-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Prima Pils
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
- From:
- Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
- Pennsylvania, United States
- Style:
- German Pilsner
Ranked #29 - ABV:
- 5.3%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #9,592 - Avg:
- 4.02 | pDev: 11.94%
- Reviews:
- 2,187
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 26, 2024
- Added:
- Jul 27, 2001
- Wants:
- 339
- Gots:
- 955
Prima! It’s a German exclamation of joy. It’s a recognition of accomplishment. It’s what escaped from our lips the first time we sampled this mighty pilsner recipe. With heaps of whole flower European hops and fine German malts, we achieved the bracing herbal bite and smooth malt flavor that we sought. Prima… an exclamation of Victory! Prost!
44 IBU
44 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Clydesdale:
Reviewed by Clydesdale from District of Columbia
4.35/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.35/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a deep, clear yellow, with a big, lacy white head. Nice retention and great lacing.
S: Big, sweet hop aroma, resembling freshly cut grass or flowers. Some malt is present as well, with hints of citrus.
T: Hops are obviously the standout here, and they are incredibly complex. There's a big bite of bitterness initially, then a lingering spiciness. The hops gradually become rather herbal and earthy. Malts are present but subdued in relation to the hops. They leave a nice touch of sweetness near the finish and give the brew enough of an overall balance to avoid becoming overwhelming.
M: Moderately smooth, the finish is certainly a bit dry. Body is medium, with very active carbonation.
D: A really nice offering. The hops are really big, but it's not a one-dimensional beer. A lot of complex flavors at work that make this a very enjoyable and drinkable brew.
Oct 10, 2008S: Big, sweet hop aroma, resembling freshly cut grass or flowers. Some malt is present as well, with hints of citrus.
T: Hops are obviously the standout here, and they are incredibly complex. There's a big bite of bitterness initially, then a lingering spiciness. The hops gradually become rather herbal and earthy. Malts are present but subdued in relation to the hops. They leave a nice touch of sweetness near the finish and give the brew enough of an overall balance to avoid becoming overwhelming.
M: Moderately smooth, the finish is certainly a bit dry. Body is medium, with very active carbonation.
D: A really nice offering. The hops are really big, but it's not a one-dimensional beer. A lot of complex flavors at work that make this a very enjoyable and drinkable brew.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DDiFran from Ohio
4.1/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: straw with a slight haze. Thin white head with decent lace
S: not getting a strong smell. Some bread but this weather is affecting my sense of smell
T: crisp. Biscuit with pine hop finish. Very tasty
F: crisp. Might be slightly too cold
O: solid Pilsner.
Feb 22, 2024S: not getting a strong smell. Some bread but this weather is affecting my sense of smell
T: crisp. Biscuit with pine hop finish. Very tasty
F: crisp. Might be slightly too cold
O: solid Pilsner.
Rated by untitledeuphoria from New York
3.79/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Not the best, not the worst. Solidly above average in the world of craft pilsners.
Dec 27, 2023Rated by Davidstan from Alabama
4.36/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.36/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Great pils!
Dec 01, 2023Reviewed by AGU313 from Maryland
3.93/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A: yellow gold, full head, slight haze, tiny bubbles
S: fruity, bready
T: hop forward, some malt
M: full and foamy, crisp
O: great example of the style
Oct 29, 2023S: fruity, bready
T: hop forward, some malt
M: full and foamy, crisp
O: great example of the style
Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland
4.56/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Brilliantly clear light gold, dense white head, excellent retention, rings of lace
Herbal/floral/spicy hops over bready malt
Flavor follows aroma, clean bitter finish
Light bodied and appropriate carbonation
This was my after work beer for a bit, surprised I hadn't reviewed it before. One of the best made German pils in the US.
Oct 28, 2023Herbal/floral/spicy hops over bready malt
Flavor follows aroma, clean bitter finish
Light bodied and appropriate carbonation
This was my after work beer for a bit, surprised I hadn't reviewed it before. One of the best made German pils in the US.
Reviewed by Tomx from New York
4.38/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.38/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I like a pilsner with a little funk, that taste of the cellar or cave and Prima has a little funk. It also has a slight skunkyness which I am less enamored with. But the slight skunkyness is dissolved by the hoppy bite at the end. All in all one of the best pilsners I've had. and one of my favorite brews.
Jul 30, 2023Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
4.16/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.16/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This is generally considered an American classic take on German pilsner, and there's a darn good reason for it.
There's a wonderful hoppy bite, but it carries the almost spicy neutrality of Noble hops, not the over the top citrus or tropical fruit of New World varietals. It's hoppy and bitter, but it's by no means an IPL. Drinks crisp and clean, with a bready, grainy deliver of the malt bill. Fairly dry finish.
It's also less complex than the best pilsners, but at the same time, it's not exactly a low volume boutique offering. Getting this kind of quality from a readily available six pack is, frankly, pretty impressive.
Jul 30, 2023There's a wonderful hoppy bite, but it carries the almost spicy neutrality of Noble hops, not the over the top citrus or tropical fruit of New World varietals. It's hoppy and bitter, but it's by no means an IPL. Drinks crisp and clean, with a bready, grainy deliver of the malt bill. Fairly dry finish.
It's also less complex than the best pilsners, but at the same time, it's not exactly a low volume boutique offering. Getting this kind of quality from a readily available six pack is, frankly, pretty impressive.
Reviewed by highdesertdrinker from Arizona
4.02/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The second time I’ve had this so time to review. Pours a golden orange with good head. Smells a little funky, skunky, and sweet. Tastes like citrus, a little spicy, grassy, a little skunky but it’s a good skunk, and a nice bitterness from the german hops. A good pilsner and a refreshing beer, cheers!
Jul 22, 2023
Prima Pils from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
5522 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!