Here is some exciting late-breaking news this Friday afternoon that is particularly important to us here at DCBeer. We just got the word that Pulaski True American Lager, a beer brand conceived by DC bar and craft beer mainstays, received approval from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which clears an important hurdle on the way to the beer being brewed and introduced to the DC market.
Pulaski True American Lager's aim is to provide DC with "an easy-drinking beer that is flavorful but not overpowering" with the belief that "delicious doesn't have to be complicated." The beer is brewed with "high-quality German noble hops" that "create a spicy brightness without the bitterness that makes some beers hard to drink for some…[while] a sturdy malt profile evens everything out in a clean, dry finish," according to materials from the Pulaski team.
That team includes local artist Peter Tsouras, #dcbrews mainstay John Fleury, and homebrewer Joshua "JP" Perry (note that these last two are also occasional contributors to and good friends of this site).
Why brew Pulaski? "There is something lacking in the beer market," according to materials from the beer company. "Many taps and shelves are missing quality, sessionable, craft lagers. Too many breweries are overemphasizing hoppiness, malt sweetness and high-alcohol content…We want to satisfy the need for something easy to drink, deliciously balanced, uncomplicated and satisfying."
The brand's name has a bit of a history (pun intended). Although it comes most immediately from DC's Pulaski Park (also known as Freedom Plaza), that park in turn is named after General Casimir Pulaski, the Polish cavalry commander who fought in the American Revolution and was wounded while protecting George Washington. Today, General Pulaski is recognized as a hero through numerous parks, halls, statues, monuments, and highways, all of which honor "the cause fought for by founding fathers and new transplants." That cause, according to the Pulaski team, resonates strongly in DC, and they insist that "whether you're new to the city or have had family here for generations: DC is your home and Pulaski True American Lager is your beer."
Curious about the specs on this offering? It weighs in at a quaffable 4.76% ABV with 12 IBUs. I (as well as others on the DCBeer staff) have had the chance to try pilot batches of the brew, which lived up to the tasting notes included in a press mailing. These notes described the beer as"light with hints of lemon/citrus up front. Balanced malt and dryness on the back of the palate. Residual lacing. Slight bright green apple aroma and flavor comes from this strain of Czech Budejovice Lager Yeast. Light and smooth mouth feel with a crisp, clean finish."
With the TTB approval in-hand, Pulaski can move forward with ABRA approval and eventual brewing. The beer will be contract brewed in the DC area, and the estimated draft launch is slated for late spring or perhaps SAVOR with cans to follow shortly thereafter. Stay tuned for more details as we get them!
