Scrimshaw Pilsner
North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Pilsner - German
Ranked #115 - ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #29,046 - Avg:
- 3.79 | pDev: 12.14%
- Reviews:
- 761
- Ratings:
- From:
- North Coast Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 101
- Gots
- 390
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
Notes:
Named for the delicate engravings popularized by 19th century seafarers, Scrimshaw is a fresh tasting Pilsner brewed in the finest European tradition using Munich malt and Hallertauer and Tettnang hops. Scrimshaw has a subtle hop character, a crisp, clean palate, and a dry finish.
Reviews: 761
| Ratings: 2,138
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Reviews by vidisad:
vidisad from California
3.5/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Aug 24, 2020
3.5/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Aug 24, 2020
More User Reviews:
Kdubzz from Arkansas
4.32/5 rDev +14%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I've only recently gotten into Pilsners, so I'll admit that I'm not well versed in the style, but boy is this thing delicious. About the most refreshing beer I've had (gotta throw Victory Pils in there too), while not sacrificing taste or nose.
Straw golden/yellow with a smallish white head that fades quickly. Smells hoppy and grassy with some breadiness at the end. Tastes along the same lines, crisp hops ending cleanly, biscuity malt sweetness to balance. It's got a medium-light mouthfeel, aside from the high carbonation.
Overall, it seems like some of the other reviewers on here are a bit underwhelmed, but I don't see why. Two thumbs up.
Feb 02, 2016
4.32/5 rDev +14%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I've only recently gotten into Pilsners, so I'll admit that I'm not well versed in the style, but boy is this thing delicious. About the most refreshing beer I've had (gotta throw Victory Pils in there too), while not sacrificing taste or nose.
Straw golden/yellow with a smallish white head that fades quickly. Smells hoppy and grassy with some breadiness at the end. Tastes along the same lines, crisp hops ending cleanly, biscuity malt sweetness to balance. It's got a medium-light mouthfeel, aside from the high carbonation.
Overall, it seems like some of the other reviewers on here are a bit underwhelmed, but I don't see why. Two thumbs up.
Feb 02, 2016
bobvinson2002 from Illinois
5/5 rDev +31.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
If God himself were to drink a beer, it would be this one. It has the light, drinkable texture, all of the alcohol content, and no nasty aftertaste. I can drink this while i eat dinner, or I can come in after mowing my grass and this beer is absolutely amazing. I have had it semi warm and ice cold. Of course Ice cold is the best. The one thing that I truly admire about this beers flavor is that is goes great with any food you make. I truly love it best with a big plate of fried Cod, Fried chips and hush puppies!
Apr 15, 2014
5/5 rDev +31.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
If God himself were to drink a beer, it would be this one. It has the light, drinkable texture, all of the alcohol content, and no nasty aftertaste. I can drink this while i eat dinner, or I can come in after mowing my grass and this beer is absolutely amazing. I have had it semi warm and ice cold. Of course Ice cold is the best. The one thing that I truly admire about this beers flavor is that is goes great with any food you make. I truly love it best with a big plate of fried Cod, Fried chips and hush puppies!
Apr 15, 2014
Jason from Massachusetts
4.09/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Presentation: 12oz short brown twist, no freshness date.
Appearance: Slight hazy pale straw in colour with a creamy lace that does not want to dissipate.
Smell: A vivacious noble hop and light grain malt aroma perfume from this brew.
Taste: Malty none the less, noble hop (Hallertauer and Tettnang) in the bitterness and flavour. Runs clean, crisp and dry.
Notes: A choice American brewed pilsner with eight awards, as of 1998, for proof.
May 16, 2002
4.09/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Presentation: 12oz short brown twist, no freshness date.
Appearance: Slight hazy pale straw in colour with a creamy lace that does not want to dissipate.
Smell: A vivacious noble hop and light grain malt aroma perfume from this brew.
Taste: Malty none the less, noble hop (Hallertauer and Tettnang) in the bitterness and flavour. Runs clean, crisp and dry.
Notes: A choice American brewed pilsner with eight awards, as of 1998, for proof.
