Recline with refinement…

This refreshingly classy American Pilsner purrs with bright floral and zesty citrus aromas, subtle bready notes and a crisp finish. Find a sunny spot, crack open a can, sip, and relax. Read on to get all the deets on House Cat!

Reviews are done by our Sensory Specialist Travis Houston, a Certified Cicerone and FoBAB judge.

Malts: Pilsner, Dextrin

Hops:  Galaxy, Vista, Saphir

Can you give a little background on House Cat?

With the creation of Cincy Light, our super-cripsy light lager, we decided it was the perfect time to counter this crushable offering with a brew that’s designed for the craft beer drinker. House Cat is our take on a traditional European Pilsner (see the next question for the background on this style), with a bit of an American craft twist. The base uses the standard Pilsner malt, creating a mildly sweet, bready base, to which the combo of Saphir and Vista hops are added. Saphir is a modern German hop, with amplified Noble hop characteristics, and Vista is a fresh American varietal, bringing tropical fruit and citrus notes. The hop bill is fairly restrained in House Cat, creating a flavorful but extremely drinkable lager that finishes with hints of hop flavor.

House Cat is an American Pilsner. Talk a little bit about the style. 

Pilsner beer goes back to 1842 in the Bohemian City of Pilsen, where Josef Groll brewed a lager beer using very light, minimally roasted malt. Both the malt and the style of beer were named after the city, and quickly became incredibly popular. German brewers soon created their own version to compete with Bohemian Pilsner, swapping out the traditional Saaz hops with other Noble varietals, like Tettnang or Hallertau. Both versions of the style are light, refreshing lagers, with a noticeable hop presence to balance the crisp malt profile. When large American brewers created the extremely light lagers that would come to dominate the current market, they unfortunately chose to call them “Pilsner style” beers, even though the only thing they share in common with the traditional European brews was that they’re made with very light malt. The recent craft lager resurgence has worked to clear up some of the consumer confusion this decision created, though, allowing Americans to appreciate Pilsner as Europeans have for a few centuries. 

What are the notable characteristics of this beer?

House Cat is light but flavorful, with hints of bready malt and notes of hop-derived citrus and tropical fruit. The hop bill is perfectly restrained, contributing just enough character to balance the light, crisp Pilsner malt that forms the backbone of the beer.  

What makes you want to drink House Cat?

The reason this style has been so popular since it was created is that it’s equally as delicious as it is drinkable. Balance is a word used frequently when describing Pilsners, with the best examples utilizing the perfect dose of hops to counter the sweet cracker and bread notes from the lightly roasted malt.

If house Cat was a cat breed, what would it be?

As the owner of 3 cats, this is a tough one, so I’ll just let the beer decide for me. It’s an American Pilsner, so an American shorthair makes sense. The beer is light gold, making an orange American shorthair the closest visually. I think this works perfectly personality-wise though, as well. As the owner of an Orange cat (Homer), I know they’re the perfect balance between affectionate and playful, which lines up well with House Cat, a beautifully balanced beer.

Appearance: Light gold with good clarity and fluffy white foam.

Aroma: Tons of bready malt and hints of hop-derived floral citrus and fresh tropical fruit.

Taste: Mildly sweet with just enough balancing bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Light, crisp and effervescent.

Overall: House Cat is a light gold American Pilsner with the perfect blend of citrusy and tropical hops to balance the light, bready malt bill, creating a flavorful and refreshing lager.

What foods would pair well with House Cat? House Cat would go great with some fish and chips.

Ideal glassware for House Cat? A shaker pint glass.