Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week": Lagunitas Pils

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Oct 24, 2007 4:00PM

When we were younger and less discriminating about our beer, we considered it a point of pride to be able to drink every draft selection at a bar. When we made it through every tap at Hopleaf (back when it was only a bar; how many of us can remember that?) we stopped taking on that challenge.

Then we started hanging out at Skylark with frequency. With only a couple handfuls of selections, a beer geek should be able to accomplish that feat in a couple visits, maybe one if he has a strong constitution or a designated driver. What Skylark lacks in quantity they make up for in quality. One of our go-to beers is Lagunitas Pils, which we usually pair with the Skylark burger, medium rare. This Czech-style pilsner from California teems with malty sweetness on the nose like all good Czech pilsners should. Where it veers from other pilsners is in its relative lack of bitterness from the hops. It's there, but it isn't as dominant as, say, Pilsner Urquell or July "BotW" selection Victory Prima Pils. The malts used in the brewing give this beer a body and weight not usually associated with pilsners, for us large-framed beer drinkers.

Skylark sells Lagunitas Pils for around $4 a pint. You can also pick up a six-pack at Sam's, Binny's, and Archer Liquors, usually priced at $8.99. While you're there, pick up a sixer of upcoming "BotW" selection Lagunitas "Censored." For this week, however, Lagunitas Pils is Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week".

Image via www.bierkraft.com.