Weekend Beer: New Pilsners And Hazy Pale Ales

(Courtesy Ecliptic Brewing)

Summer is ON! And American craft brewers are addressing the season with intriguing new offerings you might want to chase down this weekend.

A Picky Pilsner (Portland, OR) – Ecliptic Brewing has a new Limited Series release, and not surprisingly for a brewery renowned for its lagers, it’s a lager. The brewery’s first canned lager outside of their Special Release and Cosmic Collaboration Series, Ecliptic Pyxis (pronounced “pik-sis”) Pilsner is a 5.5% ABV German-Style Lager that’s crisp, clean and perfectly-balanced.

“The first beer Ecliptic ever made year-round was a pilsner, ”Ecliptic’s Owner and Brewmaster, John Harris says. “Over time the beer was discontinued because we did not have enough production capacity to give a pilsner the lagering time it deserves. With the addition of our Moon Room brewing space and its already built-out lagering capability, we are now in a position to add Pyxis Pilsner to our lineup.”

(Courtesy Flying Dog Brewery)

Get Blasted With Fewer Calories (Frederick, MD) – Flying Dog Brewery has a new limited release brewed for beer fans who embrace a more active lifestyle. Crafted by the brewery’s in-house yoga master and made with lotus hops, Flying Dog Zen Blaster is a 4.5% ABV Blonde Ale with only 90 calories, all the summertime taste you’d expect in an “active ale,” but none of that high-carb baggage.

“For consumers focused on wellness, or those who simply want a lighter beer to sip on in the summertime, Zen Blaster is a more health-conscious alternative without compromising on taste and quality,” said James Maravetz, VP of Marketing at Flying Dog Brewery. “With Zen Blaster, the team at Flying Dog was able to deliver the brewery’s usual high quality, in a more health-conscious package.”

Unfiltered Dankness (Alpine, CA) – The Alpine Beer Company a small-town brewery, nestled in the foothills of the mountains just outside of San Diego, has just released its first year-round can release since the debut of Nelson IPA in cans in 2019. Bursting with blossom, citrus and berry aromatics, Alpine OG Lemon Haze, a 6.5% ABV Hazy India Pale Ale with fresh apple, peach and Meyer lemon peel notes and a super low bitterness. And amazingly there’s no fruit or flavoring added to this beer.