Organic Pilsner
The Emerson Brewing Company

Organic PilsnerOrganic Pilsner
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From:
The Emerson Brewing Company
 
New Zealand
Style:
German Pilsner
ABV:
4.4%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 7.64%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
25
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 15, 2014
Added:
Jun 22, 2002
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of wordemupg
Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
pint at the Pig and Whistle in Rotarua 2/4/14 from notes

A slight haze in a pale yellow body, lots of bubbles but with a top filled glass its hard to tell what would've popped up, lace stuck to the top where the head existed

S big noble notes, wet hay, grass and lemon, just a little adhesive but it somehow works, lots of fruity tropical notes and cereal work well together with some floral notes

T slightly more tropical then the nose, some sweet malt for balance and grassy noble notes work well, NZ meets Czech and I'm digging it

M mild bitter bite, quite gritty on the gums, hay and green grass linger, light bodied and fluffy, very drinkable

O a nice kiwi hopped up pil, my glass was gone in no time flat, I have a good feeling about beer in this country

sinks like a ship and even at 10$ a pint I'll have another, I had this one in bottles and it matches the picture listed so I'm pretty sure this is the correct listing, not sure why its retired so someone please correct me if I'm wrong
Mar 15, 2014
Photo of bylerteck
Reviewed by bylerteck from Canada (ON)

4.32/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bottle at Beer Deluxe. From notes.

A - Poured medium/dark gold with a two finger fluffy white head. Bright. A few thick rings of lace and one finger of retention.

S - Tropical fruit, grassy, juicy citrus hop. Really nice.

T - More grassy than the aroma. Noble hop, light malt, but strong enough for balance. Some honey too.

M - Strong carbonation, light body, dry not bitter.

O/D - Nice pilsner. Flavourful, easy to drink and dosed well with hops and not too much citrus with a good noble hop note. Good.
May 17, 2012
Photo of flexabull
Reviewed by flexabull from California

4.09/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a rigger (like a growler) a bright gold color with a small and bubbly white head.

Aromas are doughy, with some hints of white wine, spices, and a green floral hop note.

Taste is clean, simple, and tasty. Notes of bread dough, light spices, and very subtle creamy sweetness. Finish is crisp, and dry, with a citrus and floral hoppiness.

Good full mouthfeel, nice crisp carbonation.

Overall, a nice full flavored and very refreshing pils.
Mar 08, 2012
Photo of lacqueredmouse
Reviewed by lacqueredmouse from Australia

4.52/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Purchased from Platinum Liquor in Bellevue Hill.

Pours a very slightly hazed, very pale yellow colour, with a sudsy and large-bubbled frothy head of white. Minimal lacing, but the carbonation streams through the body like it should in a good pilsener.

Nose is crisp, but fresh with light fruits from the Riwaka hops, and a zing of green organics, which sharpen it to a point. Very light, but so fresh and redolent. The crispness is indeed what you want in the style. Lovely.

Taste is very similar: light and crisp, with a firm but balanced bitterness to cleanse the back. Really lovely and fresh characters, which highlight what a good style this is, and how drinkable it can be. Back palate is so clear and refreshing--it makes it supremely easy to swill back.

Absolutely cracking pilsener, and a great example of the burgeoning New World Pilsener style.
Apr 02, 2011
Photo of laituegonflable
Reviewed by laituegonflable from Australia

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy straw colour, really quite hazy - almost opaque. Wouldn't have expected from a pilsener but it goes with the organic philosophy. Head is pleasant when poured, white colour with nice fuzzy bubbles on top and some trails of not-so-sticky lace. Like the cloudiness, and it all looks good.

Smells crisp and fruity. Good NZ hops on there with passionfruit and some fresh limes, touch of banana, apple and a good belt of barley malt underlying. Not sweet, just a kiln-dried grain aroma forming a base of an otherwsie pleasantly fruity, clean pilsener bouquet. Great stuff.

