Pilsner
Founders Brewing Company
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- From:
- Founders Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- Lager - American
Ranked #28 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #19,805 - Avg:
- 3.82 | pDev: 8.64%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 25, 2021
- Added:
- May 26, 2016
- Wants:
- 23
- Gots:
- 145
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
Notes:
Always brewing to taste and rarely to style, Pilsner is the culmination of our love of American hops and appreciation of easy-drinking styles. Where traditional Pilsners typically feature European Noble hops, our version celebrates some of our favorite American varieties: Chinook, Centennial, Cascade and Crystal. Crisp and bright, with notes of citrus, this Pilsner is refreshingly untraditional. 5.5% ABV.
The recipe is exactly the same as PC Pils. We wanted to give the beer a refresh as far as the name and packaging go – something that spoke better to the beer inside. Pilsner will be available in 15-pack cans and draft from June-September in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Indiana and New Jersey.
The recipe is exactly the same as PC Pils. We wanted to give the beer a refresh as far as the name and packaging go – something that spoke better to the beer inside. Pilsner will be available in 15-pack cans and draft from June-September in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Indiana and New Jersey.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
3.5 by TMoney2591 from Illinois on Aug 25, 2021
3.75/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by rodbeermunch from Nevada
Twas an easy pickup when I saw one of these 15 packs next to the All Day 15 packs at the grocery store. Something like $1 a can in softball season? Hell yeah.
Pours pilsner golden yellow. Decent clarity. 1/3" white head. A decently hoppy nose for style and a light yeast presence.
Taste reveals this might as well be an IPL. Its nicely hopped, so much so, with the varieties and amount, I come to the IPL reference. Hoppy Pilsner, IPL, whatever, let's move on. Good pine lemon and grapefruit rind presence alongside veritable pilsner maltings. Carbonation on point. Its not hopped to the level of what The Dissident was, but that was an imperial IPL. This is just a well hopped with American hops pilsner.
15 of these were crushed with the quickness. Great drinkability. I'd absolutely hit this up again, but it didn't make it out this way come summertime. Stuff like this really has me over the $20 and up bottles.
Aug 12, 2021
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by rodbeermunch from Nevada
Twas an easy pickup when I saw one of these 15 packs next to the All Day 15 packs at the grocery store. Something like $1 a can in softball season? Hell yeah.
Pours pilsner golden yellow. Decent clarity. 1/3" white head. A decently hoppy nose for style and a light yeast presence.
Taste reveals this might as well be an IPL. Its nicely hopped, so much so, with the varieties and amount, I come to the IPL reference. Hoppy Pilsner, IPL, whatever, let's move on. Good pine lemon and grapefruit rind presence alongside veritable pilsner maltings. Carbonation on point. Its not hopped to the level of what The Dissident was, but that was an imperial IPL. This is just a well hopped with American hops pilsner.
15 of these were crushed with the quickness. Great drinkability. I'd absolutely hit this up again, but it didn't make it out this way come summertime. Stuff like this really has me over the $20 and up bottles.
Aug 12, 2021
3.85 by TwilightBeerCareer from Illinois on Mar 06, 2021
3.79 by cgrunin from Texas on Feb 27, 2021
3.37/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by skisonic from Maryland
Pours a translucent, paleish straw, an attractive shade. Smells like a typical pilsner, dank. A light-bodied softish mouthfeel. Prominent flavors are malty, piney with a note of sour. Its smooth and easy to drink.
Dec 19, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by skisonic from Maryland
Pours a translucent, paleish straw, an attractive shade. Smells like a typical pilsner, dank. A light-bodied softish mouthfeel. Prominent flavors are malty, piney with a note of sour. Its smooth and easy to drink.
Dec 19, 2020
3.56/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by JRed from New Jersey
Light haze in this straw-colored body. White fluffy head. Aroma of honey, light citrus, lemon, and light pine. Tastes of light citrus, light lemon, honey, grass, light pine, nice clean bitterness. Light bodied with very active carbonation.
Nov 21, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by JRed from New Jersey
Light haze in this straw-colored body. White fluffy head. Aroma of honey, light citrus, lemon, and light pine. Tastes of light citrus, light lemon, honey, grass, light pine, nice clean bitterness. Light bodied with very active carbonation.
Nov 21, 2020
4.05 by Jcal2023 from Pennsylvania on Nov 19, 2020
3.02 by CreightonSM from New York on Sep 23, 2020
3.65/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by maxpower from Missouri
12 oz can pours hazy golden-straw color with a good fizzy white head that doesn't last long, not much lacing, light grassy and flowery aromas. Cracker and grainy mild sweetness turns bitter with some dryness in the finish. Light bodied with a soft but crisp carbonated mouthfeel, very clean and crisp, very nice.
