Beer Review: Fair State / Bierstadt – Side Pull Czech-Style Pale Lager
Style: Czech-Style Pale Lager (Světlé Výčepní)
Collaboration: Fair State Brewing Cooperative (Minneapolis, MN) x Bierstadt Lagerhaus (Denver, CO)
ABV: 4.1%
Hops: Saaz & Kazbek
Process: Decoction Mashed
When Fair State teams up with the absolute lager purists at Bierstadt, expectations run sky-high. Side Pull doesn’t just meet those expectations; it completely shatters them. This Czech-style pale lager is an absolute masterclass in traditional brewing, pairing a painstaking decoction mash with 100% Czech-grown ingredients. Clocking in at a highly sessionable 4.1% ABV, it is a brilliant, soft, and deeply flavorful crowd-pleaser that is built to be slammed.
Appearance
Side Pull pours a laser-clear, brilliant golden straw color. To do this beer justice, it needs to be poured hard, ideally through a traditional side-pull faucet. Doing so rewards you with a gorgeous, thick crown of creamy, dense, “jiggly” wet foam that shows staggering structural integrity, shielding the beer below and leaving sheets of lacing down the glass.
Aroma
The olfactory profile is incredibly inviting, kicking off with the distinct rustic depth that only premium Czech Pilsner malt can provide. Expect dominant aromas of fresh-crusted white bread, raw dough, and standard soda crackers. This comforting bready base is trimmed beautifully by the noble, peppery spice of Saaz hops and an unexpected, bright, floral-citrus nuance from the Kazbek.
Palate & Mouthfeel
The mouthfeel is where the collaboration truly sings. Thanks to the traditional decoction mash, the texture is remarkably soft, round, and pillowy on the tongue, providing a perceived weight and richness that punches way above its 4.1% ABV. It strikes a flawless balance, offering a velvety sip that remains brilliantly crisp and lively due to fine, prickly carbonation.
The flavor follows the nose, coating the palate with elegant malt sweetness before a wave of herbal and earthy hop character sweeps through the mid-palate.
Finish
The exit is exceptionally clean, snappy, and bone-dry. The heavy blanket of foam keeps the liquid underneath remarkably smooth, leading to a crisp, refreshing finish defined by a low-key, precise noble-hop bitterness. There is zero residual sweetness or palate clutter, making it an incredibly repeatable, endlessly slammable lager.
Side Pull is a beautiful reminder of why traditional lager methods matter. By respecting old-world techniques like decoction mashing and utilizing stellar imported ingredients, Fair State and Bierstadt have created an elite everyday drinker. It is crisp, complex yet unassuming, and an absolute must-try for any lager enthusiast looking for flawless execution.
Please Note: To ensure absolute freshness and optimal storage temperatures, all craft beer arrivals are sold exclusively in-store and are not available for online ordering.
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