Now, for something new! The team has been abuzz the past few months as news spread of our new Italian Pils. The idea was simple. Give our head brewer Zak Strezo full reign to source ingredients and brew whatever he wanted. It was no surprise that Zak wanted to brew a lager, but he wanted to make something we'd never brewed before - an Italian Pils.

What is an Italian Pils?

It is a beer that originated in Italy in the mid 1990's, by mistake actually. This style is characterized by a light body with coarse head, showcasing light hop aromas from European noble hops in the dry hop and a dry clean finish from German malts. Italian Pilsner isn’t a centuries-old style but more of a mid-1900s adaptation, blending traditional pilsner brewing with Italy’s love for easy-drinking, food-friendly beers. While the ingredients (like the malt and hops) come from Germany (the gold standard for quality brewing ingredients) the way we brew it, the flavor profile, and the overall vibe are inspired by Italy’s unique take on the pilsner style.

What makes Certified Banger different then our flagship Pilsner Southern Drawl?

Italian Pilsner is brewed with all German noble hops, all German malts and even German yeast.

Southern Drawl on the other hand has a little bit of everything that we love about all different styles of pilsners. Louisiana “Cajun Country” rice is used in the grain bill to dry it out just a little further than most Italians Pilsners. We also use American and European hops in a much more aggressive dry hop to create something truly unique.

Once you try Certified Banger, you will discover that it is a delicate labor of love, while Southern Drawl showcases everything we love about lagers/Pilsners and combining them all to make an incredibly crushable everyday drinker that doesn’t fit perfectly into a stylistic box.

Why did you name this beer "Certified Banger?"

“Certified Banger” basically means something that’s straight-up fire - a guaranteed hit that never lets you down. Like that song you play on repeat or the perfect party vibe.

We named our new Italian Pilsner “Certified Banger” because that’s exactly what this beer is. It’s super clean, super crisp, and just hits the spot every time you drink it. No fuss, no filler - just a legit tasty brew that’s ready to crush it at any hangout or chill session.

Bottom line? When you crack open a Certified Banger, you know you’re getting something good. No question.

Why do you enjoy this style?

Zak has always been a lager man from the start. Hell, it's in his blood from his Czech heritage. This style in particular, allowed him to show just how focused and attentive to detail our team is. There is nothing to hide behind so this style is a scary one to take on unless you feel confident enough and are a downright OCD perfectionist.

What’s up with the Pizzeria themed label design?

The label’s old-school Italian pizzeria vibe is a perfect match for our Certified Banger Italian Pilsner. Just like those legendary pizzerias, our beer is all about quality and keeping things simple but unforgettable. And let's be honest, this beer pairs perfectly with a New York-style slice. Perfect crust, sharp pepperoni bite, everybody knows the rules.