Brewer: Baltimore Washington Beer Works USA
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Type: German Pilsener
ABV: 4.5%
We’re not finished with Baltimore yet, hon. Let Loba tell you a tale. Once upon a midnight dreary…Baltimore Washington Beer Works decided to build a line of beers with names based upon the works of Edgar Allan Poe, one of Baltimore’s most famous residents…who, subsequently, was also a lifelong alcoholic. Regardless of this bit of oversight (or irony), as a one-time student of Poe’s works as well as a lifelong fan of his writing (and a lifelong fan of drinking), I deeply approve of their line-up, which includes: Raven Special Lager, Pendulum Pilsner, Tell-Tale Heart IPA, The Cask Double Bock, and Annabel Lee White.
Here’s a little secret I’ve never shared with you all before. As much as I don’t like most light-colored beers, I actually have quite a fondness for some pilseners. Some are a little jarring, which is why I have to be in a mood to try a new one, but I’ve found several that I really enjoy as an alternative for when I cannot find any darker options. I don’t typically buy them because…well, once I finished pillaging the dark beer section, I’ve not got much energy (or money) left to buy anything else. However, I am not averse to pilseners as gifts. Especially ones that come emblazoned with the image of my favorite author (and a really groovy label; I don’t know if you all can tell, but the label has little razor-sharp pendulums at each bottom corner).
With a beautiful golden color and a subtle, almost floral nose, Pendulum is a readily accessible beer. It’s tangy but not too sharp, fizzy but not frothy, light but not watery. Not quite as quick a drink as the Balt beer, but still something easy to down with a nice thick slice of pizza. I don’t really consider light beers to be something that I would drink on their own, so I would definitely want to drink this with some kind of food. Something naughty. Something fried. I can’t really pontificate much on this beyond what I’ve said, since light beers are kind of not my bag, baby, but sometimes a beer is just a beer, right? Right.
I’d be interested to find this on tap somewhere…again, perhaps at a pizzeria or a burger joint. Maybe even a seafood place. I could see this going nicely with some fresh clams or mussels. Have I made you hungry enough yet? Quoth the Raven…feed me now.