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Excel Brewing Company – El Pistolero

Brewery: Excel Brewing Company
Location Breese, IL
Style Vienna Lager
 ABV 5.0%
 IBUs 22

 

Best Quote During Tasting

I get the urge to chug a beer and smash the glass when I'm at your house.

Justin:

Aroma - The malts are toasted bread and pie crust while the hops are perceptible as perfumey and floral.
Score: 9/12
Appearance - El Pistolero pours a clear, light amber with a bright white head made up of small and large bubbles. The head stays firm as the beer is consumed and leaves nice lacing.
Score: 3/3
Flavor - The beer is sweet but not overly so. Sweeter than my preference. It's got a great malt backbone of graham cracker and pie crust with the hops having much more bitterness than on the nose but still retaining their floral quality throughout the finish.
Score: 16/20
Mouthfeel - Medium + carbonation and a medium body makes this one a crisp palate cleanser.
Score: 4/5
Overall Impression - Lagers aren't supposed to be something we like but dammit if some of them just taste delicious. This is an example of a Mexican Lager (Vienna style) with darker malts and hops that you can taste. It rates high because it's a great example of the style. I could definitely pound a few of these poolside and recommend you give it a try.
Score: 9/10

 

Justin:

Aroma - Sweet malty goodness with a fair amount of bread crust. A slight hop aroma produces pleasant floral aromas.
Score: 9/12
Appearance - Deep clear amber in color with a fluffy white head that slowly resides. Looks highly carbonated. 
Score: 3/3
Flavor - Malt produces a fair amount of nutty and toasted bread notes, and a slight bit of caramel sweetness. The floral hops give a fair amount of bitterness that creates a great balance with the sweetness from the malts.
Score: 17/20
Mouthfeel - Medium-high carbonation and medium body. Very crisp.
Score: 4/5
Overall Impression - Wish I had this one on my honeymoon. I drank plenty of the style while in Mexico, but I'm not sure any of them were as refreshing as El Pistelero. This is just one of a number of beers Excel has done where I feel they not only nail the style, but improve it quite a bit. I talk a lot about beers that are great for drinking on a patio during great weather, and this one is another one that will enter my rotation this summer.
Score: 9/10

 

El Pistolero Final Score
  • Aroma
  • Appearance
  • Flavor
  • Mouthfeel
  • Overall
4.3
User Rating: 0.0 (1 votes)
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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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