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Maharaja Premium Indian Pilsner
Associated Breweries & Distilleries Ltd.
- From:
- Associated Breweries & Distilleries Ltd.
- India
- Style:
- German Pilsner
Ranked #647 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 68
Ranked #28,149 - Avg:
- 2.86 | pDev: 20.98%
- Reviews:
- 101
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 06, 2023
- Added:
- Aug 23, 2002
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 16
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio
3.14/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
3.14/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Clear, faintly sparkling gold with an unevenly short white foam head.
A little corn, grape, rice, and herb express via a smooth and finely frothy body, though accompanied by a touch of unexpected Belgian phenols, which makes for an unusual execution that's certainly off style.
Oct 06, 2023A little corn, grape, rice, and herb express via a smooth and finely frothy body, though accompanied by a touch of unexpected Belgian phenols, which makes for an unusual execution that's certainly off style.
Rated by Fordcoyote15 from Pennsylvania
3.79/5 rDev +32.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +32.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
The BA rating of 68 is a little extreme. While no German example this is still better than almost every macro I've ever had.
May 04, 2022Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina
2.99/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2.99/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Look: It pours clear year with a white head. Head retention is low.
Smell: It has aromas that are grainy sweet with a very low honey touch and very low yeast.
Taste: It has grainy sweet flavors with a touch of caramel, a hint of honey and yeast.
Feel: It has a medium light body and a somewhat sweet after taste.
Overall, not much in the flavor, but lots of carbonation and easy to drink.
Jan 29, 2022Smell: It has aromas that are grainy sweet with a very low honey touch and very low yeast.
Taste: It has grainy sweet flavors with a touch of caramel, a hint of honey and yeast.
Feel: It has a medium light body and a somewhat sweet after taste.
Overall, not much in the flavor, but lots of carbonation and easy to drink.
Reviewed by Axilx
4.72/5 rDev +65%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
4.72/5 rDev +65%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
As far as I remember, I first heard about this beer when a store associate explained how they only receive limited batches each year and when it’s gone it’s gone.
Apparently this is a world famous beer. For some reason I remembered it being an IPA, not to be confused with Avery’s Maharaja IPA.
For a Pilsner, it’s good. No skunkyness and not watery. Just a balanced and light tasting beer. It’s a little pricey. I don’t know if I’d say it’s the greatest beer ever. But if you are lucky enough to come across it, I’d consider grabbing one or two. It’s weird because, I was just thinking recently, that I’d like to go try to find it again and then it appeared..
Jan 24, 2022Apparently this is a world famous beer. For some reason I remembered it being an IPA, not to be confused with Avery’s Maharaja IPA.
For a Pilsner, it’s good. No skunkyness and not watery. Just a balanced and light tasting beer. It’s a little pricey. I don’t know if I’d say it’s the greatest beer ever. But if you are lucky enough to come across it, I’d consider grabbing one or two. It’s weird because, I was just thinking recently, that I’d like to go try to find it again and then it appeared..
Reviewed by monkist from Hungary
3.94/5 rDev +37.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +37.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Yes, I know you say it’s poor. But I love lagers and pilsners, even if they are a bit thin, especially when it comes to chugs or having something to drink with food. And this one was just right, no foul taste, no strange bitterness, no bad aftertaste, no excessive skunkiness - everything was just right (you even get that apple-like aroma to it.)
A nice, easy-to-drink German-style (or American?) pilsener on the lighter side - from India! (Of course, for hardcore pilsner fans this would be a letdown but what the heck!) I can tell you that perhaps this is the best Indian beer that I’ve had so far, hands down.
Jun 13, 2020A nice, easy-to-drink German-style (or American?) pilsener on the lighter side - from India! (Of course, for hardcore pilsner fans this would be a letdown but what the heck!) I can tell you that perhaps this is the best Indian beer that I’ve had so far, hands down.
