First Anniversary Pilsner

We couldn't have predicted, in a million years, that the first anniversary of our small brewery would come and go during such a life-altering time. April 11th marked one year of being open to the public, which we quietly acknowledged amongst ourselves, without the celebration we imagined having. It hasn't quite sunk in that we opened just twelve months ago, and it feels both like we opened yesterday and like we have been at this for years. Yet we stand here exhausted and grateful for what has happened over the last year. 

We are grateful for so many new and familiar faces that have come into our brewery. We are grateful for those that have shared our beer with their family, friends, neighbors, and around the country. We are grateful for our friends in the industry here in Kansas City and those in other places we have called home, that have supported us in countless ways. We are grateful for the endless understanding we receive from our families and close friends, who don't get to see us often. And at the end of the day we are grateful for your belief in what we are doing because we truly work our hardest to create world-class beer day in and day out. 

Back in January we began to talk about our 'First Anniversary Beer' and what it would be. Initially, it was about creating a beer that would be big and bold and make a statement! But as time went on it felt like making a statement was less about being big and bold, and more about the thought, care, and technicality that was going into what we created. This is a notion that holds particularly true with lager (see our blog post For the Love of Lager). As things evolved over the last few months we realized that what we wanted for our first anniversary beer had always been right in front of us. One that makes a statement by its delicate complexity. 

Instead of brewing a one-off anniversary beer, we wanted to brew a pilsner that we could see ourselves brewing again throughout the years. A beer that we could finesse and tweak with time, something that adds depth to our lager lineup, and ultimately a beer that every type of beer lover can sit down and enjoy. With that said, One, our first anniversary beer is a Northern German-style pilsner. This style of pils has distinctive bitterness (akin to Czech pils), but bursts with all those beautiful Hallertau hop bouquets that sit below a glacier of tightly packed foam. If you’re a fan of Premiant, this is your German companion. 

Pilsner is a style that has been a staple in communities across the world for centuries and a style that is perfect for those social gatherings that we often long for now. We think it is fitting, especially during this time, as we experience a sense of commonality brought about by a shared experience that we are all having as One. There is a greater sense of solidarity in the world now than we have personally ever experienced. It has caused and taught us to rely on our community, to value our relationships with friends and family, and at times, even to put aside conflict in the interest of humanity. Many of us may never experience a moment like this again. One of our take-aways has been to accept how it has impacted our lives and embrace the time for reflection and appreciation. 

All of us here at Alma Mader Brewing sincerely thank you for supporting us during this strange time. We anticipate an exciting year ahead and have some things in the works that we think many of you will greatly enjoy. We can't tell you how much we are looking forward to the day that you can safely pull up a chair and ask for a slow-pour. 

With gratitude,

Nick & Tania