Brewery: Radeberger Exportbierbrauerei
Location: Radeberg, Germany
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B-
Our next stop on our German Pilsner quest is Radeberger. The Radeberger Pilsner pours up straw yellow with a hint of gold. A firm pour ends up with a thick, clumpy white head. The nose is rather light. There are some lager malt aromas along with some floral notes (jasmine comes to mind).
The first taste finds a light, clean lager malt. It takes a while, but some bitter hops do show up at the party after a bit. There is a dry malt flavor of pasta dough with some spice and bitter hops notes. The Radeberger Pilsner is light bodied with plenty of carbonation. The finish finds more dry malt taking on a saltine character along with some lingering spicy hop bitterness.
The Radeberger Pilsner is very clean and crisp, with none of the off-flavors found in some Euro Pils (mainly the green-bottle variety). There is a decent amount of hops once you wade in. But for my tastes, this is just too light in flavor. If you’re a light beer drinker, then this may be a good introduction beer. Otherwise, I’ll be reaching for something with a bit more flavor.
Showing posts with label Pilsner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pilsner. Show all posts
Friday, May 13, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Paulaner Premium Pils
Brewery: Paulaner Brauerei
Location: München, Germany
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B
We continue the pilsner hunt in Germany. Today's find is the Paulaner Premium Pils. Paulaner's offering pours up golden yellow with barely any haze and lots of carbonation. The head is bubbly white and fades fast. The nose has wheaty malt, dry white wine and straw.
The palate leads with a dry lager maltiness. There is a touch of acidity and juiciness that hints at a dry white wine. There is also some lightly toasted white bread and a touch of hops spice. The Paulaner Premium Pils has a light-medium body and is well carbonated. The finish has dry malt notes with a faint hoppy bite.
Paulaner's Premium Pils is a pretty good pilsner. It is slightly more fully-flavored than the typical Euro-pils. I appreciate the choice of a brown bottle, as there is no skunkiness to speak of. Paulaner's Premium Pils is dry and refreshing. It is an excellent choice for green bottle fans looking for a step up in flavor.
Location: München, Germany
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B
We continue the pilsner hunt in Germany. Today's find is the Paulaner Premium Pils. Paulaner's offering pours up golden yellow with barely any haze and lots of carbonation. The head is bubbly white and fades fast. The nose has wheaty malt, dry white wine and straw.
The palate leads with a dry lager maltiness. There is a touch of acidity and juiciness that hints at a dry white wine. There is also some lightly toasted white bread and a touch of hops spice. The Paulaner Premium Pils has a light-medium body and is well carbonated. The finish has dry malt notes with a faint hoppy bite.
Paulaner's Premium Pils is a pretty good pilsner. It is slightly more fully-flavored than the typical Euro-pils. I appreciate the choice of a brown bottle, as there is no skunkiness to speak of. Paulaner's Premium Pils is dry and refreshing. It is an excellent choice for green bottle fans looking for a step up in flavor.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Einbecker Brauherren Pils
Brewery: Einbecker Brauhaus AG
Location: Einbeck, Germany
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Next up from Germany is the Einbecker Brauherren Pils. The Einbecker Pils is clear, straw-yellow in color. An aggressive pour yields a clumpy white head. The nose has a distinct green-bottle skunkiness, along with some dry pasta and herbal hops.
The palate finds less skunkiness than the nose (thankfully). There is a dry lager malt that has pasta dough and grainy components. There is a nice bitter kick on the back end that shows up after a sip or two. The Einbecker Pils has a light, smooth body. The finish has more pasta dough with a lingering hop bite.
The Einbecher Brauherren Pils is exactly what I'd expect Heineken to taste like if it had a hoppy kick. It's a shame that it comes in a green bottle, because the skunkiness really does a number on this one. I'd love to try this on draft, because the potential is really there.
Location: Einbeck, Germany
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Next up from Germany is the Einbecker Brauherren Pils. The Einbecker Pils is clear, straw-yellow in color. An aggressive pour yields a clumpy white head. The nose has a distinct green-bottle skunkiness, along with some dry pasta and herbal hops.
The palate finds less skunkiness than the nose (thankfully). There is a dry lager malt that has pasta dough and grainy components. There is a nice bitter kick on the back end that shows up after a sip or two. The Einbecker Pils has a light, smooth body. The finish has more pasta dough with a lingering hop bite.
The Einbecher Brauherren Pils is exactly what I'd expect Heineken to taste like if it had a hoppy kick. It's a shame that it comes in a green bottle, because the skunkiness really does a number on this one. I'd love to try this on draft, because the potential is really there.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Jever Pilsner
Brewery: Jever
Location: Jever, Germany
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Our spring pilsner lovefest continues with some true German representation of the style. Today we taste the Jever Pilsner. The Jever Pilsner is clear straw-yellow in color, looking similar to an unoaked sauvignon blanc, with a short white head. The nose has a prominent lager malt character with grassy/herbal notes and some straw.
The first impression on the palate is dry crispness. There is the usual lager malt note, with a faint hint of green-bottle skunk. Hops take on an herbal note along with a nice bitter bite. There are notes of wheat toast, grass and baled hay as well. The Jever Pilsner is medium-bodied with a nice, crisp fizziness. The finish has long, lingering hops paired with trailing notes of malt.
