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 #9,579
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 11.94%
Reviews:
2,188
Ratings:
5,524
Status:
Active
Rated:
Yesterday at 10:24 PM
Added:
Jul 27, 2001
Wants:
  340
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 matjack85:
Photo of matjack85
Reviewed by matjack85 from Illinois

4.17/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I found this single 12oz brown bottle in the " beers for clearance" bin at the Binny's liquor store in Plainfield, IL for just .99¢. Had I known it would be this good, I would have picked up more. The front label has a picture of a hop plant on it, which is very appropriate considering that hops are very prominent in this beer. No freshness date, but there is a small paragraph about the beer on the side of the label.

The beer poured a cloudy grapefruit yellow color with a fast rising head, so watch your pour. 3 fingers of white head rises quickly to the top, but it only lasts about a minute and leaves only spotty lacing on the glass.

The smell is full of flowery hops along with a touch of lemon. I also picked up some toffee like sweetness when I swished it around.

Big European hop flavor but not overpowering. There's enough pilsner malt in here to keep it balanced. Grassy, herbal, and spicy all at once. I love the flavor of this one.

Somewhere between light and medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Nice clean dry finish.

Another masterpiece from Victory.
Jun 22, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.05 by MGibbons from Maryland

Yesterday at 10:24 PM
Photo of hudsonvalleyslim
Reviewed by hudsonvalleyslim from Massachusetts

4.12/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
When I first tried this years ago, mid-90s, I remember thinking this is the hoppiest pilsner I've ever tasted. Perhaps the blueprint for the hoppy lagers we see more often now.

The LEGIBLE stamp says 'Best by May 1, 2024', a 12oz can poured into a tall Radeberger pilsner mug. Haven't had it in a while. Doesn't seem quite as hoppy but my taste buds have surely changed.

It's still a world class beer in my opinion. This might enter my regular rotation.
Mar 20, 2024
 
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
Photo of untitledeuphoria
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
Photo of highdesertdrinker
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
Prima Pils from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 5524 ratings