It wasn’t hard to find area brewery employees at the St. Louis Brewers Guild Heritage Festival last weekend. You just had to walk over to 2nd Shift Brewing‘s booth, where a gaggle of brewery workers and beer nerds were all waiting to try owner-brewer Steve Crider’s new Czech-style Pilsner.
You see, a Czech Pils is a very technical beer style. It takes a deft hand not to screw it up. The style’s delicate nature means any flaws in the brewing process stick out like a sore thumb in the finished product. But Crider, who is best known for his top-notch IPAs and foray into Brett beers, was tempted to try this ambitious style after experiencing them on their home turf, Pilsen in the Czech Republic. And so, Technical Ecstasy was born.
Brewed with Bohemian Pils malt and Saaz hops (the standard for a Czech Pils), Technical Ecstasy pours a stunning hazy straw color with an enormous dense white head, the hallmark of a fresh Pilsner. The hops’ floral, slightly spicy aroma immediately lures you in. The medium-bodied mouth feel produces a soft, crackery maltiness immediately followed by spicy, slightly grassy notes. At 5.4 percent ABV, Technical Ecstasy is extremely crisp and refreshing; this beer can stand alone or pair with anything from chicken wings to a delicate pasta.
Technical Ecstasy is now available in 750-milliliter bottles at locations like Bombay Wines & Spirits and Fields Foods, and draft pours will be available at larger craft beer bars in the St. Louis area. Grab a bottle this weekend to see what all the fuss is about before our area brewers drink it all up.
This article appears in June 2015.