Key West Pilsner Light

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Key West Pilsner Light
The Florida Beer Company
725 Silver Palm Avenue
Melbourne, FL USA
Est. 1994
www.floridabeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = ?.? % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Pale golden yellow color.
Smell of grain. Mostly grainy malt with slight hops aroma.
Two finger white head that dissipated rapidly.
Pretty good lace on the glass.
Medium carbonation.
Small nucleated bubbles. High carbonation.
Light bodied and flavor; slightly tart, dry finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Disclaimer time.  I am not a fan of light beers. And I have been skeptical of most brews in this style for quite some time. German and Czech brewers are about the only breweries that make refreshing, tasty well balanced Pilsener Lagers, in my humble opinion. The macro breweries do a yeoman's job of creating mass quantities, but still can't match the German/Czech regional pilseners.

Key West Pilsner Light gives us their version of this style. While it was a beer that hit the spot on the day consumed, it did not measure up to the centuries old brewers of Europe.

If you are looking for a light beer, (93 calories, 2.6g carbohydrates, 1g protein and 0g fat), look no further. Hmmm. Where did the protein come from? And why does the Key West lineup from Florida Beer never list the ABV? Questions, questions!

Hurricane Reef Caribbean Style Pilsener

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Hurricane Reef Caribbean Style Pilsener
The Florida Beer Company
725 Silver Palm Avenue
Melbourne, FL USA
Est. 1994
www.floridabeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.7 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Pale yellow color.
Smell of sweetness.  Mostly grainy malt with slight hops aroma.
Less than a one finger white head that dissipated rapidly.
Medium carbonation.
Small nucleated bubbles, some clinging in groups to the side of the glass.
Light bodied and flavor; slightly tart, dry finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Another "Original Beer of the Conch Republic."  I have noticed that this beer touts the branding name and style over the company name, Florida Beer.  Just an observation.

Not too remarkable, not terrible either. It makes a great sub for any B-M-C product.  And since it's a local company, we will help to support the cause by occasionally using it a a 'go-to' beer.

Although Hurricane Reef is pretty easy to drink, it didn't exactly "blow me away."

Jalehouse Light

Dead Inmate

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Jalehouse Light Lager
Turtle Distributing Co. of South Florida
1251 Commerce Boulevard South

Sarasota, FL USA
Brewed by The Florida Beer Co.
Melbourne, FL
Est. 2009
www.jalehousebeer.com
 
Brain Damage Quotient = 4.5 % ABV

Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Bright, light yellow color.
Sweet grain smell with faint citrus smells.
Foamy, white, tall head that dissipates over time.

Dots of lacing on the glass.
Moderate carbonation. Slight lemon detected in taste?
Light bodied, refreshing. Low calorie and low carb. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Headline should read, "Hometown boys make good!"

I read something once that said nearly everyone in the USofA lives within an average of 10 miles from a brewery.  The boys over at Jalehouse actually are distributors, not brewers, so they contract their beer production with The Florida Beer Company out of Melbourne, FL.  Since I live within 10 miles of their first distribution points, we set off for a scavenger hunt.

The hunt was short and the hearse pulled in the crypt with six cold corpses for a quick autopsy.  This beer just hit the market in the past few weeks.  As I type, a cold one is only a few inches from the keyboard.

The beer is a great first effort, in that it fits the Florida market and lifestyle.  Many hot days here produce the need for a quenching beer that won't dry you out.  So these fellas did their homework and have come up with a great beach/pool/after a hard days work kind of beer.  You will find that they will slake even the mightiest of thirsts.  Wth low carbohydrates and low calories, they won't weigh you down.  Even the 4.5% ABV will keep the 'brain drain' at bay.

Bravo for your first effort!  Another micro-brew has launched, and right here in my own backyard.  Keep up the good work boys.

Key West Sunset Ale

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Key West Sunset Ale
The Florida Beer Company
725 Silver Palm Avenue
Melbourne, FL USA
Est. 1994
www.floridabeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = ?.? % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Amber in color, almost orange in hue.
Smell of sweet bread-like yeast, mild malts and slight hops aroma.
Two finger off-white head that dissipated slowly.
Medium carbonation with small nucleated bubbles.
Light bodied and flavor; clean, dry hops finish.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Key West is the sister to the Ybor line from The Florida Brewing Company.  The Key West Brewery was part of a merger under The Florida Brewing Company that took place in 2003 as an attempt to secure better distribution within "The Sunshine State."

The Florida brewing company is turning out some pretty fair beers in the Sunshine State.  They are making a steady reputation in micro brewing. Sunset Ale touts itself as "The Original Beer of the Conch Republic."  We are a fierce groups of pirates, here in Florida.  So if you venture into our area, pick up some of this bounty and see first hand, what it's all about.

Ybor Gold Amber Lager

Dead Soldier

Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Ybor Gold Amber Lager
The Florida Beer Company
725 Silver Palm Avenue
Melbourne, FL USA
Est. 1994
www.floridabeer.com 

Brain Damage Quotient = 4.6 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Golden-red in color.
Smell of yeast, bread-like with hops aroma.
One finger near-white head that dissipated.
Medium carbonation with dry hops finish.
Light bodied and flavor.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Once located in the Tampa area, the Ybor City Brewing Company is no longer.  It 'lives' on in the Florida Beer Company, relocating the brewing operations to Melbourne, directly across the state on the east coast.  YCB merged with Key West Brewery and Miami Brewing Company in 2003 in an attempt to secure better distribution within "The Sunshine State."

The brew, a Vienna style lager, is an easy drinker. It is uncomplicated and profoundly better than "yellow" lager beers.  Definitely worth a try and good for whatever ales you!