First off, let us define what pilsen is, it is a type of beer which is fermented by aging and was created in 1842. The name came from the city of Pilsen, its birthplace, which was situated in Bohemia of the Austrian empire back then. Varations of the name are pilsner, pilsener, and pils.
The Efes Beverage Group, or, Anadolu Efes, started its operations in 1969. Located in Turkey, it became a market leader since the 1980s and began global expansion in the 1990s. Last June 20, through a partnership with Majestic as their distributor, this fully-flavored beer is made available in select supermarkets nationwide. It is a trong beer with a strong flavor, but really light on the tummy. One can drink 20 cans or more without getting full if one has high alcohol tolerance.
As of now, its flagship beer Efes Pilsener and its more challenging counterpart Efes Xtra (7.5% ABV lager) are the ones which are available on the market. Hopefully, other varieties of Efes like Efes Dark, Efes Light, Efes Ice, and Efes Dark Brown will be made available here as well soon.
Efes Pilsener is very refreshing and smooth. Its thick, white head complements the brew’s mild golden color. The lacing is also good and continuous. There are hints of honey tinged with the grassy bitterness of the floral hop, which in turn exudes a pleasant citrus smell. It doesn’t have an undertaste of heavy carbonation, harsh adjuncts, or corn. On the other hand, Efes Xtra‘s capacity to knock you out is made obvious by the first sip.
If you are looking for a beer that’s light on the tummy with a midrange price and a heavy flavor, then this number one Mediterranean beer is for you.