Beer Review: Shred Beer Co. – Lite Resins (West Coast Pilsner)
It’s been a long day, the sun is high, and you want something clean, crisp, and refreshing, but with a bit more of a hop punch than your average lager. That’s exactly where the West Coast Pilsner style steps in, and Shred Beer Co. has absolutely nailed it with “Lite Resins.”
This style is often called the “Brewer’s IPA” – an opportunity to showcase technical brewing skills. It requires the clean, dry profile of a classic German or Czech Pilsner, but adds a robust, modern hop charge.
First Impressions
On a pour, Lite Resins is everything a pilsner should be. It’s a hazy, light-straw gold with a frothy, white head that holds up well. The aroma is where the “West Coast” part of its name comes in. There’s an unmistakable floral and resinous citrus punch, immediately setting it apart from a more traditional, bready pilsner.
Flavor Profile
The first sip is a pleasant surprise. The initial flavor is that of a super crisp, dry pilsner with a faint, clean cracker-like malt base. The bitterness is clean and subtle, not the heavy hit you’d expect from an IPA.
The hops are the real star. It leads with a resinous pine character, perfectly balanced by notes of white grape, lemon peel, and a touch of something like fresh hay. There is a lingering resinous, piney character, but it’s “lite” as promised, keeping the beer’s body exceptionally crisp.
The finish is remarkably dry and snaps shut, a mark of a well-made pilsner. It’s a clean-up batter of a beer, wiping away any lingering flavor and preparing you for the next sip.
Shred Beer Co.’s Lite Resins is a masterclass in balance. It has the pure, simple drinkability of a great German pilsner but has the nuanced, interesting hop complexity of a small-batch IPA. It’s an incredibly easy beer to drink, but it will also be appreciated by hopheads looking for a crisp alternative to a heavy, sweet hazy IPA. This is a brilliant summer beer, perfect for a BBQ or just relaxing after work. It has a slight alcohol burn, so be careful.