers. There are lots of beers in the world that describe themselves as pilsners, and figuring out which is kin to which takes work!!
Of the variations on the pilsner theme that you find around the world, Bohemia is closest to the European continental pilsner style that's exemplified by beers like Heineken or Grolsch. European pilsners are a bit lighter bodied than the Czech beers with slightly less malt flavor and less assertive hops characters. While usually brewed using noble hop varieties, they should not be expected to show a distinctive Saaz character, though most will exhibit a pretty strong hop character in the aroma. European pilsners have more malt and more hops (especially in the nose) than American pilsners, which are often brewed using corn or other grains.
As with all pilsners, European continental pilsner is very light yellow-colored lager with brilliant clarity and an aroma that's predominantly hops. This is an average bodied beer (12 Plato) with average alcohol levels (4.8 to 5.0%).
Sample Conditions:
I buy Bohemia often, both in Mexico and in south Texas, where it sells quickly, so it's fresh. In these areas, I've never gotten a stale nor lightstruck bottle. It's usually available only in bottles.
Evaluation:
Appearance: Very light golden yellow color with perfect clarity. Fairly aggressive carbonation forms a nice head and shows fine streams of tiny bubbles as the gas streams upwards in the glass.
Aroma: Hops, and lots of it. Strikingly similar to the aroma profile of fresh Heineken (if you've ever had it, as opposed to the skunk smell that you find in bottles that have not been protected from light). Some light toasty character of malt, but mostly just an earthy hops character with a slight grassy edge.
Flavor: Firm malt base with a fairly aggressive hops flavor, again with a bit of an earthy character that you often find from noble-type hop varieties. Fairly light bodied, but not thin.
Brewer Notes:
Another beer from Cerveceria Cuahtemoc Moctezuma, the brewing powerhouse with breweries in Monterrey Nuevo Leon, Orizaba Veracruz, Guadalajara Jalisco, and several other cities in Mexico. See my reviews of Dos Equis or Nochebuena for more info about the brewery.
Overall Impression:
Bohemia is an outstanding example of the european continental pilsner style. Although I'm ranking this beer with 4 stars, it's really more like 3-1/2. If you're doing a tasting, try it side by side with beers like Heineken or St.Pauli. I think you'll be surprised at how very well it actually compares to european pilsners. It's got a similar hop characteristic and a similar firm pale malt base. Of all the pale lagers produced in Mexico, this is hands down the best. But if you're looking for a really super light beer to pound down while hanging out on the beach, you might be happier with the mainstream lagers like Corona or Sol -- Bohemia is much more flavorful beer...better as an accompaniment to dinner, I think. An excellent beer.
Recommended:
Yes
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