May 16, 2002
leantom from Indiana
4.25/5 rDev +12.1%
A very warm day is a good day for pilsners. Here goes:
A: Pours a clear gold (maybe a little coppery, though) with a three-fingered head that leaves some lacing. The head is nice and fluffy and the beer looks like a pilsner. Great. 4.5/5
S: Good. None of the corn smell that is present in many American adjunct lagers - this one is solid barley (maybe some wheat, too) and hops. The malt is rather mild and grainy, but the hops are readily apparent. I can smell lemon, grass, pepper and lighter spices - very European and not robust like in American beers. Some drawbacks, but good.
Overall, the smell is rather simple: grainy malt and lemony hops. This is great for a pilsner, however. 4/5
T: Taste follows the nose except the malt is more apparent. Can still detect lemon, grass and lighter spices from the hops, and the malt has a rather distinct grainy taste. Simple but good. 4/5
M: Very clean and crisp. Glides down the throat. Great. 4.5/5.0
O: Proof that beers don't have to be complex to be very good. 4.25/5.00
Aug 22, 2014
4.25/5 rDev +12.1%
A very warm day is a good day for pilsners. Here goes:
A: Pours a clear gold (maybe a little coppery, though) with a three-fingered head that leaves some lacing. The head is nice and fluffy and the beer looks like a pilsner. Great. 4.5/5
S: Good. None of the corn smell that is present in many American adjunct lagers - this one is solid barley (maybe some wheat, too) and hops. The malt is rather mild and grainy, but the hops are readily apparent. I can smell lemon, grass, pepper and lighter spices - very European and not robust like in American beers. Some drawbacks, but good.
Overall, the smell is rather simple: grainy malt and lemony hops. This is great for a pilsner, however. 4/5
T: Taste follows the nose except the malt is more apparent. Can still detect lemon, grass and lighter spices from the hops, and the malt has a rather distinct grainy taste. Simple but good. 4/5
M: Very clean and crisp. Glides down the throat. Great. 4.5/5.0
O: Proof that beers don't have to be complex to be very good. 4.25/5.00
Aug 22, 2014
DrMullet from Florida
3.69/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very clear yellow/gold. Smell is faintly grassy. Light sweet malt taste. This is a light and refreshing pilsner. Very dry and crisp. Will definitely buy again.
Dec 31, 2015
3.69/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a very clear yellow/gold. Smell is faintly grassy. Light sweet malt taste. This is a light and refreshing pilsner. Very dry and crisp. Will definitely buy again.
Dec 31, 2015
sparkydoyle from Pennsylvania
4.12/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12 oz. bottle. deep straw color, slight white head.
Nose offers biscuit notes slight note of spent grain. Very light hop notes.
Taste is particularly enjoyable. Beer is slightly round and sweet for a pilsner, it seems to be closer to a Dortmunder lager in style, but exquisite anyway. Very elegant hop finish--slightly sweet with a slight snap of bitterness.
A polished and well-balanced lager. Great choice to serve to non-BA's. It won't alienate anyone, and beer fans will enjoy it.
Dec 12, 2004
4.12/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12 oz. bottle. deep straw color, slight white head.
Nose offers biscuit notes slight note of spent grain. Very light hop notes.
Taste is particularly enjoyable. Beer is slightly round and sweet for a pilsner, it seems to be closer to a Dortmunder lager in style, but exquisite anyway. Very elegant hop finish--slightly sweet with a slight snap of bitterness.
A polished and well-balanced lager. Great choice to serve to non-BA's. It won't alienate anyone, and beer fans will enjoy it.
Dec 12, 2004
Garvey from Iowa
3.8/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Oct 10, 2015
3.8/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Oct 10, 2015
BeerBelcher from Ohio
2.26/5 rDev -40.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
I was rather unimpressed with this pilsner. It was very malty, lacked much in the way of hop character, and tasted a bit cardboard-y to me.
I had this at a hotel bar during some recent travel. The bottle has no packaging or pull date, so Im left to assume it was fresh from the brewery.