The Jever Pilsner is a great European Pils, too bad it comes in a green bottle. This is well-hopped for a Euro pils. There is a distinct grassy/straw flavor that pairs quite well with the dryness. If you normally drink any green bottle beers, this is a huge upgrade that you owe yourself to try.
Location: Jever, Germany
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Our spring pilsner lovefest continues with some true German representation of the style. Today we taste the Jever Pilsner. The Jever Pilsner is clear straw-yellow in color, looking similar to an unoaked sauvignon blanc, with a short white head. The nose has a prominent lager malt character with grassy/herbal notes and some straw.
The first impression on the palate is dry crispness. There is the usual lager malt note, with a faint hint of green-bottle skunk. Hops take on an herbal note along with a nice bitter bite. There are notes of wheat toast, grass and baled hay as well. The Jever Pilsner is medium-bodied with a nice, crisp fizziness. The finish has long, lingering hops paired with trailing notes of malt.
The Jever Pilsner is a great European Pils, too bad it comes in a green bottle. This is well-hopped for a Euro pils. There is a distinct grassy/straw flavor that pairs quite well with the dryness. If you normally drink any green bottle beers, this is a huge upgrade that you owe yourself to try.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuatara Bohemian Pilsner
Brewery: Tuatara Brewing Co.
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Today we cross the Pacific on our quest for great pilsners. Today’s tasting is from New Zealand’s Tuatara brewery. The Tuatara Bohemian Pilsner pours up a deep, hazy yellow-gold color with a frothy, white head. The nose has notes of herbs, apricot and lager malt.
On the palate there is a nice progression that starts with dry lager malt, progresses to a fruity hops note and heads back to dry maltiness paired with bitter hops. The malt flavor is crisp without any skunky Eurolageriness (yes, I just made that word up) going on. There is a lot going on with the hops. There are herbal hops notes with some spice, fleeting sweet fruit hops notes of nectarines and orange juice, and bitter hops that build to a moderate level without being overpowering. The Tuatara Bohemian Pilsner is medium-bodied and crisp. the finish has long dry maltiness paired perfectly with bitter and spicy hops.
This is the first beer I’ve tried from Tuatara and I am quite impressed. The Bohemian Pilsner is a bit on the hop-forward side for a typical pils, but the dry malt never gets lost and is a perfect match to the more assertive hops. While this isn’t a big, full-on Imperial Pilsner, there is some big flavor here. Tuatara has an excellent, well-balanced Pilsner on their hands. Highly recommended.
Location: Wellington, New Zealand
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Today we cross the Pacific on our quest for great pilsners. Today’s tasting is from New Zealand’s Tuatara brewery. The Tuatara Bohemian Pilsner pours up a deep, hazy yellow-gold color with a frothy, white head. The nose has notes of herbs, apricot and lager malt.
On the palate there is a nice progression that starts with dry lager malt, progresses to a fruity hops note and heads back to dry maltiness paired with bitter hops. The malt flavor is crisp without any skunky Eurolageriness (yes, I just made that word up) going on. There is a lot going on with the hops. There are herbal hops notes with some spice, fleeting sweet fruit hops notes of nectarines and orange juice, and bitter hops that build to a moderate level without being overpowering. The Tuatara Bohemian Pilsner is medium-bodied and crisp. the finish has long dry maltiness paired perfectly with bitter and spicy hops.
This is the first beer I’ve tried from Tuatara and I am quite impressed. The Bohemian Pilsner is a bit on the hop-forward side for a typical pils, but the dry malt never gets lost and is a perfect match to the more assertive hops. While this isn’t a big, full-on Imperial Pilsner, there is some big flavor here. Tuatara has an excellent, well-balanced Pilsner on their hands. Highly recommended.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Red Hook Rope Swing Summer Pilsner
Brewery: Red Hook Ale Brewery
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: C
Up for tasting today is the Rope Swing Summer Pilsner from Red Hook. The beer pours up a deep golden color with some haze and sediment, topped with a foamy white head. The nose has some rather shocking aromas of butter and yeastiness similar to a witbier.
The bizarreness continues on the palate. There is a bit of tartness, some mild butteriness, and a yeast note reminiscent of a Belgian white or abbey ale. Bitter hops build with time. There are some mineral notes here, as well as dry lager malt way in the background. The Rope Swing is light-medium bodied, with a dry mouthfeel. The finish has lingering yeast with dry malt and hops notes.
I can't help but wonder if something went wrong with the Rope Swing. The butter and yeasty notes are jarringly out of place in a pilsner. This really seems more like an abbey ale in flavor. The sediment really leads me to believe that this beer was contaminated somewhere along the line. Hopefully this only affected a small portion of the batch, as this is not the quality I expect from Red Hook.
Location: Portsmouth, NH
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: C
Up for tasting today is the Rope Swing Summer Pilsner from Red Hook. The beer pours up a deep golden color with some haze and sediment, topped with a foamy white head. The nose has some rather shocking aromas of butter and yeastiness similar to a witbier.