Tastes quite grainy throughout, but with a healthy dose of fruit that almost gives it an English ale character but we know it's all hops. Thing is, they come in early, indicating some clever late hopping here. Crisp green apple, largely, with a pleasant mild pear edge at first, blended with gentle, light caramel malt on the front and into the mid. Takes on more bitter hopping late, with light citrus notes and some pine resin. Very fresh and crisp, with a nice stab of bitterness at the end to remind us it's a pils, together with the dry feel at the back. Body for the rest of it is smooth, and nicely full. Yeah, good.

Cracking beer, this. Bitter, good balance throughout but crisp, almost aggressively hoppy on the back. Great stuff.
Mar 14, 2011
Photo of juju7
Reviewed by juju7 from Australia

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bought with a best before date of March 2010. Pours amazingly clear. Very pale gold with a bubble bath-like soft head with a little lacing. Have heard good things about this beer so the nose left me a little disappointed. Not overly generous but nice enough floral hops and tiny bit of sweet honey. But on the palate....f##k me, what a taste! Huge spicy bitterness with a yeasty kick. Hop flavour is fantastic.Very long persistent finish. I should've bought more. German pils? Emersons' pils I'd say.
Aug 16, 2009
Photo of lamarr04
Reviewed by lamarr04 from Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at Eureka Cafe. Poured into a nonic pint-glass.

A: Pours a clear, golden, straw with active carbonation bubbling from the bottom of the glass. A half inch white remains even after the beer settles. Leaves substantial lacing down the glass.

S: Sweet citrus pretty much dominates the nose on this beer. Quite nice and quite unexpected.

T: Sweet citrus and malt upfront, balanced by a firm bitterness at the back and biscuit-like/dry grain around the edges.

M: light to medium body with crisp carbonation. clean/dry finish.

D: Super drinkable. Clean, refreshing, and light enough to put back easily.

Notes: Sweet citrus character to this beer makes it unique in comparison to other pilsners that I have had. I may go so far as to call this one a New Zealand style Pils, as I am fairly certain they use new zealand hops (maybe malt as well).
Jun 03, 2009
Photo of CrazyDavros
Reviewed by CrazyDavros from Australia

3.88/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Crystal clear pale amber pour with a small head that leaves nice lacing.
Aroma is very floral and grassy with some sweet peach and pale malts in the background. Some faint diacetyl later on.
Flavours are mostly green floral hops, sweet biscuity malts and and assertive hoppy bitterness.
Carbonation is slightly too high but otherwise mouthfeel is fine.
An excellent example of the style.
May 26, 2009
Photo of TubaManJack
Reviewed by TubaManJack from District of Columbia

4.17/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On-Tap in a full 20oz Imperial Pint
Appearance: A nice medium gold body with a full fluffy head and highlighted carbonation. Just like a Pils should have.
Smell: A thick hop presence. Its maily citrus and sweet in nature almost "west coast" style. Slight herbal notes.
Taste: Ohh my, yup its more "West Coast" style hops with some herbal hop in there. The citrus, orange/grapefruit notes aren't as strong as in the nose, but there is a nice sweet malt body to round out each sip.
Mouthfeel: The pint is nice and cool, so a refreshing sip is quite rewarding. However the hop bitterness is lessened by the sweet malt providing a nice dry, slightly bitter finish.
Drinkability: It works and is pretty unique for a pils, but I wouldn't expect anything less from Emerson's.
May 13, 2009
Photo of vancurly
Reviewed by vancurly from Australia

4.09/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
a) Hazy pale gold, fluffy white head which sinks

s) Spicy hop, perhaps Nelson Sauvin. Passionfruit seed, quava, lantana, tea-leaf.

f) Fruit.... guava & passionfruit again. Poppy-seed, with a touch of earl grey. Warms into nectarine. Good bitterness

m) Full body, crips finish. Slight harshness that is balanced with the malt.

d) Nice beer, could have several
Mar 23, 2009
Photo of Macca
Reviewed by Macca from Australia

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
this pours a yellow/pale gold colour with a good finger of head which is well retained. It is a bloody good looking beer.

