Black Kettle Brewing: Interview Dry-Hopped Pilsner

Black Kettle Brewing: Interview Dry-Hopped Pilsner Review

Black Kettle Brewing has been pouring brews on the North Shore since 2014. As part of our North Vancouver beer scene tour, we dropped in this spring to taste through a sampler tray. We got talking to our host and learned the backstory behind one of the beers we took home.

It’s fairly common, when hiring a brewer, to ask for a sample of something they’ve done. In some cases, they’ve been known to pack some homebrew to the interview. Case in point: when trailblazing BC brewer/brewster Shirley Warne brought along a six-pack that got her the job at then-startup Steamworks Brewpub.

Decades later, when Sarah Polkinghorne applied for the Brewmaster position at Black Kettle, she was similarly asked to demonstrate one of her recipes. So as part of her trial phase, Sarah and former BK brewer Brando Slade made a brew to her specifications. It was a dry-hopped Pilsner, and it eventually became a Black Kettle staple called “Interview”.

Visually, Interview is the prototypical golden lager; it pours transparent yellow with a decent head.

On the nose, the hops come through as you’d hope with a dry-hopped brew. Despite boasting only 18 IBU, there is a distinct grassy and floral bouquet.

On the palate, this Pilsner is well carbonated, crisp and clean, with a slightly spicy hop bite.

We enjoyed Interview by Sarah Polkinghorne and Black Kettle, and would definitely recommend!