The bizarreness continues on the palate. There is a bit of tartness, some mild butteriness, and a yeast note reminiscent of a Belgian white or abbey ale. Bitter hops build with time. There are some mineral notes here, as well as dry lager malt way in the background. The Rope Swing is light-medium bodied, with a dry mouthfeel. The finish has lingering yeast with dry malt and hops notes.
I can't help but wonder if something went wrong with the Rope Swing. The butter and yeasty notes are jarringly out of place in a pilsner. This really seems more like an abbey ale in flavor. The sediment really leads me to believe that this beer was contaminated somewhere along the line. Hopefully this only affected a small portion of the batch, as this is not the quality I expect from Red Hook.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Oskar Blues Mama's Little Pils
Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery
Location: Lyons, CO
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: C+
There has been a small resurgence of canned beer in the craft beer community as of late. The question is whether this is merely a novelty or if these beers can really hold their own against their glassbound brethren. The Mama's Little Yella Pils comes in your standard-issue 12 ounce can. It pours up a deep yellow-gold color with some haze and a foamy white head. The nose detects wheat and lager notes on the malt side as well as some herbal and fruity hops notes.
On the palate there is an initial lager malt character that seems to be on the light side. The flavor seems a bit flat to me. There are wheat bread and malt syrup notes. This does seem to have a bit more sweetness than I'd expect from a lighter pilsner. Bitter hops do appear after after a few sips. There is a hint of herbal/floral hops and some fruit hops as well. Mama's Little Yella Pils is medium-bodied, but it does seem a little flat on the carbonation side. The finish has lingering grainy sweetness with faint bitter hops notes.
I really wanted Mama's Little Yella Pils to be good, but I am unfortunately rather unimpressed. This beer reminds me more of it's canned adjunct-lager brethren than a craft beer in a can. There is a bit of a grainy/corny sweetness that, coupled with the can-flatness, really reminded me a lot of the usual fare from Bud/Miller/Coors. The hops component was disappointingly mellow as well. This is definitely an upgrade over the usual mass-market lager, but not by enough for me to want to try it again.
Location: Lyons, CO
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: C+
There has been a small resurgence of canned beer in the craft beer community as of late. The question is whether this is merely a novelty or if these beers can really hold their own against their glassbound brethren. The Mama's Little Yella Pils comes in your standard-issue 12 ounce can. It pours up a deep yellow-gold color with some haze and a foamy white head. The nose detects wheat and lager notes on the malt side as well as some herbal and fruity hops notes.
On the palate there is an initial lager malt character that seems to be on the light side. The flavor seems a bit flat to me. There are wheat bread and malt syrup notes. This does seem to have a bit more sweetness than I'd expect from a lighter pilsner. Bitter hops do appear after after a few sips. There is a hint of herbal/floral hops and some fruit hops as well. Mama's Little Yella Pils is medium-bodied, but it does seem a little flat on the carbonation side. The finish has lingering grainy sweetness with faint bitter hops notes.
I really wanted Mama's Little Yella Pils to be good, but I am unfortunately rather unimpressed. This beer reminds me more of it's canned adjunct-lager brethren than a craft beer in a can. There is a bit of a grainy/corny sweetness that, coupled with the can-flatness, really reminded me a lot of the usual fare from Bud/Miller/Coors. The hops component was disappointingly mellow as well. This is definitely an upgrade over the usual mass-market lager, but not by enough for me to want to try it again.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Stoudt's Pils
Brewery: Stoudt's Brewing Co.
Location: Adamstown, PA
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
The pilsners keep rolling in with the spring. Today's beer tasting is Stoudt's Pils. The beer pours up straw-gold in color with a bubbly white head. The nose has lager malt with fruit and herbal hops notes.
On the palate the Stoudt's Pils has crisp lagery malt up front leading into some sweet notes and an apricot fruit note. Bitter hops build over a few sips and end up providing a nice counterpoint to the malt. Some raisin and wine notes sit in the background as well. The Stoudt's Pils is medium-bodied with some nice carbonation. The finish has lingering hops bitterness with toast, pretzels and a hint of sweet fruit.
The Stoudt's Pils has a good malt flavor paired with a nice hoppy kick. The touch of sweetness here may not be typical for a pilsner, but it leads to some nice complexity, especially given that this isn't a huge imperial pilsner. The Stoudt's Pils is definitely worth a taste.
Location: Adamstown, PA
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
The pilsners keep rolling in with the spring. Today's beer tasting is Stoudt's Pils. The beer pours up straw-gold in color with a bubbly white head. The nose has lager malt with fruit and herbal hops notes.
On the palate the Stoudt's Pils has crisp lagery malt up front leading into some sweet notes and an apricot fruit note. Bitter hops build over a few sips and end up providing a nice counterpoint to the malt. Some raisin and wine notes sit in the background as well. The Stoudt's Pils is medium-bodied with some nice carbonation. The finish has lingering hops bitterness with toast, pretzels and a hint of sweet fruit.
The Stoudt's Pils has a good malt flavor paired with a nice hoppy kick. The touch of sweetness here may not be typical for a pilsner, but it leads to some nice complexity, especially given that this isn't a huge imperial pilsner. The Stoudt's Pils is definitely worth a taste.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Mikkeller Czechet Pilsner
Brewery: Mikkeller
Location: København, Denmark
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A
Today we sample a Czech-style pilsner from Danish brewery Mikkeller. The Czechet Pilsner pours up a deep, golden yellow color with some haziness and a short white head. The nose detects winy lager notes, bread and highlights of both fruit and herbal hops.