Sep 05, 2020
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
by maxpower from Missouri
12 oz can pours hazy golden-straw color with a good fizzy white head that doesn't last long, not much lacing, light grassy and flowery aromas. Cracker and grainy mild sweetness turns bitter with some dryness in the finish. Light bodied with a soft but crisp carbonated mouthfeel, very clean and crisp, very nice.
Sep 05, 2020
3.53 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois on Aug 31, 2020
4.09 by DruC4 from Michigan on Aug 24, 2020
3.69/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by hefe300 from Oklahoma
Poured from a 12 ounce can into a Royal Gorge souvenir pint glass. White head dissipates quickly, leaving minimal lacing. Color is yellow with mild haze.
Smells like citrus hops.
Taste like citrus hops up front. Not much malt to balance. Finished with the fading of the hops.
The bitterness is not pilsneresque. It's all citrus and I guess that's where the "American" in American Pilsner comes from. It's a good beer that is acceptable for cooling off on a hot day or paired with a spicy bowl of chili.
This has the hoppiness of an American Pale ale but is a lager with the malt bill of a pilsner.
Aug 22, 2020
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
by hefe300 from Oklahoma
Poured from a 12 ounce can into a Royal Gorge souvenir pint glass. White head dissipates quickly, leaving minimal lacing. Color is yellow with mild haze.
Smells like citrus hops.
Taste like citrus hops up front. Not much malt to balance. Finished with the fading of the hops.
The bitterness is not pilsneresque. It's all citrus and I guess that's where the "American" in American Pilsner comes from. It's a good beer that is acceptable for cooling off on a hot day or paired with a spicy bowl of chili.
This has the hoppiness of an American Pale ale but is a lager with the malt bill of a pilsner.
Aug 22, 2020
3.4/5 rDev -11%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by Jugs_McGhee from Texas
Currently ranked #29 in the "Lager - American" Beers list.
12 fl oz pull-tab can ran me $1.20 USD plus tax at a beer store in New Orleans, LA.
"American Hopped Pilsner." 5.5% ABV. 45 IBUs.
A nice IPL, but calling it a pilsner is just plain disingenuous. Chinook is showcased well. Centennial not so much (where's the pine? the oils? the resin?). Cascade - sure, I get floral flavour. Crystal I'd never pick out in a blind tasting.
Very drinkable. Soft. Smooth. Refreshing. Coating.
B- / WORTHY
Aug 18, 2020
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
by Jugs_McGhee from Texas
Currently ranked #29 in the "Lager - American" Beers list.
12 fl oz pull-tab can ran me $1.20 USD plus tax at a beer store in New Orleans, LA.
"American Hopped Pilsner." 5.5% ABV. 45 IBUs.
A nice IPL, but calling it a pilsner is just plain disingenuous. Chinook is showcased well. Centennial not so much (where's the pine? the oils? the resin?). Cascade - sure, I get floral flavour. Crystal I'd never pick out in a blind tasting.
Very drinkable. Soft. Smooth. Refreshing. Coating.
B- / WORTHY
Aug 18, 2020
3.49 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts on Aug 01, 2020
3.8 by Tcsox from Massachusetts on Aug 01, 2020
4.21/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by sunsjammer from Arizona
12oz can from Craft Beer Hop Shop
Aug 01, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by sunsjammer from Arizona
12oz can from Craft Beer Hop Shop
Aug 01, 2020
3.89 by Bruno74200 from France on Jul 27, 2020
4.01 by JakerLou from New Hampshire on Jul 07, 2020
3.69/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by John123will from Indiana
L- Big white head with small bubbles. A pale yellow color like straw. This specific one being reviewed might have some chill haze. Overall, good head retention and a pretty beer.
S- Grain and malt are present on the nose with citrus and floral aroma typical of American hops. Reminiscent of casacade. Overall a mild aroma.
F- Prickly carbonation and a light bodied beer.
T- Centennial hop taste more present than in the aroma. First taste malt and slight toasted flavor, then the earthy centennial bitterness, followed by a sweetness, and finally a grainy aftertaste.
O- Decent crowd pleasing beer. Not amazing and not a traditional pilsner with the American hops but an easy drinker someone can pick up.
Jul 05, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by John123will from Indiana
L- Big white head with small bubbles. A pale yellow color like straw. This specific one being reviewed might have some chill haze. Overall, good head retention and a pretty beer.
