Bohemian Pilsner
Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC

Bohemian PilsnerBohemian Pilsner
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From:
Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
76
Avg:
3.12 | pDev: 22.12%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
30
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 27, 2022
Added:
Mar 14, 2007
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BuckeyeNation:
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

2.28/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
Simple amber with more bubbles than one normally sees. Up top is a bone white head that is soft rather than sticky, which is why the half-rings of soap sudsy lace look to be fleeting. Still, it's not a bad look.

Czech pilseners (even those brewed in the U.S.) should be fresh, clean and bright. This beer is none of those. The nose is too earthy-funky and the hops are more musky than grassy and herbal. In the end, this Brau Brothers brew smells like a below-average pale lager that contains less than high-quality Saaz hops.

The taste is roughly the same. Speaking of rough, it tastes like there's a lot of extraneous stuff going on, almost like an ale yeast was used and the (unwanted in this case) esters are having a field day. In other words, the beer is anything but clean. In fact, it's messy. Spicy phenols come to the fore with warming. Not good.

That odd sort of earthy graininess is still present and the hops haven't improved at all in the transition from nostrils to palate. An almost absent starting sweetness segues into a sharp bitterness on the finish. I hope these guys plan to do a whole lotta tweaking from batch to batch because their beer isn't up to snuff yet. Not even close, really.

Part of the almost quinine-like bitterness might be coming from the excessive carbonation. It was obvious on crown cracking that the beer would be too bubbled. It's also too light in the mouth, which is never a good combination.

Bohemian Pilsner isn't horrible beer, but it is incredibly amateurish beer. I've said it before and I'll say it again: even though I've never home brewed, I'm fairly certain that my initial attempt at a Czech pils would taste at least this good.
May 18, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona

Feb 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by HoistinBrews from Minnesota

Jan 01, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by tbeq00 from California

Dec 12, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by Ejayz from Iowa

Nov 29, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by doucmehu from Oregon

Nov 17, 2011
Photo of PokerGod
Reviewed by PokerGod from Minnesota

3.22/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
12oz bottle poured into a pilsner.

Appearance- Light copper color, slightly hazy. Only a little head which dissipated quite quickly. No lacing left on the glass.

smell- smells slightly sweet and citrusy behind a traditional pilsner smell.

Taste- Doesn't taste sweet. Tastes a little bit roasted, toasted compared to the usual pilsner taste.

Overall- a pleasant beer to drink, especially at a cold temperature, but nothing special. And got a bit less impressive as it warmed.
Jul 12, 2011
Photo of BeardedBoffin
Reviewed by BeardedBoffin from New Mexico

3.68/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This Czech style Pils pours a yellow/golden color--trending toward yellow--with a decent cap of white foam floating above. The aroma has an emphasis on pale malt. There is a slight hint of earthy hops in the background. The beer is smooth and medium bodied on the palate. Flavors are dominated by bready malts which give way to the earthy, spicy Saaz hops, leaving the palate dry.

A drinkable, ample brew.
Dec 01, 2010
Photo of Misfit138
Reviewed by Misfit138 from Tennessee

3.6/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from bottle in pint glass

A- Dark yellow in color with a bright white head that went away quickly

S- Sweet malt and hints of floral hops

T- Initially sweet grassy and caramel malts followed with a sharp quick grapefruit finish

M- Fairly light in body and moderately carbonated.

D- Drinkability would be pretty high, it's a nice beer. It isn't going to be your new favorite or anything, but its a decent lager from the Midwest.
Aug 03, 2010
Photo of BehindtheFinBrew
Reviewed by BehindtheFinBrew from Iowa

3.65/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle to Pilsener
No freshness date

A: A moderately vigorous pour produced a 4.5 finger white creamy froth head that later reduced due a thick cap lacing the glass with nice white rings. Color was a clear straw yellow.

S: Strong Pils malt aroma from the minute I popped the cap. Bready yeast and some floral hop.

T: Taste somewhat followed the aroma with grainy and bready sweetness. A grassy bitter hop finish dominated the palate and aftertaste that lingered quite a bit. The spicy character of Saaz hops was very subdued for a Czech Pilsener.

M: Texture was creamy with a nice dry finish. Highly carbonated.

D: A light bodied beer with a moderate abv and smooth finish. Definitely a session beer.

I was surprised to see the low rating this beer received as I thought it was a good representation of the style and an all around good beer. I have read there is great variation between bottles and batches so maybe I was lucky enough to get a good bottle. I will be trying this one again.
Feb 25, 2010
Photo of katan
Reviewed by katan from Colorado

3.22/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 oz into a pint

A - Pours a darker golden color. Very hazy - too much for a pils. Head formation was strong, just a bit off white, 2mm. Laced down to a film.

S - Light pilsner malt note. There is a fruity off note in there, a yeast production element I think.

T - Starts off dry, grainy, biting. A bit astringent, or husky. Mid-stream gets more sweet, but its a fruity note, almost strawberry to me. FInishes cornmeal like, very grainy again.

M - Moderate beer body - pretty strong for a pils. Carbonation profile is light, not biting. Finishes with a clinging sweetness that grabs the tongue.

D - Drinkability is OK. ABV is up there for a pils. Not filling by any means. Nothing overly bothersome about the flavors.

Unfortunately I would have to say this is my least favorite Brau beer.
Feb 06, 2010
Photo of bigreduw64
Reviewed by bigreduw64 from Wisconsin

2/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Pours with a nice 2" head, slowly dissipating, but not disappearing. Initial smell is of stale refrigerator, but opens to a slight floral aroma. Initial taste has a faint background of the spicy hops one would expect out of a traditional pilsner, but they never come up front. Instead a corn like sweetness comes forward and does not play well with the beer. This is a lackluster beer made without a lot of flavor. Many better pilsners out there to spend my money on.
Oct 26, 2009
Photo of mwagner1018
Reviewed by mwagner1018 from Minnesota

2.63/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
A- Very light caramel straw color, relatively clear, slight haze, nice carbonation rising. Light, quickly diminishing head.

