Radio Free Pils
Onion Pub & Brewery / Wild Onion Brewing Co.

Radio Free PilsRadio Free Pils
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From:
Onion Pub & Brewery / Wild Onion Brewing Co.
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
ABV:
5.2%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.62 | pDev: 9.39%
Reviews:
13
Ratings:
33
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 19, 2022
Added:
Jun 05, 2016
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  12
No description / notes.
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Ratings by bros:

  None found.

 
Rated: 3.1 by Eman17 from Illinois

Mar 19, 2022
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.25 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Dec 06, 2021
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.02/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Way back when, in the early-2000s, possibly even before the advent of The CANQuest (tm), I was out in Chicagoland for a visit. I really wanted to visit the now-defunct Dick Tracy Museum & hit some breweries. I CANtacted @AutumnalDave & he picked me up at one of the METRA stations, ferried me around & dropped me off. We hit three (3) breweries/brewpubs that day, but the CANds-down winner was The Onion! I absolutely adored that place & when we got their CANned distro here in PA, I was elated! These next three (3) have been patiently awaiting their inCANsion in The CANQuest.

From the CAN: "Lake Barrington, IL"; "Chicago Grown Est. 1996"; "Artwork: AndrewReband.com".

The Crack! of the vent garnered me a fingertip spritz, followed by some foaming action through the vent. I let it settle before peering in to see that it was caused by a brimful craft CAN with nowhere for the tongue to go. I responded with a slow, gentle C-Line Glug into my fave Pils glass. It returned the favor with the creation of tow-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, bone-white head with good retention. Color was an oh-so-faintly-hazy Straw-Yellow (SRM - > 2, < 4). Nose had the lemony, grassy, hay-like character that I like to call lemongrass. CANother CANparison might be to liquified lemon biscotti or lemon cake with poppy seeds. Mmm. Mouthfeel was thin-to-medium, about on par for any Lager. The taste was very lemony, grassy, hay-like and definitely a BoHo Pils. The GER Pils tend to emphasize the malts, which is fine, but I likes me hops. Mmm. Its ABV was a tad high to call it a "Session Beer", but the way that I have been drinking in quarantine, this was a walk in the park. I CAN see grabbing a rack of these, putting them in the cooler & heading to the beaches along Lake MichiCAN. Finish was pleasantly dry & highly refreshing, just the way I like 'em to be. YMMV.
May 24, 2020
Photo of MaximalC
Reviewed by MaximalC from Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours a slightly hazy straw color with an inch of fine, white froth. Aroma is almost nonexistent—maybe a hint of lemongrass...

The taste features earthy, noble hops and crackery malt up front. Notes of grain husk emerge on the back end, while warming reveals the lemongrass that was more evident in the nose. Medium-light body and vigorous carbonation make for a crisp, lively mouthfeel and dry finish.

Overall, this pils brings a bit more robustness than is typical, which I quite appreciate, even if the flavor profile is simply par for the course.
Oct 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by FBarber from Illinois

Jun 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.91 by L3ntoo from Illinois

Apr 21, 2019
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Reviewed by BlackBeerPirate from Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Taste: crisp, citrus, herbal, wheat crackers, dry, ginger, slight hop bite. bread nose. Golden hue, slight haze, with white foamy head and a single ring of lace. Medium body. Would go well with appetizer.
Apr 19, 2019
Photo of ChicagoJ
Reviewed by ChicagoJ from Illinois

3.62/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3/18/19 (Chicago): $7 16 ounce pint glass pour plus tax and tip at State & Lake at The Wit hotel. Clear blond pour, light carbonation, light white head leaves trace of lacing. Light faint Pilsner hops aroma. Light crisp clean taste and mouth feel. Standard Pilsner, overall decent pour.
Mar 19, 2019
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12oz can. Poured out a clear, golden yellow color with a large, white head of foam. It smelled floral and sweet with a touch of hay. Sweet caramel with a subtle bitterness.
Nov 25, 2018
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I got this off the single shelf at the Montgomery Binnys and tried it at my old neighbor house. It poured a clear golden with no head and no lace. The scent had typical pils character. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with grass and grain flare. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall its a decent beer.
Sep 02, 2018
Photo of beerthulhu
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey

3.04/5  rDev -16%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
A: Pale orange with a decent clarity, not sparkling, with a show of macro-effervesce moving at a quick pace. Chalky white head was thin, foamy, about 1/4 inch and quick to fall. No visible lacing on the vessel. Coloring was a bit darker then usual per style, I like my german style pils sparkling straw.

S: An almost macro-like corny palate, some sour lemon and stale grains. Tinny, from the can, with no distinguishable hops. You can still do a true to style pils with some spicy czech hops and euro grains and get a good sense. This really missed the mark grain and flavor wise.

T: The malting was soft and syrupy, not crisp and grainy. Fresh corn and fresh greenery. Makes up a bit for the appearance and aroma. Hints of orange peel comes on the finish. Again, more macro like then craft, the base malting reminded me more of a production and syrupy effort.

M: Good tingle on the tip of the tongue, a bit slippery and syrupy, and sticky.

O: Overall ok flavor, but wouldn't note it true to style, lacks hop appeal, and the malting more thick and slippery then crisp and grainy. Easily forgettable. I'm partial to a good crisp pils, but sadly this is not it. More focused on the non discriminate drinker.
Aug 04, 2018
 
Rated: 3.54 by robotic_being from Illinois

Jul 17, 2018
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Rated by Wavve from Texas

4.44/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
By far my favorite Pilsener
Jul 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by cryptichead from Illinois

Jul 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by drstalker from Illinois

Mar 11, 2018
 
Rated: 3.48 by Mikexw from New York

Dec 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.25 by sweemzander from Illinois

Aug 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by psmith161 from Indiana

Aug 18, 2017
 
Rated: 3.94 by tbeer40 from New Jersey

Jul 01, 2017
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.72/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pale gold with a steady rising plume of carbonation. Lasting head retention and drippy, sudsy lacing all around.

Aroma is fairly nondescript, mild apple yeast ester and grains.

Taste is good, light apple and grainy malt. Feels smooth and fairly supple, with a bitter hop bite on the back end. They brewed a great Czech Pils awhile back, Kainz Brau. Drinking this just makes me wish they had gone with the old recipe.
Jun 29, 2017
Radio Free Pils from Onion Pub & Brewery / Wild Onion Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 33 ratings