Enbeerment’s Lagerbier of the Week: Perfect Dark Especial

*Originally posted June 28, 2021*

Award-winning South Orange County brewery and one of the major players that accounts for the strong OC Lager-game, GameCraft keeps improving and impressing with their Lagerbiers. Perfect Dark Especial is a beer that might straddle a few styles but seems to fit perfectly in the Lager family, nonetheless.

Perfect Dark Especial began as a Munich Dunkel style that saw some moderate popularity at the tasting room. This version is Vienna Lager-inspired, but with a dash of adjuncts to light up the body a bit and a Mexican Lager yeast strain to make it more reminiscent of the “model” Dark Lagers we may find in stubby bottles. The result is a malty yet refreshing International Dark (or American Dark) Lager.

Deep garnet in color with some auburn highlights and dense, tan head. On the nose, we have aromas of cocoa powder, cracked bread, and a touch of caramel. Flavors are that of dissolved chocolate, lightly toasted bread, with a medium-light body and a semi-dry finish. No guilt with ordering another at only 4.8%ABV.

A wonderful food partner with friend food or burgers. Try with the Bacon Cream Cheese Wontons to create a Mole Poblano flavor on the palate as the spice of the Thai sauce and chocolate notes link up and the fluffy cream cheese adds texture. The bacon harmonizes with the dark malts lifting the salt and letting the pork’s savory nature show itself then the carbonation washes it all away.

Looking a little "sus" there, Perfect Dark Especial

Don’t feel “rare” and let your inner gamer out while taking a sip of Perfect Dark Especial. The warm weather is a noob for this crisp Lagerbier.

GameCraft Brewing
23301 Avenida De La Carlota, Suite C, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Website, Insta, Facebook

Cheers!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®

Enbeerment’s Lagerbier of the Week: Stereo Pils

*Originally posted June 8, 2021*

Beginning its life as Sun Medallion, a collaboration with Bearded Tang’s Jon Chiusano, Stereo Pils is a Czech-Style Pilsner that has evolved to be individual and distinct from its first incarnation. This wonderful lager was gained popularity as a draught-only refreshing beer and quickly a crowd and staff favorite at Placentia’s Stereo Brewing. To our delight, Stereo Pils is available in 16oz canned 4-packs to-go for the first time!

The Czech or Bohemian Pilsner style is the lager that influenced (but is not the same as) other pale lagers including German Pils and the American Light Lager. More on the history of Pilsner here. Stereo Pils shows off the marvelous uplifting quality of the style.

Golden in color and brilliantly clear with no chill-haze at all. Zippy, snappy, crisp, purfumy, and rejuvenating. Brewed using 100% floor malted Bohemian Pilsner malt, only Saaz hops, and a clean lager profile to allow the ingredients to shine. A dried cereal malt backbone with lemony, spicy hop aromas laying atop a pillowy cap of foam. Flavors of hay, cut grass, lemon zest, and a round bitter bite on the finish.

Get it while it’s hot… Or cold in this case. Pay them a visit and enjoy your Pils.

Stereo Brewing Company
950 S Vía Rodeo, Placentia, CA 92870

Website, Insta, Facebook

Na Zdraví!

Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®