S- Significant yeasty, sweet malt aroma permeates from the bottle as it pours, and lingers in the glass. Buttery and caramel notes, but dominated by a bacterial sweetness. Smells similar to a Belgian Trip, which is odd, and in conflict with the style.

T- Malty, yeast, up front very sharp acidity (almost stale hop character), mild bitterness that finishes on the palate. Buttery tinge, that creates an odd off flavor, diacetyl, and seems to be too significant for the style.

M- Very carbonated, buttery on the tongue.

D- Well it may be worth the price $7.49/sixer plus tax, and I want to support as many local (MN) brewers as possible. But I just can't see myself drinking this one. It is crisp, but doesn't fulfill my desire for a nice Bohemian style European lager, leaves me wanting something that it can't deliver- complexity, balance, and cleanliness. I bought 6, so I will have to try it again, and see what I think on the next one.
Sep 09, 2009
Photo of climax
Reviewed by climax from Missouri

3.32/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
this one poured pretty dark for a pilsner, a dull brownish/honey color was pretty murky as well. white head was fairly small

nose was pretty clean and malt dominant. slight bitterness and diacetyl. corn, fruity notes, yeast, and even garlic were all in a relatively mild package

taste was better than the nose i thought. not a blast of flavor, but enough to satisfy. buttery and bitter however hop presence seemed low. there were flavors of fruit and the yeast, very clean finish

body was medium, carbonated nicely. finish was slick and clean

surely not a hardcore pilsner but it was just fine for my liking. pretty easy to drink, enjoyable, and unoffensive.
Apr 16, 2009
Photo of daledeee
Reviewed by daledeee from Iowa

2.98/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Kind of a local offering: southern Minnesota and eastern Iowa. Close enough

This beer pours hazy yellow with a small head. The nose is butterscotch and corn with a little citrus.

Taste is odd to say the least. Kind of hoppy or soapy(?). Grains otherwise. Aftertaste is not that great. Mouthfeel is marginal. Overall, not a favorite.
Mar 24, 2009
Photo of brewbucker
Reviewed by brewbucker from Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Pours a light clean gold with nice carbonation and a white two finger head. Aroma is sort of a sweet light malt and corn with notes of citrus. The flavor mild malt, light hops, and hints of corn, wheat and citrus. It feels a tad dry and bitter to the palate and overall it is a clean and refreshing beer. Quite a nice change from all of the stouts and IPA's I have been drinking.
Dec 31, 2008
Photo of tempest
Reviewed by tempest from New York

2.93/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3
Picked a single from Four Firkins. Pours a clear gold with a white head. I don't know about this one. The citrus element is oddly ovrepowering. It reminds me more of Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy than anything. The flavor gets a little grassier and spicy towards the end and the beer finishes on a proper hops note, but this is different and not necessarily in a good way. Try at your own risk.
Nov 29, 2008
Photo of Mdog
Reviewed by Mdog from Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Cloudy gold, good carbonation and head.

Smell: Dry lemon pith.

Taste: Not really a pilsner taste. Hoppy dry citrus pith, a little bready sweetness, reminds me of a cascade-hopped pale ale. That being said, the taste is fine, just not a pilsner.

Drinkability: Easy to drink.

Didn't read any reviews before purchasing a single of this beer. As I wrote before, doesn't taste like a pilsner at all, more like a US pale ale. For a pale ale it tastes fine, not great, not bad. If you're looking for a nice grassy pilsner you won't find it here.
Oct 05, 2008
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

1.89/5  rDev -39.4%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
One thing, right off: this ain't no Czech pils.

Pours dark gold with a decent head. Nothing exceptional but nothing bad, it doesn't look particularly flat or bland.

Smells off. Not off in any traditional or particular way--just off. Little syrupy, little waxy. Almost like a solvent of some kind, chemicals.

I'm making it sound like it smells worse than it actually does. There are plenty of tolerable chemicals. When I put this up to my nose I don't gag and draw it quickly away. But it's not what a pilsener should taste like. It's not crisp or refreshing. It doesn't make me want to drink it.

Tastes tolerable, a little better than the smell. There's almost something beery, here. Little bit of weediness, and I think that syrupyness is something like a hop flavor. Pretty--pretty bad.

Is this made from kit?
Sep 18, 2008
Photo of Greggy
Reviewed by Greggy from Minnesota

3.82/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4
Appearance- Pours a nice light golden color into a pilsner glass with a nice 2 finger haead that very slowly recedes into a nice fluffy head.

Smell- A big lemony malt comes through with a bit of graham cracker in their to. A touch of honey is noticeable as well. Not bad..

Taste- Like the smell there is a big lemon component to this with a refreshing honey-graham taste as well. I really enjoy the taste but it really isn't on par with what a pilsner should taste like. There is very little hop presence in the brew, but moreover, just enough to balance out the malt. Increasing the hops would help this be more of a pilsner in my opinion. I really want to give this >4 for taste, but judging by the style, I just cannot justify it.

Mouthfeel- Another area where this brew is lacking is in the mouthfeel department. There is very little carbonation in this brew. I believe that with a more medium carbonation, this brew would have greater potential.

Drinkability- This is a very refreshing and enjoyable brew. The problem is, it isn't a pilsner. I will enjoy this brew on numerous occasions this summer, but as a beer, not a pilsner, if that makes sense.
Mar 21, 2008
Bohemian Pilsner from Brau Brothers Brewing Co. LLC
Beer rating: 76 out of 100 with 30 ratings