Nobley Delicious

(STAFF PHOTO: J.T. WAMPLER) Samuel Adams Noble Pils from The Boston Beer Co. in Boston, Mass.

Wamp’s Wisdom

Samuel Adams Noble Pils from The Boston Beer Co. in Boston, Mass., has a neck label that claims it’s one of the only beers to use all five of the noble hops.

The hops used are Hallertau, Tettnang, Spalt, Hersbrucker and Saaz. It’s also made using Bohemian pilsner malt.

It pours brilliantly golden with an active head that turns into thick, sticky lacing. Aroma is of wonderfully delicate hops, bringing to mind a spring breeze. The flavor is a finely balanced blend of mild malt and the noble hops. This is a seasonal that makes me yearn for crisp spring evenings and daylight saving time and would make a great reward after a day spent preparing a garden bed for planting.

Pair with fish and a light salad.

Rating: 4 caps

Rico’s Reaction

Oh ho, I don’t know about noble, but this is a beer with some righteous bite — as much bite as a mini-Pin attacking a package of bacon.

And that delicious bite has a wasabi-like quality. No, the Noble Pils isn’t spicy or horseradishy. Wasabi is known for its burst of hot that flash-bang lights up the sinus cavities and then just as quickly fades away. Similarly, this brew pops you in the taste buds with an excellent punch of hops that quickly dissolves into a refreshing, clean finish with just the merest hint of sweetness.

This beer is as easy drinking and enjoyable as they come and could make a good introductory brew for people who just don’t drink beer or barley poppers who think the world ends and begins with PBR. Seriously, I’m thinking of changing my name to Noble Pils. OK, maybe my middle name. Maybe I’ll just get a hamster and name it that.

With its affordable pricing and ready availability (you can even get it at one of the corner Kum & Go stations in Springdale), here’s hoping Sam Adams drops the “seasonal” on the label and starts brewing this bad boy year round.

Rating: 4.793 caps

Rating System

One Cap: Put it back in the horse!

Two Caps: Consume only if the other choice is Tijuana tap water or Coors Light.

Three Caps: Acceptable without standing out. The Tito Jackson of beer, if you will.

Four Caps: Nice beer that rises above most but may not deliver enough to be considered great.

Five Caps: Truly great beer that delivers on all counts. A credit to its style. Could only be better if served by scantily clad concubines.

Six Caps: Any five cap beer served by scantily clad concubines.