The nose is all tropical fruit.

The palate is tinned pineapple. That might not sound too great but it was. A superbly refreshing acidity is present.

This would be a highly sessionable beer if it was a bit more affordable.

A great beer.
Dec 16, 2008
Photo of belgbeerdrinker
Reviewed by belgbeerdrinker from Colorado

3.61/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
a: slightly cloudy gold color with huge foamy head that barely shrinks, less carbonation than expected
s: citrus and spicy hops aroma
t: citrus crispness gives way quickly to hop heaviness, finishes with moderate bitterness
m: light body, plenty of carbonation, crisp
d: fairly easy to drink and not a bad pilsner. recommended
Jan 03, 2008
Photo of Lukie
Reviewed by Lukie from Australia

3.52/5  rDev -16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Tried this at work, as I am a big fan of the IPA. Poured a cloudy golden, with a firm white head that sat atop the beer for the most part of the drink.

The nose was quite floral and piney, and you could pick out that Emerson Hop in all of their beers, especially the piney qualities. I love it in their IPA as much as I do here.

It has a distinct sweet, floral taste, with the hops producing that delicious pine finish that Emersons seems to be accustomed too. It wasn't enough to save this though, as while a nice Pilsener, I feel it is much below the level of taste that the hops can generate, as can be seen in their IPA.

It went down a great treat though, after a very hards day at the store. The mouthfeel was moderate, but still light enough to make it easy drinking as Pilseners usually are.
Dec 20, 2007
Photo of brendan13
Reviewed by brendan13 from Australia

4.42/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Oh how happy I was when I saw this sitting in the fridge at the local good beer shop tonight...

A - A hazy dark golden straw colour poured into a 500ml Weizen glass. A nice thick 1.5 inch head that hangs around for a fair while.
S - Tropical, citrus lushness. I suspect a generous amount of Nelson Sauvin hops has been put to use here.
T - Again the tropical & citrus flavours continue from the smell but is nicely balanced with a light malt presence.
M - Medium bodied with a carbonation level high enough for it to be crisp and refreshing but not too full on.
D - I wish I had a spare fridge to stock up. Like most Emersons beers their availability is sporadic at best. I'll be drinking my share while I can!
Best "pilsener" I think I've had.
Sep 05, 2007
Photo of rec
Reviewed by rec from Australia

3.62/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
It's not often I get excited about a pilsner. In fact, the only times I have ever gotten excited about lager or pils is generally when it's a boutique brew, trying something new, taking a risk... and pulling it off. Generic, mass-produced macro brews just don't get any of my love, and rightly so in my mind.

My girlfriend's cousin attempted to track down Emerson's Pilsner ("Crisp Premium Organic Lager") last time I was in Perth, which he promised was something special, but with little avail unfortunately. Unexpectedly though, today I received a package with two 500ml bottles of the stuff! The International Beer Shop had obviously restocked.

Understandably, my legs were shaking with anticipation. Dizziness set in, I even felt a little moist (please note: story dramatised for purpose of entertaining review). The hype had definately not eluded me, but I promised to remain honest. In the fridge they went, and a few hours later I brought one out and popped it open...

The pour delivered a transparent corn-yellow body to my glass, with a smaller head than I had hoped. What I did take notice of was that the head was foamy, thicker than the lack-lustre soapy heads I'm familiar with in pils. The head does die down quick, but it also manages to lace the glass well enough to keep me enthused.

It smelt great! Unlike most brews in the same category, it actually had a distinct aroma. Honey, hops, citrus - delicious. I felt refreshed already.

Up-front you're hit with a sweet malt taste and heavy spice. The spice quickly falls off and the citrus comes through strong in the pleasantly balanced aftertaste; apple and lemon are most distinct on my palette. It's crisp yet creamy, complex and sweet - but not enough to overwhelm or become sickly.

