Prima Pils
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

Prima PilsPrima Pils
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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:
5,522
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
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Generik420:
Photo of Generik420
Reviewed by Generik420 from Indiana

4.63/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
New to the state of Indiana is beers from Victory Brewing Company based in Downingtown, PA. I have had a few of their offerings and have yet to be disappointed. So it is with great pleasure that I can review the Prima Pils and gleefully say I didn't have to trade to get this, it is now here in Naptown!

One of my bigger complaints with the craft beer industry is the lack of pilsners. It's almost like the industry as a whole has seen what the big 3 have done to the style and they are content to let them get away with it. Well Victory has decided to fight back with their Prima Pils which is an outstanding pilsner that can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the finest from Europe. Prima Pils pours a bright golden yellow and in the right lighting, it almost gets a neon glow to it. It is really something to behold, with a gorgeous bright white and thick head gracing the top. Eventually that head will slow drop out but continue to leave lacing all the way down the glass.

The first thing you notice when you raise the glass up to your face is the hops aroma. Very distinct noble hops layered on top of fresh cut grass.. oh so inviting! Taking a sip and you realize that the flavor lives up to the aroma. The beer has a clean and crisp hop bite that really demands that you to take another swallow. The hops are somewhat grassy in nature and leave the beer with an outstanding balance between bitterness and malt. On the tail end, that bitterness lingers lightly on the back of the tongue to remind you that you still have more in the glass.

This is an absolutely world class pilsner beer and would compare well with brands from Europe like Stiegl, Warsteiner, Radeberger, etc. So for those of you out there that have shied away from that pale pilsner style, either because of what the macros have done to the style or because many times imports have that 3 months in a cargo hold taste, give this one a try. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Jul 23, 2008
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.5 by AbeO

Feb 26, 2024
Photo of DDiFran
Reviewed by DDiFran from Ohio

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, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by PaleAleWalt from New York

Jan 17, 2024
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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
Not the best, not the worst. Solidly above average in the world of craft pilsners.
Dec 27, 2023
Photo of Davidstan
Rated by Davidstan from Alabama

4.36/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Great pils!
Dec 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.05 by Jcreason569 from Washington

Nov 11, 2023
Photo of AGU313
Reviewed by AGU313 from Maryland

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, 2023
Photo of MrOH
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
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, 2023
 
Rated: 2.9 by HabaJohnTheReal1 from Illinois

Oct 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Taenim from Maine

Oct 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by ctbeerman1 from Connecticut

Sep 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.72 by sbradley41 from Pennsylvania

Aug 26, 2023
Photo of Tomx
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
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, 2023
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

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, 2023
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Reviewed by highdesertdrinker from Arizona

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
 
Rated: 3.7 by HarlotBronte from District of Columbia

Jul 22, 2023
 
Rated: 3.85 by craigbelly from Iowa

Jul 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by dd53grif from Michigan

Jul 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by db9000

Jul 07, 2023
Prima Pils from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 5522 ratings