It’s time for another beer from my hometown brewpub, The Sly Fox. Previously I reviewed the canned Royal Weisse; this time I’m cracking open a can of the Pikeland Pils. Since brining a few cans of the Pikeland down to Arlington, VA, where I now live, it has been a huge hit with visitors to my apartment. It offers familiar flavors while still managing to be creative and flavorful, which I think helps to draw a lot of people into liking it. While the Pikeland may not be my go-to beer when I visit The Sly Fox, it is still one of my favorites and well worthy of a review.

The Pikeland Pils pours a clear golden color with a fluffy two finger white head. Not the most interesting beer to look at and nothing too out of the ordinary for the style. The nose is grainy with noble hops coming through along with some malt and grasses. The nose is also nicely crisp, keeping to the classic Pilsner style.

True to form for a Pilsner, the Pikeland is crisp and refreshing. The flavors combine and instantly remind me of a good bread. The hops add some spice to the party and bring a hint of bitterness. While the Pikeland is mostly true to form for a Pilsner, in my opinion it ends a bit sweeter than most traditional Pilsners and balances out some of the hop bite, making it more refreshing all the way through.

The Pikeland Pils from Sly Fox is a great beer; it is flavorful, traditional, and creative. It could easily be considered a gateway beer to the craft beer world, but can also act as a good session beer for seasoned vets. In the end, if you can find it near you give it a shot, I doubt that you will be disappointed.

Overall: 7.5/10