The first impression on the palate is crisp lager malt with some fizz followed by fruity hops notes. The malt has notes of pizza dough and pasta. The hops have apricots and herbal notes that transition to a piny bite. The Czechet Pilsner has a light-medium mouthfeel with a fizzy tingle, making this beer crisp and refreshing. The finish fades rather quickly to a mild note, but sweet bread/cereal notes couples with fruity and bitter hops hang around softly for a while.
I really enjoyed the Mikkeller Pilsner. It has great balance. There is a nice lager malt with typical pils flavors, but not even a hint of skunkiness. This beer is nicely hopped without ever overpowering the malt. This is really a fantastic pilsner.
Location: København, Denmark
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A
Today we sample a Czech-style pilsner from Danish brewery Mikkeller. The Czechet Pilsner pours up a deep, golden yellow color with some haziness and a short white head. The nose detects winy lager notes, bread and highlights of both fruit and herbal hops.
The first impression on the palate is crisp lager malt with some fizz followed by fruity hops notes. The malt has notes of pizza dough and pasta. The hops have apricots and herbal notes that transition to a piny bite. The Czechet Pilsner has a light-medium mouthfeel with a fizzy tingle, making this beer crisp and refreshing. The finish fades rather quickly to a mild note, but sweet bread/cereal notes couples with fruity and bitter hops hang around softly for a while.
I really enjoyed the Mikkeller Pilsner. It has great balance. There is a nice lager malt with typical pils flavors, but not even a hint of skunkiness. This beer is nicely hopped without ever overpowering the malt. This is really a fantastic pilsner.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Dogfish Head My Antonia
Brewery: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
As my loyal readers know, pilsners are one of my favorite styles of beer. I was quite excited to see that Dogfish Head, one of my favorite breweries, recently released the My Antonia pilsner. It is not often that Dogfish Head produces a lager, so I was really interested in trying this out. The My Antonia pours up yellow-gold with a faint haze and a massive, white, clumpy foam head. The nose is almost all hops with citrus being the dominant note along with some herbal and floral aromas.
At first taste the hops really coat the tongue. There is a balance between citrusy West Coast hops and the herbal fruitiness of European noble hops, with some bitter resin at the end. The malt definitely takes a back seat to the hops. There are some lager notes here, but they are barely discernible. There is a slight sweetness that does pair well with the hoppiness. The mouthfeel is medium-heavy with clinging, syrupy hops. The finish has a complex balance of hops notes that linger with fading sweetness.
My overall impression of the Dogfish Head My Antonia is that it is fairly 1-dimensional. It would be nice if a bit more of the malt peeked through. This beer is a great display of hops, but it needs a little more Pils character from the malt. This is a good beer by anyone's standards, but we're all a bit spoiled by the folks from Dogfish Head. I was hoping for greatness and this falls a bit short for me.
The fruity citrus character of this beer makes it a natural pair for Madagascan chocolate. My choice was the Amano Madagascar and that worked well. Other good pairs would be the Michel Cluizel Mangaro Noir, the Patric Signature Blend, or for the real daring the Pralus Le 100%.
Location: Milton, DE
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
As my loyal readers know, pilsners are one of my favorite styles of beer. I was quite excited to see that Dogfish Head, one of my favorite breweries, recently released the My Antonia pilsner. It is not often that Dogfish Head produces a lager, so I was really interested in trying this out. The My Antonia pours up yellow-gold with a faint haze and a massive, white, clumpy foam head. The nose is almost all hops with citrus being the dominant note along with some herbal and floral aromas.
At first taste the hops really coat the tongue. There is a balance between citrusy West Coast hops and the herbal fruitiness of European noble hops, with some bitter resin at the end. The malt definitely takes a back seat to the hops. There are some lager notes here, but they are barely discernible. There is a slight sweetness that does pair well with the hoppiness. The mouthfeel is medium-heavy with clinging, syrupy hops. The finish has a complex balance of hops notes that linger with fading sweetness.
My overall impression of the Dogfish Head My Antonia is that it is fairly 1-dimensional. It would be nice if a bit more of the malt peeked through. This beer is a great display of hops, but it needs a little more Pils character from the malt. This is a good beer by anyone's standards, but we're all a bit spoiled by the folks from Dogfish Head. I was hoping for greatness and this falls a bit short for me.
The fruity citrus character of this beer makes it a natural pair for Madagascan chocolate. My choice was the Amano Madagascar and that worked well. Other good pairs would be the Michel Cluizel Mangaro Noir, the Patric Signature Blend, or for the real daring the Pralus Le 100%.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Saranac Bohemian Pilsner
Brewery: The Matt Brewing Company
Location: Utica, NY
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A
Spring is here, and to me there is nothing like a good pilsner on a sunny spring day. Today's beer tasting this the Saranac Bohemian Pilsner and this surely fits the bill as a good pilsner. The Bohemian Pilsner pours up a light gold in color with a fizzy white head and very fine, profusely effervescent carbonation. The nose detects lager malt, wheat/semolina grain and some fruity hops notes.
