100 Barrel Series #15 - Bohemian Pilsner
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall

100 Barrel Series #15 - Bohemian Pilsner100 Barrel Series #15 - Bohemian Pilsner
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From:
Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
ABV:
4.7%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.84 | pDev: 8.59%
Reviews:
37
Ratings:
40
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 28, 2015
Added:
Jul 20, 2006
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
Our Pilsner is made from three different European malts including a large portion of Pilsner malt which provided the slightly sweet and malty backbone of the beer. In order to achieve the crisp bitterness and aromatic nose, we brewed with Tetnanger and Czech Saaz hops. The beer was dry hopped with the Saaz as well. The authentic Bohemian Pilsner yeast added depth and after a prolonged lagering period helped produce much of the character of this beer. Our Bohemian Pilsner has a smooth, slightly malty flavor that is balanced with a crisp bitterness and clean hop aroma.

42 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.49 by oline73 from Maryland

Mar 28, 2015
Photo of duceswild
Rated by duceswild from Heard & McDonald Islands

3/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
light straw color, nontraditional pilsener mouthfeel
Mar 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by Rochefort10nh from New Hampshire

Dec 06, 2011
Photo of plaid75
Reviewed by plaid75 from New York

3.56/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a light straw hue with a three finger creamy and pillowy merangue-like white head. There was excellent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a light spicy noble hop with a gentle husky malt.

The taste was upfront spicy hop with a backdrop of light grainy malt. There was subtle biscuity finish.

The mouthfeel was light with a misplaced creaminess.

Overall a very quaffable pils. Could have used a more adventurous hop profile however.
May 10, 2007
Photo of wedge
Reviewed by wedge from North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Crystalline pale straw with lumpy white frothy on top leaving sticky clumps of lacing. Sharp saaz-y aroma. Creamy and slightly buttery. Taste follows the smell...czech hops and faint green apple. A little more clean than crisp. Mouthfeel is actually pretty solid, somewhat crisp and dry. A nice, dry pils with a creamy touch.
Apr 14, 2007
Photo of Gmann
Reviewed by Gmann from New York

3.63/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured a slightly hazy straw color with a decent with head that left some nice lacing. The smell is of noble hops and pale malts, a bit spicy. The taste is of spicy noble hops, I notice a bit of a metallic taste. It has that Euro funk taste. The feel is light but not watery, finishes dry. Its easy drinking, fine American example that stays true to the Bohemian style.
Feb 18, 2007
Photo of Kookiekwan
Reviewed by Kookiekwan from Florida

3.51/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
This beer pours a golden straw color has a 1” clean white head, with excellent retention and some thin ropey lacing left behind on the glass. Taste is just what I'd expect from a good Pilsner, smooth pale malt with hints of grape skins, dry grains, and a spicy hop finish. Mouthfeel is very crisp and clean, the beer is medium bodied and highly carbonated. The aroma is of fresh noble hops with hints of a bread-like maltiness underneath. This beer is easily one of the best American made Pilsners and I would recommend it to anyone who’s trying to get away from drinking mass produced, low quality, inferior Pilsners from the big companies.
Dec 22, 2006
Photo of CharlesDarwin
Reviewed by CharlesDarwin from Rhode Island

3.06/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
Originally reviewed on July 21, 2005. On Tap at Captain Kidd’s - Woods Hole, MA. Pour of clear pale yellow, topped with a solid white head, smooth. Percolating. Lacks visual depth. Aroma is a wispy blow of fragrant sweet lemon grains. Pleasing and summery. Flavor is a tart metallic tinge of salted grains and penny hops. Lacks thorough body. Needs tooth and chewiness. Grain plays weak. Smacks heavy of metallic apples. Sweetness wanes like a pesticide lemon. Not nearly as drinkable as it should be.
Dec 11, 2006
Photo of Dewey0603
Reviewed by Dewey0603 from Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a clear golden straw with a giant white foamy head. A very nice looking beer with champagne-like carbonation. The smell is a very pungent aroma with sweet malt, apples, hops, and spices. The taste is a real good mix of crisp hop bitterness and a sweet malt. Floral, fruit, and cloves are present in the taste. The m/f is light and very well mixed. A damn good beer and I wonder why Harpoon doesn't brew this year-round?
Dec 10, 2006
Photo of kmpitz2
Reviewed by kmpitz2 from Tennessee

