Saint Brewis

A St. Louis Craft Beer Blog

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First Draught – 4 Hands Brewing Company: City Wide Pils

I checked with Stan Kroenke's soul recently and it confirmed that hell has in fact not frozen over. If that's the case, then how is  it possible that the "Ales Without Borders" brewery made a pilsner? Actually, we're too excited to care for the true answer so we'll plow ahead. If you listen to our podcasts, you'll note that we're big fans of lagers/pilsners so having another one available locally is something the Saint Brewis crew is giddy about.

The first beer to get the "City Wide" name, City Wide Pale Ale, has quickly become a big seller in St. Louis. Released for the first time just last year, the beer's approachability and drinkability have made it a constant in a lot of fridges around the city.  Adding another beer to the City Wide brand probably wasn't a decision made lightly so you can bet this one was meticulously brewed.

As our guy Tim Lewis recently posted about this beer, being part of the City Wide brand makes the beer a part of the City Wide project. This gives 4 Hands the opportunity to help out the St. Louis community by donating a percentage of the proceeds to local non profit organizations. Nebula, a collaborative workplace for independent contractors, non profits, artists and creative professionals; CIC St. Louis, a shared space with private offices, labs and co-working, built for startups and thinkers and TechArtista, a collaborative working environment, will all benefit from sales of City Wide Pils.

So just think, by buying the newest beer on the block tomorrow, you're supporting a local business and playing your part in helping out the community. You're a hero. Celebrate you being you by drinking another one.

Brewery 4 Hands Brewing Company
Location St. Louis
Style American Pilsner
 ABV 5.5%
 IBUs n/a
Distribution Info Available 3/22/17 in 4 packs of 16oz cans
Aroma
When you first put your nose to the glass, it's crisp, it's clean, it's got a brief bit of sulfur and it's easily identifiable as a lager. The hops are are somewhat hidden behind some of the sweet, crackery malts but when found they are definitley citrus.
Appearance
This. Beer. Is. Light. The color is pale straw and there is a big, bright white, fluffy head made up of large bubble that cling to the glass. 
Flavor
The malts and hops have almost equal footing on this one with big white bread, cracker and uncooked flour from the malt mixing with the juicy, orange zest flavors from the hops. The bitterness is quite low but the hops are present from start to finish and carry into the aftertaste. The finish is crisp and semi-dry, which makes it a HUGE thirst quencher.
Mouthfeel
The body is actually pretty nice with this one and I'd place it just under medium. The carbonation is a little above medium and I'll be damned if it doesn't come across just as a pilsner should.
Overall Impression
Damn this was refreshing. It's definitely an "Americanized" pilsner with the use of Citra hops as opposed to the noble hops typically used in the style. However, that's exactly what's going to make this beer an easy one for non-craft drinkers to enjoy. One of my first thoughts when I had this was "wow, it's reminiscent of City Wide Pale Ale" because that one too uses the Citra hop. While they may be related, they're distant cousins at best. This beer has earned a constant spot in my fridge for this summer and many more to come. 
Justin Phelps

Justin Phelps

Co-Founder at Saint Brewis
Justin Phelps is a Certified Cicerone® who was born and raised in St. Louis. His passion for beer goes beyond just drinking it as he is also an award-winning home brewer. While he may be a marketing professional by day, he's a blogger, brewery hopper, and beer enthusiast by night.
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