The first impression on the palate is that this is a mostly dry, European-style pils. There are malt notes of bread and pasta. A distinct mineral water flavor is present as well as some "Eurolager" notes. Hops are notable with both herbal and citrus aromatics along with a touch of piny bittering hops. The Bohemian Pilsner has a light, fizzy body that is quite refreshing. The finish has pasta with lingering hops and just a hint of sweetness.
Saranac has a fantastic pilsner on their hands here. This is a light, refreshing Euro-style pils that doesn't hide the hops. The Bohemian Pilsner is balanced, flavorful and refreshing. You can't ask for much more in a Pilsner.
Location: Utica, NY
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A
Spring is here, and to me there is nothing like a good pilsner on a sunny spring day. Today's beer tasting this the Saranac Bohemian Pilsner and this surely fits the bill as a good pilsner. The Bohemian Pilsner pours up a light gold in color with a fizzy white head and very fine, profusely effervescent carbonation. The nose detects lager malt, wheat/semolina grain and some fruity hops notes.
The first impression on the palate is that this is a mostly dry, European-style pils. There are malt notes of bread and pasta. A distinct mineral water flavor is present as well as some "Eurolager" notes. Hops are notable with both herbal and citrus aromatics along with a touch of piny bittering hops. The Bohemian Pilsner has a light, fizzy body that is quite refreshing. The finish has pasta with lingering hops and just a hint of sweetness.
Saranac has a fantastic pilsner on their hands here. This is a light, refreshing Euro-style pils that doesn't hide the hops. The Bohemian Pilsner is balanced, flavorful and refreshing. You can't ask for much more in a Pilsner.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Lagunitas Pils
Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company
Location: Petaluma, CA
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A
In my glass today is the Lagunitas Pils, a Czech-style Pilsner. The Lagunitas Pils is a deep golden-yellow in color. There are fine bubbles of carbonation and a white bubbly head. The nose detects juiciness, herbal hops and a light breadiness.
On the palate there is an initial squirt of juiciness that trails off rapidly. The Lagunitas Pils is dryer than the nose an initial juiciness suggest. A bready note akin to naan or a flour tortilla is here. There is a nice bitter hops kick. Overall, the hops have a grassy, herbal character supported by some floral notes. The Lagunitas Pils is medium-bodied, crisp and has a pleasant fizz of carbonation. The finish is rather short with bitter hops and bready notes.
The Lagunitas Pils is a crisp, dry euro-style pilsner. I love this interpretation of the style. The flavor is bold yet refreshing. While this is clearly styled after your typical euro-pils, there is not even a hint of the typical eurolager skunkiness here. Green-bottle beer fans, this is what your beer is supposed to taste like.
Location: Petaluma, CA
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A
In my glass today is the Lagunitas Pils, a Czech-style Pilsner. The Lagunitas Pils is a deep golden-yellow in color. There are fine bubbles of carbonation and a white bubbly head. The nose detects juiciness, herbal hops and a light breadiness.
On the palate there is an initial squirt of juiciness that trails off rapidly. The Lagunitas Pils is dryer than the nose an initial juiciness suggest. A bready note akin to naan or a flour tortilla is here. There is a nice bitter hops kick. Overall, the hops have a grassy, herbal character supported by some floral notes. The Lagunitas Pils is medium-bodied, crisp and has a pleasant fizz of carbonation. The finish is rather short with bitter hops and bready notes.
The Lagunitas Pils is a crisp, dry euro-style pilsner. I love this interpretation of the style. The flavor is bold yet refreshing. While this is clearly styled after your typical euro-pils, there is not even a hint of the typical eurolager skunkiness here. Green-bottle beer fans, this is what your beer is supposed to taste like.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Left Hand Brewing Company Polestar Pilsner
Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Company
Location: Longmont, CO
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Today's beer tasting is the Polestar Pilsner from Colorado's Left Hand Brewing Company. The Polestar Pilsner is golden yellow/straw in color with a bubbly, clumpy white head. The nose has notes of citrus, eurolager and pine. I also detected a slight skunky aroma, but the bottle I sampled was about 6 months old so that may explain the skunkiness.
On the palate the Polestar Pilsner has a maltiness with notes of both wheaty and lagery notes. There is a mild-to-moderate bitter kick from the hops along with notes of pine and citrus. Some mineral water flavor is present on the palate as well. The finish has lingering lager maltiness along with some faint citrus hops. The Polestar Pilsner has some bigger malt and hops flavors than the typical Euro-style pilsner and it has a crisp, medium body that is just enough to hold up to them without being heavy.
The Polestar Pilsner has a rich European-style lager/pilsner flavor, along with a fair amount of hoppiness. This is one of the better American takes on a European pilsner that I've tried. The Polestar Pilsner is well worth checking out.
Location: Longmont, CO
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A-
Today's beer tasting is the Polestar Pilsner from Colorado's Left Hand Brewing Company. The Polestar Pilsner is golden yellow/straw in color with a bubbly, clumpy white head. The nose has notes of citrus, eurolager and pine. I also detected a slight skunky aroma, but the bottle I sampled was about 6 months old so that may explain the skunkiness.
