Beer: Orange Blossom Pilsner
Brewery: Thomas Creek Brewery in Greenville, SC
Style: Pilsner, with honey
Orange Blossom Pilsner (OBP) claims right on the bottle that it is "Florida's Honey Beer," and you shouldn't let the fact that it is brewed in South Carolina turn you off to the idea that it is a product of Florida. While brewed out of state, the beer was born in the garage of Orlando resident Tom Moench. As the fame of his homebrew spread, he contracted the recipe out to a brewery, and the widely distributed OBP was born. I know you've been eying that six-pack of OBP at the beer store for months, afraid to buy all six, but desperate to try just one: Perhaps I can help.
OBP, by its very name, is a pilsner, and the central taste is clean, light, and crisp. The smell is pleasant, and the appearance is a lovely straw color. I've found some pilsners to be a little watery or skunky, but neither of those issues bothered me here. What sets OBP apart from other pilsners, however, is the fact that it is brewed with 2.3 tsp of honey in every serving. Keep in mind, the beer is not sweet by any means, as all the sugar ferments into alcohol, and the fermented honey instead gives the beer a nice, dry finish. It might just be my imagination, but as I let the final taste linger on my tongue, I picked up the slightest hint of honeycomb. With that, I was satisfied.
Final Word: Some "honey" brews from Large American Beer Company beat you in the face with a creamy, sweet honey taste, but OBP takes the opposite approach. It delivers a crisp, well-constructed pilsner with just a touch of honey essence. Stop wondering and start drinking - Orange Blossom Pilsner is worth every penny.
Orange Blossom Pilsner is available at:
Ward's Supermarket, 515 NW 23rd Ave. (352) 372-1741
Gator Beverage, 1126 W. University Ave. (352) 336-6128
Outside of Gainesville: Purchase locations
