Every beer geek dreams of crossing the pond to sample brews from the three great European brewing traditions. We envision sipping a real bitter in an English pub, or savoring an ale from a Belgian Trappist monastery, and of course, such a trek also would mean dropping in on beer’s fatherland — Germany. For Denver beer people, though, a visit to Prost Brewery is the next best thing.

Specializing in beers from the German tradition, the Prost brewery and taproom occupies a small chunk of the Lower Highland neighborhood overlooking Interstate 25. Its tap list features several year-round brews, seasonals and special projects. Ordering a German style in an American craft brewery is often risky — it takes meticulous and methodical brewers to pull off good German beer because the brewing process can be more complex and temperamental than other styles (think BMW, not Buick).

We recently stopped in to sample Prost Pils. The first thing you notice about this lovely brew is its refreshing aroma, a seamless mixture of sweetness, floral, hops and malt. The beer’s color resembles a new wedding ring — not a bad appearance, even if you’re a committed bachelor — and it’s accentuated by the traditional German-style glassware, for which you have to give Prost mad props.

Inside the glass, the taste comes together over faint carbonation and under a thick white head. The pilsner isn’t overly sweet or malty, but has a finish that’s crisp and cool, like a summer rain shower. Its hop tang relies on a German noble hops variety that never overpowers its malt bill. Prost Pils is smooth and easy enough to make a great session beer and with an ABV of 4.9%, several servings of won’t cause liver damage, either.

Pairing this beer with rich foods would be overkill. Go with a flaky white fish — fried or grilled—or shrimp, crab or lobster. Breaded pork chops, would probably work very well, too.

Prost sells some of its beers in 32-oz. growlers in liquor stores around Denver, so for beer lovers who dream of that beer-drinking sojourn, there’s no need to take a trip to Deutschland to get a tasty pils.