On the palate the Polestar Pilsner has a maltiness with notes of both wheaty and lagery notes. There is a mild-to-moderate bitter kick from the hops along with notes of pine and citrus. Some mineral water flavor is present on the palate as well. The finish has lingering lager maltiness along with some faint citrus hops. The Polestar Pilsner has some bigger malt and hops flavors than the typical Euro-style pilsner and it has a crisp, medium body that is just enough to hold up to them without being heavy.
The Polestar Pilsner has a rich European-style lager/pilsner flavor, along with a fair amount of hoppiness. This is one of the better American takes on a European pilsner that I've tried. The Polestar Pilsner is well worth checking out.
Friday, June 4, 2010
EB Beer
Brewery: Żywiec Brewery
Location: Żywiec Poland
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Continuing on with our selection of Polish beer this week brings us to EB Beer from Żywiec. The EB Beer is golden yellow in color, with some fine rising bubbles. The head pours up white and foamy. On the nose there are notes of citrus hops, white wine and some wheaty/lager malt notes.
On the palate, the EB Beer leads with a lager note followed by a winy juiciness that fades quickly into a biscuity malt flavor. There are herbal and citrus hops notes paired to a pleasant mild bitterness. The finish is led by a wheaty biscuit malt note. The EB Beer has a crisp, light-to-medium body with a bit of fizz.
EB Beer is a good European pilsner that has some nice flavor without sacrificing its lightness or drinkability. Fans of Carlsberg and Pilsner Urquell should check this one out.
Location: Żywiec Poland
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B+
Continuing on with our selection of Polish beer this week brings us to EB Beer from Żywiec. The EB Beer is golden yellow in color, with some fine rising bubbles. The head pours up white and foamy. On the nose there are notes of citrus hops, white wine and some wheaty/lager malt notes.
On the palate, the EB Beer leads with a lager note followed by a winy juiciness that fades quickly into a biscuity malt flavor. There are herbal and citrus hops notes paired to a pleasant mild bitterness. The finish is led by a wheaty biscuit malt note. The EB Beer has a crisp, light-to-medium body with a bit of fizz.
EB Beer is a good European pilsner that has some nice flavor without sacrificing its lightness or drinkability. Fans of Carlsberg and Pilsner Urquell should check this one out.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Perła Chmielowa
Brewery: Perła Browary Lubelskie S.A.
Location: Lublin, Poland
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Today's beer tasting is the Perła Chmielowa (aka Hop Pearl). The Perła Chmielowa is deep gold in color with a touch of amber. It pours with a 2-finger, white foamy head. The nose is on the light side, with notes of wheaty malt, citrus and white wine.
On the palate, the Perła Chmielowa has a wheaty malt character. There are notes of dry white wine along with a faint hop bitterness. The hops bring flavors of pine and herbs. The initial flavor fades quickly leaving a finish with faint hops notes. The Perła Chmielowa has an easy drinking, light-to-medium body that is crisp and slightly fizzy.
The Perła Chmielowa is on the dry side with a fair amount of hops for a light European lager. This is a refreshing (and tasty) change of pace that I recommend to fans of the typical green-bottle fare.
Location: Lublin, Poland
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Today's beer tasting is the Perła Chmielowa (aka Hop Pearl). The Perła Chmielowa is deep gold in color with a touch of amber. It pours with a 2-finger, white foamy head. The nose is on the light side, with notes of wheaty malt, citrus and white wine.
On the palate, the Perła Chmielowa has a wheaty malt character. There are notes of dry white wine along with a faint hop bitterness. The hops bring flavors of pine and herbs. The initial flavor fades quickly leaving a finish with faint hops notes. The Perła Chmielowa has an easy drinking, light-to-medium body that is crisp and slightly fizzy.
The Perła Chmielowa is on the dry side with a fair amount of hops for a light European lager. This is a refreshing (and tasty) change of pace that I recommend to fans of the typical green-bottle fare.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Scrimshaw Pilsner
Brewery: North Coast Brewing Co.
Location: Fort Bragg, CA
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B-
Up next for review we have the Scrimshaw Pilsner from North Coast Brewing Company. The Scrimshaw Pilsner is golden yellow in color with a very faint haze. There are some fine bubbles that rise in the glass. The nose is led by a lagery malt aroma with notes of herbal and piny hops.
On the palate, the Scrimshaw Pilsner has a light, wheaty lager malt flavor. There is a mild acidity and some citrus notes. There is a very mild hops bitter undertone. The Scrimshaw Pilsner has a light-to-medium body with a light foamy mouthfeel. The finish is rather short, with wheaty malt notes.
The Scrimshaw Pilsner is rather light in flavor for my tastes. There isn't much in the way of hops going on here. This is a beer best suited to hot summers and tailgating. If you're a Bud/Miller/Coors drinker looking for an upgrade then this would be a really good place to start.
Location: Fort Bragg, CA
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B-
Up next for review we have the Scrimshaw Pilsner from North Coast Brewing Company. The Scrimshaw Pilsner is golden yellow in color with a very faint haze. There are some fine bubbles that rise in the glass. The nose is led by a lagery malt aroma with notes of herbal and piny hops.