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana
3.25/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
11.2oz bottle MFD 07/18 Batch 74 (22 months old at time of review) poured into a becher glass at fridge temp 5% ABV. The beer pours bright light gold in color with nearly white head. The head recedes to a pencil thin ring and island. No lacing. The aroma is faintly sweet with stone fruit & pale malt notes. The taste is semisweet malt with a hint of oxidation coming through in the middle before a mildly bitter finish. The mouthfeel is medium to thin bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, too old to know for sure, but I wouldn't hesitate to order one in an Indian restaurant or buy one with a recent date for the experience. That said, there are definitely better German pilsners out there in the world...
May 29, 2020Reviewed by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota
2.48/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
2.48/5 rDev -13.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a bottle into a pils glass.
Pours medium gold and crystal clear. Limited head. More lacing than expected.
The aromas are of faint green apple, corn, and grass.
The flavors follow the nose. Sweet grainy malt on the tip of the tongue. Corn-heavy on the malt flavors. Faint grassy hops.
The brew has a good crisp feel, which is somewhat redeeming, I guess.
It looks decent, and drinks well. But it's a sweet adjunct bomb
Feb 23, 2020Pours medium gold and crystal clear. Limited head. More lacing than expected.
The aromas are of faint green apple, corn, and grass.
The flavors follow the nose. Sweet grainy malt on the tip of the tongue. Corn-heavy on the malt flavors. Faint grassy hops.
The brew has a good crisp feel, which is somewhat redeeming, I guess.
It looks decent, and drinks well. But it's a sweet adjunct bomb
Reviewed by Tripel_Threat from Michigan
2.69/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
2.69/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Served out if a bottle at a local Indian restaurant. Straw colored clear liquid. Aromas are light grain and grape, very very faint. Taste was a Mish Mash of green apple and creamed corn. Offensive aftertaste. Never again.
Nov 16, 2019Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois
2.83/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.83/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a crystal clear straw color. Effervescent with a thin white head. Remarkably unremarkable.
Aroma is really mild - some light malty notes, maybe a touch of sweet grain, Simple and somewhat bland.
Taste is eve blander than the nose - some light grain notes, a touch of sweetness, hints of green apple and some sweet corn (I don't know that these rose to the level of off flavors, but thats what I got). Some light grassy hops on the back end. Overall quite bland. That being said, it would pair nicely with Indian food.
Feel is light, pretty crisp with a sprightly carbonation.
Overall a solid drinkable euro lager. Like I said, I bet it would pair well with food, but drinking it on its own is a bit of a bore.
Sep 10, 2019Aroma is really mild - some light malty notes, maybe a touch of sweet grain, Simple and somewhat bland.
Taste is eve blander than the nose - some light grain notes, a touch of sweetness, hints of green apple and some sweet corn (I don't know that these rose to the level of off flavors, but thats what I got). Some light grassy hops on the back end. Overall quite bland. That being said, it would pair nicely with Indian food.
Feel is light, pretty crisp with a sprightly carbonation.
Overall a solid drinkable euro lager. Like I said, I bet it would pair well with food, but drinking it on its own is a bit of a bore.
Reviewed by dcscientist from Colorado
3.75/5 rDev +31.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +31.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This was a solid pilsner that obviously went great with my Indian food. It's light enough to counteract the spice in your food if you get a dish that has some heat in it, but it's also flavorful enough to go with more mellow food. Nice in-between beer, I'd say. Had it in a bottle at a local Indian restaurant.
Sep 06, 2019Reviewed by Squire from Mississippi
3.33/5 rDev +16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.33/5 rDev +16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Very clean, light yellow color with no cap or lacing to speak of.
Clean scent of mild grain with perhaps a hint of hops.
Very mild favor, very much like a light beer, yet what's there is clean, refreshing and clearly well made.
Light texture with balancing carbonation.
I don't know if this one is designed simply to be a food accompaniment but it suits that role admirably. It's mild character doesn't compete with strong flavors and if I'd been more familiar with this one I would've made a curry. Not one I'll seek out but one I'm glad I got the chance to try.
Aug 14, 2018Clean scent of mild grain with perhaps a hint of hops.
Very mild favor, very much like a light beer, yet what's there is clean, refreshing and clearly well made.