Divine is a word I'll happily use to describe it. It's quite possibly the best pilsner I've had. You know it's good when you feel compelled to applaud after finishing a glass... my faith in pilsner has been restored.
Apr 03, 2007
Photo of VitBAficionado
Reviewed by VitBAficionado from New Zealand (Aotearoa)

3.89/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the Inch Bar in NE Valley (Dunedin)
A: Clear golden hue with high levels of carbonation. Delicate but thick head with good retention.
S: Heavy fresh hop aroma dominates but there is a clear presence of passionfruit and apparently a little lemon and apple.
T: Pasionfruit and other citruses come through at first but are replaced by the hops which in turn is repalced by a sweet malty finish. Its almost as if each ingredient introduces itself to you and allows the next one in line to go.
M: Kind of numbing at first - could have been because it was so bloody cold. Ingredients kind of take turns assaulting your tastebuds but not in a good way. The "sour" region of the tongue is particualrly hard hit.
D: Its kind of weird how the various components help in the overall taste but hurt in the mouthfeel portion of the analysis. Not sure if that makes any sense but I stick by it. Anyways, overall another quality beer from Emerson's.
Feb 20, 2007
Photo of BeerNutta
Reviewed by BeerNutta from Australia

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A = Pours a golden amber with a thin foam head that quickly dissapates.

S = Nice floral hop infused with apple aroma. Very inviting.

T = Initial malt sweetness with a delicious apple and pear centre that gives way to a dry hop finish.

M = Moderately carbonated for a refreshing beer.

D = Very drinkable.
Oct 20, 2006
Photo of hefevice
Reviewed by hefevice from Australia

4.14/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Marked down on the appearance because mine was a little hazy with not much head. What there was of the compact white head stuck around nicely.

Aroma...mmm...big hops fruitiness, grapefruit, a little passionfruit, some spice and a solid malt platform. Taste starts a little sweet with a big hoppy finish and some biscuit before a refreshing bitter finish. Mouth allowed the best to come out of the taste, and to me carbonation was low to medium. Regardless it worked well to accentuate all the good points of this wonderful beer.
Apr 29, 2006
Photo of ohitsbrad
Reviewed by ohitsbrad from Australia

4.32/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
15 January 2006, Best Before Sep 07

Clear pale gold pineapple colour with a medium sized bubbly head. Fantastic citrusy fruit and hop aroma. The flavour is suprisingly fruity (grapefruit, pineapple, passionfruit). The big hop bitterness lasts from the front to a crisp, dry finish and is flowery, grassy and herbal. Some grainy malt features too. Light body, but not at all thin or watery. Moderate to high carbonation. Possibly the best pilsner I've come across yet.
Jan 15, 2006
Photo of feloniousmonk
Reviewed by feloniousmonk from Minnesota

4.42/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Before I begin, much thanks to Danny from Dunedin for the bottle!

Clear, lightly hazed neon-green, with a lasting 1/4" of foam resting nicely on-top.

Gorgeous nose. A hop profile that almost impersonates an American Pale Ale...but that's the next beer...fresh citrusy hops, vibrant piney feel, dang, I'm lovin' it...quite unique for a Pilsner, or any beer not out of Oregon or California, really!

Now, to drink...smooth, crisp, and light, easy going on the palate, but just tasty enough to enliven the senses and keep the enthusiasm up throughout the contents of the bottle. Hops linger lightly on the buds, and through the finish, and flavors continue to unfold, apples, lemon, pineapple. This is not a run-of-the-mill pils by any means, and I'm wondering if they used any ale yeast in this, or if it's just the hops. Who cares, it's great!

After just having a crappy "light" beer, I'm turning metaphoric cartwheels about this one.
If this is what "organic" beers can be, I say, "yes, please, more, please!"
Nov 12, 2005
Organic Pilsner from The Emerson Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 25 ratings