Review: Brasserie Nonsuch La Molière Pilsner Artisanale

Last year La Brasserie Nonsuch partnered up with Théâtre Cercle Molière to create a beer meant to be savoured while at a show at the theatre. Nonsuch came up with (I believe) a French-inspired Pilsner that would pair well with shows at the theatre. The Pilsner is 6% ABV and until recently was only available at the brewery and the theatre, but recently they started to can the beer so it's now available at beer stores in Winnipeg and Liquor Marts throughout the province.

From the label: La Brasserie Nonsuch Brewing Co. et le Théâtre Cercle Molière unissent leur talent pour vous offrir une bière fièrement manitobaine qui combine force de la nature et comédie humaine.

La subtile caresse d'alcool, qui vient délecter vos papilles, nettoyer votre oesophage, et remplir votre estomac d'esssence dramatique, vous inspirera peut-être la prochaine production du TCM. À vos verres et à vos plumes, santé!

Nonsuch Brewing and le Théâtre Cercle Molière take the stage together to bring you La Molière. This craft pilsner will entertain your taste buds and quench your thirst in a dramatic fashion. It might even inspire you to see le Théâtre Cercle Molière's next show, santé!

Appearance: La Molière has a golden straw body with a moderate amount of cloudiness and a moderate amount of carbonation. The head is off-white and is thicker in some spots more than others, reminds me a bit of a small snow bank for some reason.

Aroma: This is a sweet-forward Pilsner with a good deal of malt presence to it. The malt reminds me of a few of the lagers and Pilsners I was drinking back in the early-mid 2000s when I was a bit experimental with beer but not yet a craft beer fan. Reminds me a bit of a Kronenbourg 1664 a bit, but I can't really describe the aroma - it's not a skunkiness, but it's a sharp aroma. There's a bit of honey for sweetness, a bit of toasted barley and grassy hops at the end.

Taste: The flavour of this Pilsner honestly reminds me of a few of my favourite beers from way back when but I can't pinpoint exactly what - it's definitely a Pilsner. I saw someone say on Untappd that this tastes like Budweiser but I had a Budweiser a couple days ago and it definitely doesn't. The malt really pops out in this beer with a sharp bite to it and a good deal of sweetness to it. There's notes of honey, a hint of grassy hops, and a bit of a breadiness, slight hint of bubble gum, and has a flavour that I know many of my readers have tasted in various lagers and pilsners over the years.. I can't really describe it, but it does remind me, again, of Kronenbourg 1664 and something in my mind just popped out at me that it reminds me a bit of the flavour in a Vienna-style lager, a style I enjoyed in my younger days.. malt that pops out more than what you'd typically see in a lager or pilsner. Very carbonated mouthfeel with good amount of sweetness, while the aftertaste is light bitterness of hops and a bite from the malt.

Overall Thoughts: I think La Molière Pilsner Artisanale Artisinale would be highly recommended for someone who likes to buy European import lagers like Heineken, 1664 and Becks as the maltiness of the beer reminds me more of European-style lagers than Prairie/Canadian/North American-style lagers and pilsners. The malt really pops out at you, has a tad graininess to it, floral hops, hint of bubble gum and a light breadiness to it. I can feel the beer dancing in my stomach as I wrap this up.. so while I'd be drinking their Saison or Old Ale X, this is quite refreshing on yet another day of self-isolation.