Light texture with balancing carbonation.
I don't know if this one is designed simply to be a food accompaniment but it suits that role admirably. It's mild character doesn't compete with strong flavors and if I'd been more familiar with this one I would've made a curry. Not one I'll seek out but one I'm glad I got the chance to try.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
3.27/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.27/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Poured from 330ml bottle into glass. Label is stamped 'MFD 07/17'.
Clear, dark straw colored body. Bubbly, one finger white head upon pouring settles down to thin cap and ring. No lacing.
Malts in the aroma, along with a fruity aspect (akin to green apple).
Sweeter taste of light malts, and that fruity aspect as experienced in the smell. Has a bit of spicy hops at the end.
Thin to medium mouth feel. Good carbonation.
Difficult to know how age in the bottle has affected the smell and flavor, but this is good choice of beer to pair with spicy food. Not real bad on its own, but nothing memorable.
Aug 09, 2018Clear, dark straw colored body. Bubbly, one finger white head upon pouring settles down to thin cap and ring. No lacing.
Malts in the aroma, along with a fruity aspect (akin to green apple).
Sweeter taste of light malts, and that fruity aspect as experienced in the smell. Has a bit of spicy hops at the end.
Thin to medium mouth feel. Good carbonation.
Difficult to know how age in the bottle has affected the smell and flavor, but this is good choice of beer to pair with spicy food. Not real bad on its own, but nothing memorable.
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania
3.41/5 rDev +19.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.41/5 rDev +19.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
There are not many Indian beers commercially available here in the U.S. (Kingfisher might be another), so when I saw this on the Singles shelf at one of the now-proliferating bottle shops in the area, I snapped it up as a curiosity. Also, the price point was such that even if it turns out to be a real clinker, I will not feel too disappointed.
From the bottle: "Produced from the finest malt and imported hops with technical expertise of Belgian brewers"; "Winner of international awards, World Selection of Beers"; "Export quality[/]Foer export overseas only".
I Pop!ped the cap & began a slow, gentle pour into the awaiting glass. It was a 330-ml bottle, so I was able to pour most of the bottle's contents before I stopped to perform an in-glass swirl, raising a brief finger of foamy, fizzy, bone-white head with limited retention. Color was Straw-Yellow (SRM = > 2, < 4) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was very malt-forward, more bready than biscuity, with a slightly fruity apple-pear quality. Hmm. Mouthfeel was thin-to-medium, not watery, but not much beyond it, either. The taste was decent, kind of sweet, fairly bready and the fruity apple flavor was prevalent. Hmm. Finish was semi-dry, refreshing & tough to dun for its effort. It was okay, nothing untoward to make me dislike, but it is not worth seeking out. That said, if you see it & you are headed to a BYOB Indian restaurant, this would be an innocuous accompaniment to your meal. Submitted FWIW.
Feb 03, 2018From the bottle: "Produced from the finest malt and imported hops with technical expertise of Belgian brewers"; "Winner of international awards, World Selection of Beers"; "Export quality[/]Foer export overseas only".
I Pop!ped the cap & began a slow, gentle pour into the awaiting glass. It was a 330-ml bottle, so I was able to pour most of the bottle's contents before I stopped to perform an in-glass swirl, raising a brief finger of foamy, fizzy, bone-white head with limited retention. Color was Straw-Yellow (SRM = > 2, < 4) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was very malt-forward, more bready than biscuity, with a slightly fruity apple-pear quality. Hmm. Mouthfeel was thin-to-medium, not watery, but not much beyond it, either. The taste was decent, kind of sweet, fairly bready and the fruity apple flavor was prevalent. Hmm. Finish was semi-dry, refreshing & tough to dun for its effort. It was okay, nothing untoward to make me dislike, but it is not worth seeking out. That said, if you see it & you are headed to a BYOB Indian restaurant, this would be an innocuous accompaniment to your meal. Submitted FWIW.
Maharaja Premium Indian Pilsner from Associated Breweries & Distilleries Ltd.
Beer rating:
68 out of
100 with
161 ratings
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