On the palate, the Scrimshaw Pilsner has a light, wheaty lager malt flavor. There is a mild acidity and some citrus notes. There is a very mild hops bitter undertone. The Scrimshaw Pilsner has a light-to-medium body with a light foamy mouthfeel. The finish is rather short, with wheaty malt notes.
The Scrimshaw Pilsner is rather light in flavor for my tastes. There isn't much in the way of hops going on here. This is a beer best suited to hot summers and tailgating. If you're a Bud/Miller/Coors drinker looking for an upgrade then this would be a really good place to start.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Pilsner Urquell
Brewery: Plzensky Prazdroj
Location: Pilsen, Czech Republic
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Since I've been in a big pilsner mood lately, I decided to head to the source for this review. The name Pilsner Urquell translates to "the pilsner from the original source". While the recipe has no doubt changed since the beer's inception in 1842, Pilsner Urquell continues to be one of Europe's best-known pilsners.
Pilsner Urquell is clear, light amber in color. There is a white, foamy head that clings to the glass. There is a stream of fine bubbles that rise similar to champagne. The nose has bread, yeast and sweet aromas. There are some floral notes on the nose as well. A faint hint of skunky sulphur aroma is present initially, but fades quickly (as opposed to many of its European green-bottle brethren).
On the palate, there is a lot of sweet cereal up front. There is a mild hoppy bitterness present as well. Mineral notes, molasses and floral hops flavors play a complimentary role. The Pilsner Urquell is light-to-medium bodied with some light fizz on the tongue. The finish has more of the sweet cereal, with bitter notes to compliment it.
While Pilsner Urquell can't compete with the big flavors of craft-brewed pilsners, it certainly rises to the top of the class when it comes to mass-market European lagers. If you're a fan of Heineken, Becks, Molsen, etc., then give Pilsner Urquell a try. It might be time for a beer upgrade.
Location: Pilsen, Czech Republic
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: B
Since I've been in a big pilsner mood lately, I decided to head to the source for this review. The name Pilsner Urquell translates to "the pilsner from the original source". While the recipe has no doubt changed since the beer's inception in 1842, Pilsner Urquell continues to be one of Europe's best-known pilsners.
Pilsner Urquell is clear, light amber in color. There is a white, foamy head that clings to the glass. There is a stream of fine bubbles that rise similar to champagne. The nose has bread, yeast and sweet aromas. There are some floral notes on the nose as well. A faint hint of skunky sulphur aroma is present initially, but fades quickly (as opposed to many of its European green-bottle brethren).
On the palate, there is a lot of sweet cereal up front. There is a mild hoppy bitterness present as well. Mineral notes, molasses and floral hops flavors play a complimentary role. The Pilsner Urquell is light-to-medium bodied with some light fizz on the tongue. The finish has more of the sweet cereal, with bitter notes to compliment it.
While Pilsner Urquell can't compete with the big flavors of craft-brewed pilsners, it certainly rises to the top of the class when it comes to mass-market European lagers. If you're a fan of Heineken, Becks, Molsen, etc., then give Pilsner Urquell a try. It might be time for a beer upgrade.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Samuel Adams Noble Pils
Brewery: The Boston Beer Company
Style: Pilsner
Location: Boston, MA
Brewery Website
Rating: B
I was out for dinner recently and as our waiter was reading the specials I was surprised to hear when he announced that the Sam Adams seasonal on tap was the Noble Pils. I'm glad to see that Sam Adams has decided to mix things up a bit and offer a pilsner as their spring seasonal instead of their White Ale. The Sam Adams Noble Pils pours a golden yellow with a faint hint of amber and a creamy white head. I was able to pick up fruity notes and a hint of sweetness on the nose, but the beer was served a bit too cold to pick up all the aroma fully.
The Noble Pils has lots of fruity hops up front, with bitter hops that develop over time. There is also a sweet malt character. Caramel, almonds and salt are detectable as supporting flavors. There is a crisp fizziness that gives way to a creamy mouthfeel. The Noble Pils finishes with bitter hops as well as bready notes. There is a lot of family resemblance compared to the Sam Adams Boston Lager, no doubt attributable in part to the Hallertau and Tettnang hops they share in common. In fact, I would describe the Noble Pils as a slightly lighter-bodied Boston Lager with an extra kick of both fruity and bitter hops. I'm very glad to see this addition to the Samuel Adams seasonal lineup as this is a nice tasty beer. This beer would be a good introduction to hops for someone who enjoys the Sam Boston Lager.
Style: Pilsner
Location: Boston, MA
Brewery Website
Rating: B
I was out for dinner recently and as our waiter was reading the specials I was surprised to hear when he announced that the Sam Adams seasonal on tap was the Noble Pils. I'm glad to see that Sam Adams has decided to mix things up a bit and offer a pilsner as their spring seasonal instead of their White Ale. The Sam Adams Noble Pils pours a golden yellow with a faint hint of amber and a creamy white head. I was able to pick up fruity notes and a hint of sweetness on the nose, but the beer was served a bit too cold to pick up all the aroma fully.