This beer poured an amber color in my pint glass with a pretty abundant head of large bubbles. Aroma was faintly of hops, but also had a fair amount of somewhat caramel-y maltiness. Flavor was disappointingly not bitter, and had strong malt and wet brown cardboard flavors. Mouthfeel was unremarkable.
There are a lot of great beers out there, but I wouldnt include this one among them based on this experience. Not recommended.
Oct 30, 2007
2.26/5 rDev -40.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
I was rather unimpressed with this pilsner. It was very malty, lacked much in the way of hop character, and tasted a bit cardboard-y to me.
I had this at a hotel bar during some recent travel. The bottle has no packaging or pull date, so Im left to assume it was fresh from the brewery.
This beer poured an amber color in my pint glass with a pretty abundant head of large bubbles. Aroma was faintly of hops, but also had a fair amount of somewhat caramel-y maltiness. Flavor was disappointingly not bitter, and had strong malt and wet brown cardboard flavors. Mouthfeel was unremarkable.
There are a lot of great beers out there, but I wouldnt include this one among them based on this experience. Not recommended.
Oct 30, 2007
rangerred from Tennessee
3.78/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.
Pours a slightly hazy medium yellow with a 1.5 finger head which settles into a nice cap over the beer. Good lacing as well.
Aroma is sweet malt with some honey detectable. Not much in the way of hops.
The taste is much like the smell. Sweet malt along with a touch of bready grain. A small hint of grassy hops is detectable however bitterness is low to moderate. Finishes fairly clean.
This is a good, clean, thirst quenching beer. I would have liked a touch more bitterness and a little less sweetness but I would seek it out again.
Jan 05, 2012
3.78/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.
Pours a slightly hazy medium yellow with a 1.5 finger head which settles into a nice cap over the beer. Good lacing as well.
Aroma is sweet malt with some honey detectable. Not much in the way of hops.
The taste is much like the smell. Sweet malt along with a touch of bready grain. A small hint of grassy hops is detectable however bitterness is low to moderate. Finishes fairly clean.
This is a good, clean, thirst quenching beer. I would have liked a touch more bitterness and a little less sweetness but I would seek it out again.
Jan 05, 2012
palliko from California
4.2/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance is a light, cloudy yellow with ivory (get it scrimshaw?) foam and nice, long lived lace. Aroma is of sweet grainy malts and hops that caress the nose. Initially the taste has aromatic grapefruit hops complimented by bold malt. Finish is a fresh, cleansed palate experience. Well crafted Pilsner.
Jul 17, 2005
4.2/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance is a light, cloudy yellow with ivory (get it scrimshaw?) foam and nice, long lived lace. Aroma is of sweet grainy malts and hops that caress the nose. Initially the taste has aromatic grapefruit hops complimented by bold malt. Finish is a fresh, cleansed palate experience. Well crafted Pilsner.
Jul 17, 2005
Bouleboubier from New Jersey
3.72/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Tasted like a strange mix of a full-bodied wheat with the flavor of a pilsner. Used to less cloudy, crisper examples - this one was just different. The characteristic flavor and aroma was definitely present, but the enhanced body and bready nose threw me off - not necessarily a turn-off. Probably good with general lighter fare - summer grill chow, salads, etc.
Most of North Coast's beers I really dig. This one is decent, different, but not high on my list for domestic pilsners. Guess I'll have to sample more pilsners this summer (including this one again) and see if I'm buggin'.
Apr 26, 2010
3.72/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Tasted like a strange mix of a full-bodied wheat with the flavor of a pilsner. Used to less cloudy, crisper examples - this one was just different. The characteristic flavor and aroma was definitely present, but the enhanced body and bready nose threw me off - not necessarily a turn-off. Probably good with general lighter fare - summer grill chow, salads, etc.
Most of North Coast's beers I really dig. This one is decent, different, but not high on my list for domestic pilsners. Guess I'll have to sample more pilsners this summer (including this one again) and see if I'm buggin'.
Apr 26, 2010
wordemupg from Canada (AB)
3.84/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 13, 2018
3.84/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Aug 13, 2018
Scrimshaw Pilsner from North Coast Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
2138 ratings
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