Pilsener
Bayern Brewing, Inc. / Edelweiss Bistro

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From:
Bayern Brewing, Inc. / Edelweiss Bistro
 
Montana, United States
Style:
German Pilsner
Ranked #408
ABV:
5%
Score:
83
Ranked #23,997
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 15.34%
Reviews:
48
Ratings:
105
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 18, 2022
Added:
Aug 19, 2002
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  12
The term “Pilsener” is widely used to describe a number of beers available on the market. According to German criteria for a true Pilsener, however, the vast majority of them would be unrecognizable as such. By this definition, a Pilsener is a lager beer with a light golden color (5-8 color units by European Brewers’ Convention standards), a specific gravity in the 11.5-12.5% Plato range, and a hops content of at least 28 EBUs (European Bitter Units). Most so-called domestic “Pilseners” fall far short in these categories; Bayern Pilsener easily meets all three (6 color units, 12% Plato, 34 EBUs).

What does all this technical jargon mean? It means you have purchased one of the very few authentic Pilseners brewed in America. Reward yourself by enjoying this beer the way it was meant to be served: pour your cold Bayern Pilsener, in two or three slow steps, into the center of your glass (a fluted or “tulip” glass works best). The thick creamy head (the German term for this is “crown”) and you have just created the mark of a classic Bavarian Pilsener. It is functional, too – the crown holds finely distributed natural carbonation inside the glass and acts as a shelter for this beer’s distinctive, hoppy flavor.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Norm406:
Photo of Norm406
Rated by Norm406 from Montana

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%

Sep 28, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Reidrover
Reviewed by Reidrover from Oregon

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Imperial Pint mug at F/stop Fitzgerald, Salem Oregon.
$7.00
Pours the traditional crystal clear gold body. Nice sized frothy white head
Aroma is more like a Helles..more malty than I thought. But if floral hop.
Taste not exactly traditional pilsner..not really enough buzzy noble hop.More a good traditional American lager.
Very nice mouth feel. Very drinkable.
A good American lager.
Sep 18, 2022
 
Rated: 3.94 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Aug 26, 2021
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Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
surprised to see this rated so poorly on here, this is decidedly good and rather authentic as they go, although the one i had on tap at a pub in missoula was nowhere near as good as the one i had on tap at the brewery itself, so likely some experience variance brings this down a bit from its full glory in its best form. light and mostly clear but not lobotomized, full and lasting white head on it, excited carbonation. it smells and taste extremely balanced, classically german, and brewed the hard way, a decoction mash seems apparent, as the grain is here in its fullest form, fresh and old worldy at the same time, the mineral profile of the water and its chemistry seem exactly right, there are some grassy even lightly spicy finishing hops on this with pretty robust bitterness, and the yeast is an instant classic here, both perfectly deployed and distinctive to me. this is just about everything i want in a good pils, its light in body but not too light, feels alive in the glass, has a ton of flavor but remains a ripper to drink on. really solid overall, true as they come to the style, and something that frankly deserves more attention than it seems to get, but i think that about this brewery in general and many of the brews they produce. totally underappreciated i reckon...
May 31, 2021
Photo of roan22
Reviewed by roan22 from New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pilsener on tap at the tiki bar at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake. Didn't realize it was on tap until the third day I was staying there. Nice dryness for a pilsener.
Aug 30, 2020
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.25/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Pours yellow without the clarity that the big boys offer. 1/3" white head. Aroma was nice pairing of what seemed like noble hop meets pilsner malt, nice outdoor vibes, smells like plants man, barley and hops, nice and green.

Taste was easy going as it should be. Good euro noble hop lemongrass like bitterness. Mouth feel could have been more crisp. Has as much of a munich helles vibe as it does pilsner, which I can dig on, a substantial amount of those styles overlap. Good breadiness (which I supposed contributes to the lack of crispness to it at times). Would like a little more yeast contribution to the flavor and aroma profile.

I wouldn't say the beer doesn't anything below average, but its quite a throw away from being considered one of the better ones. Miles from Bierstadt, still pretty far from Trumer Pils or Pivo. But you know, I wouldn't turn one down or discourage you from checking it out.
Feb 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.06 by Gregwa from Massachusetts

Nov 27, 2019
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Reviewed by deleted_user_950283

3.54/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured with a moderate head. Appearance is clear and golden. Nose is bready malt, taste follows with minimal caramel and banana notes. Overall as good a pils as I’ve had, which isn’t many. Solid brew.
Jul 22, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by cbcrunch from Wyoming

Jun 02, 2019
Photo of Bitterbill
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming

2.43/5  rDev -33.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.25
Bottle (bb June 2019), bought and drank at Old Chicago.

Pours straw yellow, clear, small head of foam.

Weird smell, kinda chemical like. Hops are subdued, malt even more so.

The taste is light hoppiness, not noble character, malt is a bit of cracker, kind of sweet. A muddle.

Mouthfeel is okay but I would never order this again. Not a Pilsner.
Apr 24, 2019
Photo of Col
Reviewed by Col from Washington

4.56/5  rDev +24.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
A - 12 oz bottle to chilled shaker pint glass. Light golden grain color 1+ finger soapy head along with sticky ring-like lacing.

S - Smells like a quality import euro lager, noble aromatic hops stand out along with light toasty pilsner malt. Very good and very beery

T - Noble hops are present with white light bready pilsner and munich malts. Tastes great, very comparable to a Czech pils or Munich helles with low-moderate hop bitterness and strong light toast malt backbone. No adjunct funkiness in this brew, taste more euro than north american lager.

M - This is a full bodied beer, almost as perfect as it gets! Carbonation is on point without being overbearing. Crisp clean feel makes for a pleasant quaff.

O -If I was dying of thirst in the Australian outback this is the taste of beer I would want to revive me. It's got everything you would want refreshing character, great beerish taste and from a craft brewery in Montana it probably utilizes good clean water and quality grains and hops. This is the high bar for North American lagers!
Sep 12, 2018
 
Rated: 3.25 by COBEERHUNTER from Colorado

Jul 16, 2018
Photo of Squire
Reviewed by Squire from Mississippi

4.08/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Clear light golden color with white cap.

Aroma of crackery malt and spicy, floral hops.

Flavor of dry, crackery malt with a firm, bright hoppy bitterness. Malt and hops are working as a team here, each alternating taking the first step forward quickly joined by the other working in tandem. one first, then the other, yet both together. Firm bitterness all the way but not in a fruit intense form, rather a polished spiciness.

Light medium texture with balancing carbonation.


This is a delightful beer standing on the shoulders of classic European Pilsners.
Mar 23, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by NickThePyro from Washington

Mar 16, 2018
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Reviewed by JonathanHerrman from Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
One of the only true pilsners you can find in MT, or anywhere in the states for that matter. Has a stronger pilsner flavor than most, which turns some people off, but I suppose they should just stick to the imitation pilsners that aren't aged like they should be. Crystal clear, decent aroma, small head, and that strong pils flavor. Crisp finish. Great on a hot summer day or after hitting the slopes.
Mar 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by Kurmaraja from California

Jan 28, 2018
 
Rated: 3.88 by snowmageddon from Massachusetts

Jan 01, 2018
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Rated by wasatchback from Tajikistan

3.86/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Well executed version of the style.
Oct 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.77 by csmrx7 from Canada (AB)

Sep 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.59 by BernardTrappe from Montana

Jul 15, 2017
Pilsener from Bayern Brewing, Inc. / Edelweiss Bistro
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 105 ratings