The Noble Pils has lots of fruity hops up front, with bitter hops that develop over time. There is also a sweet malt character. Caramel, almonds and salt are detectable as supporting flavors. There is a crisp fizziness that gives way to a creamy mouthfeel. The Noble Pils finishes with bitter hops as well as bready notes. There is a lot of family resemblance compared to the Sam Adams Boston Lager, no doubt attributable in part to the Hallertau and Tettnang hops they share in common. In fact, I would describe the Noble Pils as a slightly lighter-bodied Boston Lager with an extra kick of both fruity and bitter hops. I'm very glad to see this addition to the Samuel Adams seasonal lineup as this is a nice tasty beer. This beer would be a good introduction to hops for someone who enjoys the Sam Boston Lager.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Victory Prima Pils
Brewer: Victory Brewing Company
Location: Downingtown, PA
Style: Pilsner
Brewer Website
Rating: B+
I've been on a bit of a Pilsner kick lately, so today I'm going to keep the trend going with the Victory Prima Pils. The Prima Pils is light in color. It is a hazy, golden yellow. There is a light, foamy head that hangs around for a little bit. The nose is rather faint, with hoppy fruit and a touch of sweetness.
The Prima Pils flavor is led mainly by hops. Bitter and aromatic hops are both present in well-balanced proportions. The hops leave a lemony citrus note. There is some sweet, light malt present that plays a support role to the hops. The Prima Pils has a light body and some fizzy carbonation. There is a fairly short finish with the bitter hops sticking around a bit longer as the other flavors fade leading to a pleasant grapefruit note at the tail end. While this pilsner does seem to be a bit one-dimensional on the palate, it does quite well at what it does. If you like your pilsners on the hoppy side, then this has "session beer" written all over it.
Location: Downingtown, PA
Style: Pilsner
Brewer Website
Rating: B+
I've been on a bit of a Pilsner kick lately, so today I'm going to keep the trend going with the Victory Prima Pils. The Prima Pils is light in color. It is a hazy, golden yellow. There is a light, foamy head that hangs around for a little bit. The nose is rather faint, with hoppy fruit and a touch of sweetness.
The Prima Pils flavor is led mainly by hops. Bitter and aromatic hops are both present in well-balanced proportions. The hops leave a lemony citrus note. There is some sweet, light malt present that plays a support role to the hops. The Prima Pils has a light body and some fizzy carbonation. There is a fairly short finish with the bitter hops sticking around a bit longer as the other flavors fade leading to a pleasant grapefruit note at the tail end. While this pilsner does seem to be a bit one-dimensional on the palate, it does quite well at what it does. If you like your pilsners on the hoppy side, then this has "session beer" written all over it.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning Uber Pils
Brewery: Clipper City Brewing Co.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A
The Heavy Seas label represents Clipper City's "big beer" line that all clock in at 7% alcohol or higher. Each of the Heavy Seas beers is bottle conditioned, which means that yeast is added to the bottle to carbonate the beer naturally (instead of having CO2 added during bottling). A good bottle-conditioned beer will gain an added layer of complexity and has the potential to age well (depending on the style of beer).
The Heavy Seas Uber Pils pours with little head that fades rather quickly. It is golden amber in color with a distinct red hue. It is a bit darker in color than the typical pilsner. The nose has both sweet malt and fruity hops aromas. The flavor has a typical lager maltiness. There are both fruity and bitter hops notes present, with the bitter hops being more assertive than the fruity aromatic ones. There are caramel and nut flavors detectable on the palate as well. The Small Craft Warning is medium bodied with a fine carbonation and light fizz. There is some alcohol detectable on the palate as well. The finish has sweet caramel malt notes, a touch of earthiness as well as some lingering fruity hops.
The Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning Uber Pils is well balanced between malt and hops. There is still a bit of residual sweetness, so this may develop a bit with age. I'll have to tuck one away for a few months if I get a chance. This is an excellent beer and is representative of the quality beers Clipper City has been releasing under the Heavy Seas label.
Location: Baltimore, MD
Style: Pilsner
Brewery Website
Rating: A
The Heavy Seas label represents Clipper City's "big beer" line that all clock in at 7% alcohol or higher. Each of the Heavy Seas beers is bottle conditioned, which means that yeast is added to the bottle to carbonate the beer naturally (instead of having CO2 added during bottling). A good bottle-conditioned beer will gain an added layer of complexity and has the potential to age well (depending on the style of beer).
The Heavy Seas Uber Pils pours with little head that fades rather quickly. It is golden amber in color with a distinct red hue. It is a bit darker in color than the typical pilsner. The nose has both sweet malt and fruity hops aromas. The flavor has a typical lager maltiness. There are both fruity and bitter hops notes present, with the bitter hops being more assertive than the fruity aromatic ones. There are caramel and nut flavors detectable on the palate as well. The Small Craft Warning is medium bodied with a fine carbonation and light fizz. There is some alcohol detectable on the palate as well. The finish has sweet caramel malt notes, a touch of earthiness as well as some lingering fruity hops.
The Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning Uber Pils is well balanced between malt and hops. There is still a bit of residual sweetness, so this may develop a bit with age. I'll have to tuck one away for a few months if I get a chance. This is an excellent beer and is representative of the quality beers Clipper City has been releasing under the Heavy Seas label.
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