Welcome to Beer Tastings, a weekly series in which Utah Beer News highlights a particularly tasty local brew. This week: Pub Pils by Desert Edge Brewery. What are you drinking? Let us know!
Beer Tastings: Pub Pils
I hadn’t stopped by Desert Edge Pub and Brewery in a while, so I thought it about time. Boy, I guess I hadn’t been to Trolley Square in a while, either.
It’s changed a lot since my days spent frequenting Green Street (gone), Trolley Square Cinemas (also gone), and Wiseguys (yep, gone). Fortunately, Hard Rock Café is still… oh, nope.
But Desert Edge Pub is thankfully alive and well. I stopped in on a Tuesday afternoon and ordered a Pub Pils, a classic Czech-style pilsner.
Aromas of toast and some grass let you know what you’re in for. Flavors true to the style — crackers, toasted grain, herbaceous — and a hint of hop spiciness make this an easy drinker perfect for a hot summer day.
I picked up a slight honey-like sweetness at the end, which I enjoyed. Served especially cold, my pint rated a bit higher than average on my internal “crispness” scale.
- Brewery: Desert Edge Brewery
- ABV: 4%
- Serving Style: Draft
- Date Tasted: August 7, 2018
- Purchase Location: Desert Edge Pub
Desert Edge Brewery: A Trolley Square Tradition
As mentioned above, Trolley Square isn’t what it used to be. A revitalization project in the last decade brought in new storefronts anchored by Whole Foods Market. I’m happy to report Desert Edge Pub and Brewery is much as I remember it.
In a previous job, Desert Edge served as a celebratory gathering spot for a handful of co-workers. Each year, following our company’s annual convention at the Salt Palace, we’d seek a locale a few blocks south of the city center to avoid post-convention traffic jams at restaurants.
We often landed at Desert Edge, which is conveniently located in Salt Lake City, but just outside reasonable walking distance from the convention center.
The pub opened in 1972 “serving Coors to college students,” according to the Desert Edge website. In 1995, along came craft beer. And more than 20 years later, though the craft beer landscape has changed about as much as has Historic Trolley Square, Desert Edge remains true to its roots — providing locally sourced pub food and tasty craft brews.
Pub Pils — Desert Edge Brewery
Product Name: Pub Pils
Product Description: A hot summer day calls for a refreshing pilsner. The Pub Pils, a Czech-style pilsner by Desert Edge Brewery, is just that. Light and crisp, some spicy hops notes come through. For me, it finishes with a honey-like sweetness.
- Aroma
- Appearance
- Flavor
- Mouthfeel
Overall Impression
A hot summer day calls for a refreshing pilsner. The Pub Pils, a Czech-style pilsner by Desert Edge Brewery, is just that. Light and crisp, some spicy hops notes come through. For me, it finishes with a honey-like sweetness.
- Aroma: Toast, some grass
- Appearance: Clear golden straw color, off-white head that sticks around
- Flavor: Crackers, some spicy hops but I also picked up a little honey-like sweetness
- Mouthfeel: Light, served very cold
But you don’t have to take my word for it.
Note: The tasting notes format is adapted from a Homebrew Academy Beer Tasting Mastery course I took in 2017.
