Costco Brewer’s Advent Calendar Diary, Day 3: Kauzen-Bräu’s “Käuzle”

I don’t like pilseners, but I love mascots.

It’s not hard to figure out why I don’t care much for the noble pilsner: Like many my age, the thin, fizzy King of Beers was one of the first brews we ever tasted — and we tasted just enough funky flavor to think, “I don’t know if I like beer, but I know I don’t like this.” Even the very fanciest pilsners just taste, uh, more like that: Thin, fizzy, weirdly floral, bitter without being bright, aromatic without smelling like good beer.

But the Blathers-esque owl (named Käuzle, or “Screeches”) on the bright can of this German microbrewed pilsener hinted at something bolder. So did the cheerful pun underneath (“ein Käuzle unters schnauzle,” or, I think, “a Screeches under the nose-el”).

So I was pleasantly surprised when I poured it out of the unusually bold and charming vessel and darn if it didn’t look tasty:

From the big, thick head to the sweet amber malt, this pilsner had more of everything I like about beer than I’m used to from the style.

But as much as the winsome mascot and un-Germanly vibrant can and Ty-friendly spins on the traditional pilsener recipe are all right up my alley, at the end of the day it’s a decently drinkable beer that doesn’t stand out in any way. It’s not a great pilsener and it isn’t an amber or a bock.

If I could grab a four-pack of pint cans at the corner store for $7.99, I’d definitely pull the trigger from time to time. As a fancy import I’d have to hunt down and/or get shipped? Nah.

That said, tonight? On this night? The third night of Advent? I’m glad to have a Käuzle under my schnauzle.