S- Grain and malt are present on the nose with citrus and floral aroma typical of American hops. Reminiscent of casacade. Overall a mild aroma.
F- Prickly carbonation and a light bodied beer.
T- Centennial hop taste more present than in the aroma. First taste malt and slight toasted flavor, then the earthy centennial bitterness, followed by a sweetness, and finally a grainy aftertaste.
O- Decent crowd pleasing beer. Not amazing and not a traditional pilsner with the American hops but an easy drinker someone can pick up.
Jul 05, 2020
4.04 by AElfwine_Nerevar from Connecticut on Jul 03, 2020
4.03 by HopBelT from Belgium on Jul 03, 2020
3.75 by Pisshhead from Ireland on Jun 24, 2020
3.94/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by daliandragon from Maryland
This is a real nice, easy drinking pilsner with an aggressive hop character and a balanced and earthy character. Texture is spot on for the style. Maybe a touch more carbonation than necessary but this is a simple, tasty summer brew. One of the better American lagers I have had in a while.
Jun 24, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by daliandragon from Maryland
This is a real nice, easy drinking pilsner with an aggressive hop character and a balanced and earthy character. Texture is spot on for the style. Maybe a touch more carbonation than necessary but this is a simple, tasty summer brew. One of the better American lagers I have had in a while.
Jun 24, 2020
3.84 by tbeer40 from New Jersey on Jun 20, 2020
4.09/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by Gatch from Massachusetts
Canned on: 04.17.20
Never had a chance to try PC Pils so I’m glad this is the same recipe and distributed widely now; not to mention a 15-pack for $15!
I can see how this could be argued as an APA, a hoppy blonde, or a hoppy Pilsner. It’s definitely hoppier than any beer of this style in Europe. But the malt bill provides plenty of Pilsner flavor and character. The finish and feel are what set it apart and make it truly American...a heavy hop presence throughout.
Jun 20, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by Gatch from Massachusetts
Canned on: 04.17.20
Never had a chance to try PC Pils so I’m glad this is the same recipe and distributed widely now; not to mention a 15-pack for $15!
I can see how this could be argued as an APA, a hoppy blonde, or a hoppy Pilsner. It’s definitely hoppier than any beer of this style in Europe. But the malt bill provides plenty of Pilsner flavor and character. The finish and feel are what set it apart and make it truly American...a heavy hop presence throughout.
Jun 20, 2020
2.16 by mrfrancis from Kentucky on Jun 19, 2020
3.9/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by Darkmagus82 from Texas
Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer ours a clear golden-amber color with billowy white head of two finger height. The head has a good level of retention, slowly fading over time to leave a good sum of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is big of a grainy and herbal hop smell mixed with some other aromas of caramel. Along with these smells comes a touch of a hay aroma as well as a little bit of toasted bread smell.
Taste – The taste begins with a grainy and lightly caramel sweetened flavor. As the taste advances the caramel gets lighter and the grainy stronger all while some herbal hop tastes begins developing. With the herbal hop comes a little bit of an earthy hop as well, mixing nicely to produce a more herbal-dank taste. With a touch of hay and grass that come at the end, one is left with a somewhat malty but, not sweet, and nicely hopped taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is average to slightly thinner with a carbonation level that is rather high. For the mix of dank and grainy, with a somewhat lower sweetness the feel is great and makes for a very easy drinker.
Overall – This is a nicely hopped (but not too hopped) and flavorful, but yet still very easy drinking pilsner. Very well done!
Jun 14, 2020
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
by Darkmagus82 from Texas
Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer ours a clear golden-amber color with billowy white head of two finger height. The head has a good level of retention, slowly fading over time to leave a good sum of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is big of a grainy and herbal hop smell mixed with some other aromas of caramel. Along with these smells comes a touch of a hay aroma as well as a little bit of toasted bread smell.
Taste – The taste begins with a grainy and lightly caramel sweetened flavor. As the taste advances the caramel gets lighter and the grainy stronger all while some herbal hop tastes begins developing. With the herbal hop comes a little bit of an earthy hop as well, mixing nicely to produce a more herbal-dank taste. With a touch of hay and grass that come at the end, one is left with a somewhat malty but, not sweet, and nicely hopped taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is average to slightly thinner with a carbonation level that is rather high. For the mix of dank and grainy, with a somewhat lower sweetness the feel is great and makes for a very easy drinker.
Overall – This is a nicely hopped (but not too hopped) and flavorful, but yet still very easy drinking pilsner. Very well done!
Jun 14, 2020
4.99/5 rDev +30.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by EvershineDan from Michigan
WOW. Super-Hoppy for an American Lager.
