Josephs Brau PLZNR Czech-Style Lager
Trader Joe's Brewing Company

Josephs Brau PLZNR Czech-Style LagerJosephs Brau PLZNR Czech-Style Lager
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From:
Trader Joe's Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
Ranked #311
ABV:
5.4%
Score:
77
Ranked #27,247
Avg:
3.34 | pDev: 12.57%
Reviews:
87
Ratings:
269
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 16, 2022
Added:
Dec 21, 2011
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  29
No description / notes.
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Ratings by GMB:
Photo of GMB
Reviewed by GMB from Japan

3.85/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Josephs Brau PLZNR pours a somewhat unexpected, though appealing, darker-than-straw body. A standard pour yields a small, bright white head with tons of staying power. In fact, the head outlasts that of JosephBrau's Bohemian lager, whose head was initially more impressive. Indeed, PLZNR's head is so enduring that there is still a thin cap of sticky white foam as I take my first sip a full 5 minutes after the pour. Carbonation in the brew is medium. Regularly dispersed small bubbles move steadily in streams towards the surface. I predict that this brew will have a moderate feel and yield a frothy foam.

PLZNR's nose is balanced between mild, citrus-floral hops and lightly sweet malt. Dried apricots are balanced with coriander seed, pepper, lavender, and faint aromas of grapefruit.

I the thick, sticky malt of Bohemian Lager from my palate before delving into PLZNR. The latter is crisper, more sophisticated, and better balanced than the former. Prominent flavors are butterscotch, lightly toasted crackers, thyme, the zest of an unripe orange, and perhaps a touch of rosemary. Sweet grapefruit appears late, develops, and moves to the fore as the brew's flavors hang on the palate.

The first few sips are crisp and clean, but soon thereafter, malty flavors begin to dominate. The aforementioned flavors remain, but the sweet malt knocks things somewhat off balance. This brew is too sweet, especially for a Czech Pilsener. A thinner, lighter (that is, less toasted) malt profile would yield a crisper finish and allow the beer's lovely bouquet to open up more and develop further on the palate. The word "dry" should come to mind when describing a Czech Pilsener. In this case, it comes to mind only because I can't use it. Instead, I'm forced to write that this beer is dryish.

What crisp character does come through in this this brew is helped by its mouthfeel. A swirl around the tongue yields a respectable foam that's viscous enough to please the palate but not so sticky as to dull the beer's spicy notes or to dampen further the moderate dryness of the finish. Nice.

As a Czech Pilsener, PLZNR certainly outperforms Bohemian Lager. In fact, I submit that JosephBrau's Bohemian Lager isn't a Pilsener at all. Its richer malt profile and muted hoppy flavors suggest that it is best categorized as a Munich Helles Lager. The powers-that-be at BeerAdvocate would do well to consider reclassifying it as such.

I'd gladly drink either of these tasty beers again, but, if given a choice between the two, I'd reach for a PLNZR.
Sep 27, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.15 by 88caprice from Virginia

Sep 16, 2022
 
Rated: 3.67 by Gatch from Massachusetts

May 23, 2022
 
Rated: 3.59 by travelguy from Ohio

Apr 25, 2022
 
Rated: 3.27 by BarrelAgedG from California

Apr 17, 2022
 
Rated: 2.75 by AndrewFord666 from Illinois

Dec 24, 2021
Photo of ilikebeer03
Reviewed by ilikebeer03 from Texas

3.71/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pour is a brilliantly clear golden yellow. big white head. good retention
nose is grassy, floral noble hopes
Taste is a firm noble hop character, hint of bready cracker on the finish.

Pretty solid - especially for 6.49 / 6er.
Oct 06, 2021
 
Rated: 3.56 by monk2021 from Texas

Sep 22, 2021
 
Rated: 3.59 by Stignacious from New York

Jun 06, 2021
 
Rated: 3.34 by shelby415 from Oregon

Apr 18, 2021
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.5/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
honestly this isnt meant to stack up against the best examples of the style in the world, and frankly, i think it punches well above its weight. tons of flavor but also pretty crisp, nothing thin or metallic or cheap about it, the lager yeast is authentic enough for me even if kind of generic, thats better than invisible. the grain profile is simple, a touch fuller and sweeter than some, but its not out of place the hops leave a little bitterness but seem noble and appropriate in terms of varietal and dose. i guess a critic could say its a little estery, not as clean and crisp as the best of the, and they would be right, but its hard to be critical of a beer like this at this price, and for me, nice and frosty, it hit the mark beyond being cold and wet. its got some minerals to it that give it a european authenticity, and it has great carbonation washing it through, hoppy enough as well, and one of those beers you just feel inclined to slug down from the bottle, three swigs per unit. all things considered, this is a winner.
Mar 14, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by joe12pk from Michigan

Jan 14, 2021
 
Rated: 3.24 by SViterileroux74 from Texas

Nov 18, 2020
Photo of Darkmagus82
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas

3.69/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a clear golden amber color with a one finger head of white colored foam. The head has a very modest level of retention, fading over time to leave almost no lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is strongest of a grainy smell mixed with some light caramel and bready smells along with these aromas comes a touch of herb and earth as well.
Taste – The taste begins with grainy and cracker malt taste with a little bit of the caramel that was detected in the nose. As the taste advances the graininess gets a bit stronger and is joined by a little bit of a earthy hop and a touch of hay, leaving one in the end with a rather crisp and clean taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel- The body of the brew is on the slightly lighter and thinner sided with a carbonation level that is high. For the crisp tastes of the brew the feel is great and makes for an easy drinker.
Overall – A rather refreshing and very easy drinking brew overall. Nothing outstanding, but a nice renditioning of a pilsner for sure.
Nov 14, 2020
 
Rated: 3 by Dalkri from Massachusetts

Oct 12, 2020
 
Rated: 3 by jeschaefer from Texas

Oct 06, 2020
 
Rated: 3.67 by starfighterltd from Oklahoma

Oct 06, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Aug 18, 2020
Photo of chitoryu12
Reviewed by chitoryu12 from Florida

3.62/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Look: Clear, pale gold with rising carbonation bubbles. One finger of foamy white head with long retention.

Smell: Sweet malt, orange peel. Like a fermentation tank.

Taste: Bready malt with a very slight hop bitterness and a dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth with very high carbonation.

Overall: A perfectly serviceable pilsner without anything standing out.
May 18, 2020
 
Rated: 3 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 03, 2020
Josephs Brau PLZNR Czech-Style Lager from Trader Joe's Brewing Company
Beer rating: 77 out of 100 with 269 ratings