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle. My glass is full of a very light straw colored brew with a finger of frothy foam over top. A huge cascade of carbonation is boiling up in the glass, quite possibly making the head grow as it sits. The brew is as clear as could be. There is just a ton of carbonation in this brew. The aroms is very nice. I find a nice soft pilsener malt base, with just a kiss of grainyness. The spicey noble hop is really nice, with a touch of floral and grassyness in there as well. I think this one smells good. The flavor is okay. It hits first with a very mild pilsener malt sweetness, followed by a moderate fruity blast that is very fleeting. A moderate spicey bitterness follows, with the spicey and peppery noble hop flavors finding their way out on the finish. This one is nice. I think the flavors are not hitting me in the order that I would expect. Mouthfeel is light, with a very solid carbonation. The carbonation definately dwindles as the drinking continues from the brew out-gasing. I'd like a little more retention of carbonation through the drink. I think this brew is fairly drinkable as well. It is fairly solid in the flavor department but is not too strong or big as to where I will have any trouble finding a good home for the rest of the bottle.
Dec 07, 2006
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Straw to gold in color. Nearly clear (slight haze). Excellent head, but it dies rather soon.

Light straw-like aromas, some grassiness; "soft" malt, nearly no hop smells

Very dry pilsner, the hop bitterness shows up nicely on the taste. Very nice body--quite full for the style. The carbonation is perfect as well.

Very pilsner, well worth putting into a flight with other pilsners. Dry, flavorful and smooth.
Dec 02, 2006
Photo of sinstaineddemon
Reviewed by sinstaineddemon from Connecticut

3.43/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - this pils poursa very light straw color, with a 1/2 finger of pure white frothy head that laces very quickly, a few scant bubbles of carbonation cling to the glass

S - big up front malty - wheaty aroma, with a citus aroma lurking in the background

T - more of a hop experience in the taste than in the aroma, nice malt/hop balance, not overly malty or bitter, some determined spiciness as well, like ginger or cloves, very nice flavor

M&D - a little dry for me, and some strong spices, but overall pretty good, not great but good, but an above average beer when all is said and done
Nov 28, 2006
Photo of Damian
Reviewed by Damian from Massachusetts

3.36/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Drank from an 1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle purchased at Liquor World, Somerville, MA

Poured a slightly hazy, very light and pale straw yellow with a tight, bubbly, three-finger, bone white head. Tons of cascading, spider webbing lacing formed large ridges that last well after the beer was finished.

Smell was malty rich with noticeable Munich and Vienna malts. Some earthiness was noticeable as well, with a touch of snappy hops in the background.

Taste was crisply hoppy from start to finish. Citrusy, lemony, spicy and slightly buttery notes were apparent as well. Alcohol was somewhat more noticeable than expected. The extremely dry, hoppy, puckering finish resonated.

Mouthfeel was somewhat thin, grainy and very overcarbonated.

Drinkability was moderate. The beer was light, crisp and would have paired perfectly with a variety of foods. However, the intense dryness and excessive carbonation was a bit overwhelming.
Nov 23, 2006
Photo of MEANxOLDxTOM
Reviewed by MEANxOLDxTOM from New York

4.1/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap at barcade...reviewed from notes.

A- Bright golden yellow with a cappuccino like white head that stood 1/3 of an inch.
S-Big sweet malts with a hint of caramel. Dank grassy plant-like hops.
T-Big sweet malt front and finish. Crisp grassy bitter hops in the middle of the body and lightly in the finish.
M/D- I really enjoyed this beer bubbly, crisp, refreshing, and a unique variation on the style...I look forward to trying other 100 Barrel beers.
Nov 17, 2006
Photo of JMH_
Reviewed by JMH_ from New Jersey

3.81/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a very nice crisp golden colour with a kick-ass, large frothy head thats is nice and sticky overall. Good stuff.

