If you're in the northwestern US and want a Pilsner-style beer, your options might be limited. Of course, there's always the macrobrews available nationally, but hoppy IPAs and experimental brews dominate the microbrew scene. I decided to try a pint of Laughing Dog Brewing Company's "Award Winning" 219 Pilsner. Here are my impressions.

Meh.

Admittedly, that's my opinion of all Pilsners I've tried, and this may be slightly less-meh than Budweiser, Miller, or Coors, but it's nothing I'll be eager to drink again. I don't have a particularly broad sample selection for this opinion, but nothing has yet persuaded me to really explore this style of brew further either.

The Facts:

• Brewed in Sandpoint, Idaho and named for the address of a local bar in that town
• It's pronounced "Two-One-Niner"
• 4.7% ABV according to the can, or 4.8% ABV according to the web page
• Available in pint cans or on tap
• The website doesn't even list its availability in cans, instead stating that it's in kegs only

The Opinions

• It's a step up from Budweiser
• If I understand the term correctly, it's "sessionable"
• Meh

Final Thoughts

• Your mileage may vary
• Mathematicians must remember this rule: don't drink and derive
• Recycle glass and aluminum