My Antonia - Birra del Borgo, Borgorose
Style:
Imperial Pilsner
Serving Type:
Bottle
Alcohol by Volume:
7.5%
Aroma:
Strongly hopped but it doesn't smell like a pale bitter IPA. Hints of citrus and light tangy fruit
Appearance:
Light and clear golden body with a frothy white head and an absurb amount of lacing
Flavor:
Pale, floral and earthy. Defintely tastes like a Pilsner that has been concentrated down quite a bit
Mouthfeel:
Medium bodied, dry and hoppy but not terribly bitter. A very distant cousin to your average everyday Pilsner
Imperial Pilsners were incredibly rare up until a year and a half ago when it seemed like this strong double Lager was all the rage. I've had three different Imperial Pilsner style beers and I've enjoyed them but I've had the same one twice, and I don't have a strong desire to pick up another Imperial Pilsner any time soon. Pilsner is one of my least favorite styles, it seems I only ever enjoy this style is during the hottest days of the summer, and even then I'd rather be drinking a Kolsch or Helles. This bottle of My Antonia comes from Birra del Borgo in Italy and was brewed in collaboration with Dogfish Head in Delaware. Dogfish also bottled their iteration of this beer, which I've had and wasn't too crazy about, so I'm curious to see if the Italian take on the Imperial Pils is any more enjoyable.
My Antonia pours clear and golden with a fierce white head. The body turns only slightly hazy as all the angry bubbles rush to the top of the glass. The head on this beer is extremely frothy and appears to turn semi-solid as it retreats down into the glass, leaving behind as much lacing as possible.
The aroma of this Italian Pilsner is... well, a lot like what comes to mind when you hear the word Pilsner. It's pale and a little musty. My Antonia is continually hopped and packs quite a hoppy punch. This beer doesn't end up smelling like an IPA, but it's definitely hop-forward, giving this beer a fruity and floral nose.
My Antonia tastes as hoppy as it smells, which is to say it taste less hoppy than an IPA but still very fruity and floral. There's an unmistakable Pilsner base to this beer, it's pale but not overly bitter. The finish of this beer is where it's the most bitter but the citrus and sweet hops really mellow it out. In some ways I did end up enjoying this more than some big hoppy IPAs. It's a nice, sweet beer that's well suited for a warm summer day. It's a lot like the other Imperial Pilsners I've had so far, but it has a little extra kick from the hops that makes it stand out.
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