Czech Style Pilsner
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

Czech Style PilsnerCzech Style Pilsner
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From:
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
 
United States
Style:
Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
ABV:
5.6%
Score:
78
Avg:
3.41 | pDev: 14.08%
Reviews:
135
Ratings:
367
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 14, 2020
Added:
Feb 28, 2009
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  46
Czech Pilsner is a crisp, golden, highly hopped lager. This style beer was first brewed in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia in 1842 using a sample of special yeast smuggled from Germany by a Czech monk. Until this time all beers were dark and cloudy. The new Czech Pilsner was the first beer to be brewed clear and golden.

36 IBU
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by biegaman:
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.5/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at AT&T Park, in San Francisco.

My impression of Gordon Biersch has always been that they're an average brewpub chain, and indeed this pilsner has a very average look to it. (Then again, what else to expect from the world's most conventional beer style?) It is a stock yellow colour, perfectly clear complexion, with little bubbles and a fine white head that increases with agitation.

The smell too is average, with minimal hoppiness and an assertively bready maltiness that let's you know you're in for something perfectly ordinary. It smells much as most mainstream lagers do, albeit without the fouling adjuncts. Still, even minus the corn-y tint, it's no more pleasurable - just a simple, standard smelling beer that'd be recognizable to anyone.

I'm glad the brewer ensured that lots of the bready, pale malt flavour would shine through - if only he did the same for the hops. As it stands this beer is terribly undistinguished which, although not such a bad thing for the other 42,999 people at the ballpark this evening, is a bit middling for me. I was hoping for just a little bit more character with my $9.75 pint.

Still, I'll happily take this over mass-marketed swill any day. It is refreshing, agreeable even as it looses its chill and the malts are easily discerned as undiluted - heck, there's even a bit of earthy hop bitterness after all! Plus it made a quenching accompaniment to a ballpark dog, an order of garlic fries and lazy summer evening baseball - what else can be asked of it?

If you like mainstream commercial lagers, there's no way you won't enjoy this (if you're the type who sorts through reviews on Beer Advocate chances are you already know exactly how much you'll enjoy this). Bottom line: Gordon Biersch Czech Pilsner is far from the epitome of the style but it's better than many others on the market and, in a pinch, will do just fine.
Jul 25, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of davidward
Rated by davidward from Florida

3/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A decent American version of a Czech Pilsner.
Nov 14, 2020
 
Rated: 3.74 by Bill69 from Pennsylvania

Jun 16, 2019
 
Rated: 3.27 by Jason_cs from Florida

Apr 02, 2019
 
Rated: 3.27 by sokol_1993 from California

Mar 03, 2019
 
Rated: 3.35 by jvanderb from New Mexico

Dec 06, 2018
Photo of sunsjammer
Rated by sunsjammer from Arizona

3.74/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
from a growler supplied by my bro arizcards.
Oct 18, 2018
Photo of Slatetank
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I enjoyed this on tap in Atlanta Airport served chilled in a willybecker
The color is golden with white head
The aroma is mostly hops with a subtle lager yeast smell
The feel is mostly dry with moderate bitterness and carbonation
the flavor has a spice-like hop character with a dry malt foundation with low sweetness and lingering bitterness in the dry finish
Overall a pretty decent pilsner, very drinkable
Oct 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.42 by Sexmortus from Arizona

Sep 28, 2017
 
Rated: 2.51 by Can_has_beer from Texas

Jun 09, 2017
Photo of teromous
Reviewed by teromous from Virginia

3.76/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
From the back label: "BOTTLED ON: 11:09 335 04/03/17"

Appearance: The body has brilliant clarity. It is medium gold colored with a thick, fluffy, white head. Good retention.

Aroma: I immediately get a sweet smelling grain aroma with a light spicy hop aroma.

Taste: Up front and in the middle there is this very light bitter herb flavor with a touch of grain. The back end is slightly floral with a nice spicy hop character and a light bitter finish. The aftertaste is a light grain flavor with a touch of sweet honey. The flavors are a bit muted or watered down but they still taste good.

Mouthfeel: The beer is very clean, well carbonated, light, and easy to drink.

Overall: It is an enjoyable beer to drink. The flavors were a bit watered down which gave the beer a bit more elevation towards the bitterness. Both the malt and hop flavors were good though. I would drink it again and I would recommend it but it isn't a beer to rush out and pick up.
Jun 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.64 by LukeB from Virginia

May 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.63 by NeoClassicist from New York

Mar 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.54 by DreDay from California

Mar 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.19 by AAG from New York

Jan 22, 2017
Photo of BucannonXC5
Reviewed by BucannonXC5 from California

3.57/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Type: 0.6L draft
Glass: Gordon Biersch 16-oz. Wallenstein glass
From: Gordon Biersch Brewery in San Diego, Calif.
Price: $5.95 (I think)
Purchased: Jan. 16, 2017
Consumed: Jan. 16, 2017
Reviewed as: Czech Pilsner
Misc.: N/A

Kind of rushed this review as I thought I had already reviewed it and I was at dinner. Really wanted to get back to trying some of these Gordon Biersch beers since I was not reviewing some of these true to style.

Poured a medium yellow clear color with three fingers of rocky white head when I got it. A few bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass. Very good foamy lacing. Excellent retention. (Sight - 4.25)

Smelled corn, hay, grass and honey. Not getting much spice from the Saaz hops as I would have thought. Definitely could tell it was a pilsner. (Smell - 3.50)

Taste followed the nose, getting hay, grass, honey and some spicy Saaz, but not as much pepper as I would have thought. (Taste - 3.50)

Light body. Thin texture. Lively carbonation. Abrupt, crisp finish. (Feel - 3.75)

This was a good Czech Pilsner, but not great. (Overall - 3.50)

3.57 | 81 | B
Jan 20, 2017
Photo of matcris
Reviewed by matcris from Arizona

4.18/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
For the style. A clear golden with minor bubbles rising, and a small white head that recedes quickly to a thin layer. Minor lacing. Aroma is hoppy! Grassy/hay, almost a tamale husk/corn scent, and crackery/bready malt. Same with the flavor, nice doughy, bready quality, and the above mentioned hop notes. Medium body for the style, full carbonation, and dry on the finish. Aroma is great. Full, hoppy, and bready. Flavor is good, as well, but the nose is out there, in a good way.
Jan 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.58 by Treycotton from Oklahoma

Dec 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.48 by nater919 from New York

Aug 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.19 by Gtwreck45 from Missouri

Aug 08, 2016
Czech Style Pilsner from Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
Beer rating: 78 out of 100 with 367 ratings