Grolsch - Beer With an Ulterior Motive

It was hot, and I needed some cold beer after an excessively frustrating day at work. After I walked into Downtown Wine and Spirits in Somerville, I remembered that I had been craving Grolsch, a lager from the Grosche Bierbrouweri in Enschede, Holland. Now, when you crave Grolsch, it is not just the refreshing liquids inside the bottle, but it is the bottle itself, a 16 oz. green beauty with a unique top that will seal a beer without the pain of capping. The plastic and rubber stopper atop the bottle makes a promise to the beer drinker. “Once you finish this beer,” it says, “you can make more beer to put inside the bottle, and you will have less work to do when bottling!” An experienced home-brewer such as myself values the little things, and this nifty invention is a Godsend to novices and experienced enthusiasts alike.

When I got the beer home, I popped the top and poured a glass of Grolsch Premium Lager. It poured a slightly pale yellow, almost the color of hay. The head was fizzy, its ample volume dissipating quickly to a thin broken top with minimal lacing. The aroma was slightly sweet, if a little metallic, with a wisp of citrusy strawberry. It hit the tongue sharply, presenting itself as crisp and refreshing with fresh bread flavors. The mouth feel came across as dry and hinted at undertones of walnuts and bananas. A healthy, though not overpowering, bitter bite gives body and finish to this light lager, joining flavors of light brown sugar and an idea of floral soap in the end.

Though these bottles of Grolsch were fairly pricy, at around 9 dollars for the 4-pack, it is definitely worth the investment for the bottles that you can reuse again and again in your own beer brewing escapades. It is also a delicious and refreshing Dutch lager with subtle, yet interesting characteristics that you should try if you have not had the pleasure.