The aroma is a bit straw-like and grassy, a bit sweet and a touch hoppy. It's simple but to the point and gets its point across.

The flavour hits you again withe the grassy straw flavour up front, moves into some sweetness and hop flavour in the middle, then back to the straw/grass again at the finish. Again, its simple, but to the point and tasty. Mouthfeel is light bodied and very crisp.

This one was pretty good overall. Well, made, well balanced and a good amount of flavour. Not my favourite style in the world but I'd be happy to have another.
Nov 12, 2006
Photo of hreb
Reviewed by hreb from Washington

3.92/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Cold 22oz bottle served in a UK (20oz) pint glass. Appearance is a clear and pale golden with lots of bubbles rushing to the surface. The head is white and small but long-lived. Aroma is fresh and crisp, and typical of the hoppy pilsner experience.

I notice two things immediately in the first sip. First, the hops aroma is very pleasant. Pilsner has that "skunk" quality (I mean that in as good a way as possible) but this smells FRESH. Second, the carbonation is through the roof. Oh, it stings! Why, harpoon, why? But then it changes. The sharp carbonation gives way to a creamy and smooth texture which I didn't expect in a pale pilsner. There's a subtly sweet malty flavor which is really nice, if a little cloying, and again, not what I expect in a pilsner.

The head is leaving a creamy white lace on my glass. Anyway, this is really nice. The dry hopping makes it a pilsner, but the body makes it something special. This is definitely one of my favorite from the Harpoon 100 Barrel series (which I've found really hit-or-miss), up there with the Triticus, Abbey, and Scotch Ale.
Oct 08, 2006
Photo of UncleJimbo
Reviewed by UncleJimbo from Massachusetts

3.56/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
22 oz bottle.

This pilsner poured a clear, light golden color with fluffy, white foam that persisted a very long time and clung to the glass. There was a steady fine carbonation from the bottom of the glass. The smell was mildly malty with a hint of sweetness and with a slightly "spritzy" hoppiness. The taste was very lightly malty with a good hoppiness (moderately bitter with some floral hops notes). Very mild flavor overall. The mouthfeel was crisp and relatively clean with mild body and strong carbonation. This was an OK pilsner, but a bit thin on body and flavor.
Oct 07, 2006
Photo of PeatReek
Reviewed by PeatReek from California

3.99/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a golden yellow, just a touch of haze and a rocky, bright white head. Smells bready and floral and just a touch bitey, more like a German pils than a Czech one. Bitterness is prominent in the taste, which is otherwise dry and crisp, slightly savory and floral: distincty Saaz-y. Finishes very clean. Body is light and effervescent, just right. There's a slight metallic twinge in the aftertaste that again reminds more more of the industrial German pilsners than the musty, complex Bohemian biers, but it's still a damn good attempt and possibly my favorite American pils.
Oct 03, 2006
Photo of ppoitras
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle purchased as a single from Austin Liquors, Shrewsbury, MA. Gold foiled cap.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1" white head over the clear bright golden brew. Head holds on nicely, with plentiful delicate lacing. Aroma is light pale grains overcome by Saaz. Taste is just what I'd expect from a good pils-style: Discernable pale malt sweetness, overpowered by crisp Saaz hoppiness, and a clean close. Mouthfeel and drinkability are excellent. I'll be looking this one up again. If only these 100bbl taps were as prevalent as UFO et al. Guess it's just not all about me. Oh well.
Sep 27, 2006
Photo of lordofthewiens
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

3.74/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A 22oz bottle with 62906 stamped on the back of the label. It was a clear light yellow, with a thick white head that lasted forever. Impressive lacing. It had a grainy floral aroma. The taste was buttered popcorn, ending with some hops bitterness. Very comfortable in the mouth. I could drink a few of these.
Sep 26, 2006
100 Barrel Series #15 - Bohemian Pilsner from Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 40 ratings