Florida Beer: Stiltsville Pilsner from Concrete Beach Brewery

Every week, we take a look at a craft beer brewed in Florida. Follow #FloridaBeerFriday for more reviews of Sunshine State brews. Get out there and #DrinkLocal.

This week we're taking a look at the Stiltsville Pilsner from Concrete Beach Brewery, which just this week announced that they are beginning to brew on site at their Wynwood facility in Miami. 

For those unfamiliar with Concrete Beach (and with our first taste preview and Miami New Times' in-depth preview of the place, shame on you!), the brewery is the newest project by craft veteran Alan Newman, who previously founded the wildly successful Magic Hat Brewery in Vermont. Now he runs Concrete Beach Brewery, which is slated to open its social hall doors sometimes this year.

Until then, they've been delivering this beer and another to local stores to build their brand, and to get more beer in the hands of thirsty Floridians.

This beer is Concrete Beach's version of the German pilsner, though in this day and age it might as well just be called an American pilsner with what they are doing with it.
Stiltsville pours a darker yellow that borders on a golden orange, and comes loaded with a pillowy, bright white head, which leaves long and dynamic lacing across the glass. Even from afar, there are aromas effusing from the glass. It's full of fresh raw hops, like opening a sealed bag of hops during a home brew, grassy and floral, with a nod towards spicy and skunky. Towards the end of the aroma, hints of the beer's body show through.

Taking a sip, I'm met with a light and cracker forward beer, and it's surprisingly mild considering the welcome wagon that greets on the nose. Still, I find myself drawn back into it again and again, as it's expertly made and doesn't show any off flavors. It finishes grassy, mildly bitter, and slightly dry. 

According to the info stats, this beer is loaded up with four very un-German hops: Galena, Citra, Motueka, and Nelson Sauvin. Well now, that explains the aroma.

Until there are more Concrete Beach beers out in the market, this and the Rica wheat IPA will be the only ones to get. Stiltsville is currently available practically everywhere in 12-ounce bottle 6-packs.

Doug Fairall is a craft beer blogger who focuses on Florida beers, and has been a homebrewer since 2010. For beer things in your Twitter feed, follow him @DougFairall and find the latest beer pics on Clean Plate's Instagram.