This is quite IPA-ish.
But I prefer it to every IPA I've ever had.
Definitely the hoppiest American Lager I've had.
Normally, I'm more of a Porter/American Brown Ale/Oatmeal Stout type of beer drinker, but I am slowly falling in love with this beer.
This is delicious.
Edit: This has become pretty much all I drink now. Too bad it's seasonal. I'm now desperately trying to find an alternate brew to drink during its off-season.
Jun 11, 2020
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by EvershineDan from Michigan
WOW. Super-Hoppy for an American Lager.
This is quite IPA-ish.
But I prefer it to every IPA I've ever had.
Definitely the hoppiest American Lager I've had.
Normally, I'm more of a Porter/American Brown Ale/Oatmeal Stout type of beer drinker, but I am slowly falling in love with this beer.
This is delicious.
Edit: This has become pretty much all I drink now. Too bad it's seasonal. I'm now desperately trying to find an alternate brew to drink during its off-season.
Jun 11, 2020
3.55/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by smbslt from Illinois
L - Very light yellow, two-finger head that breaks down initially to a bubbly layer before thankfully retreating to a thin layer of small bubbles barely replenished by a few escaping bubbles from the base od the Big Ass Fan pint glass.
S - Lemongrass aroma is pleasant
T - First taste is an overwhelming hop blast. Once desensitized a bit of malt poked thru on subsequent tastes and always followed by a long bitter finish.
F - Initial sensation of going thru the bubbly layer (see L above) feel did not improve as the coating accentuated the bitter not clean finish.
O - More balance is needed.
Jun 07, 2020
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by smbslt from Illinois
L - Very light yellow, two-finger head that breaks down initially to a bubbly layer before thankfully retreating to a thin layer of small bubbles barely replenished by a few escaping bubbles from the base od the Big Ass Fan pint glass.
S - Lemongrass aroma is pleasant
T - First taste is an overwhelming hop blast. Once desensitized a bit of malt poked thru on subsequent tastes and always followed by a long bitter finish.
F - Initial sensation of going thru the bubbly layer (see L above) feel did not improve as the coating accentuated the bitter not clean finish.
O - More balance is needed.
Jun 07, 2020
4.09 by sjones5045 from Pennsylvania on Jun 07, 2020
3.77 by benjaminsa from Vermont on May 31, 2020
3.66 by carrcolind from District of Columbia on May 24, 2020
3.71/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by mnj21655 from Massachusetts
Brilliantly clear, pale yellow-good in color, short lived somewhat forty white head. Aroma is a little earthy and citrusy, pretty clean, not much malt character. Taste hits the same notes as the aroma but is more muted, this skews dry, finish just leans bitter. The hop character here reminds me of an old school west cost IPA. Medium-light body, moderately high carbonation. A decent pils, definitely not brewed to style. The hop profile doesn’t quite do it for me.
May 23, 2020
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by mnj21655 from Massachusetts
Brilliantly clear, pale yellow-good in color, short lived somewhat forty white head. Aroma is a little earthy and citrusy, pretty clean, not much malt character. Taste hits the same notes as the aroma but is more muted, this skews dry, finish just leans bitter. The hop character here reminds me of an old school west cost IPA. Medium-light body, moderately high carbonation. A decent pils, definitely not brewed to style. The hop profile doesn’t quite do it for me.
May 23, 2020
3.98/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by RaulMondesi from California
Well, hot damn. I’m feeling this one. Thing pours beautiful and clear like Downtown LA after a rainy day. I’m not getting too much on the nose, but hell, there are worse things in life. The reward is when you take a sip. It’s like Ariana Grande singing God Is A Women, except for Raul, at this moment, God is Founders Pilsner.
Get it!
May 19, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by RaulMondesi from California
Well, hot damn. I’m feeling this one. Thing pours beautiful and clear like Downtown LA after a rainy day. I’m not getting too much on the nose, but hell, there are worse things in life. The reward is when you take a sip. It’s like Ariana Grande singing God Is A Women, except for Raul, at this moment, God is Founders Pilsner.
Get it!
May 19, 2020
4.13/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Mitchster from Michigan
5.5% ABV, 42 IBU.s
Hopped with Chinook, Centennial, Cascade and Crystal.
Pours out to a slightly hazy medium-light golden, forming a thin white head with poor retention and lacing. Medium carbonation, ~2.5 carbs or so. The nose is quite hoppy. I definitly get chinook and centennial, but I swear I smell citra too. At any rate, piney, MJ skunk, fresh floral, spicy, very nice. No off aromas. No DMS, Subtle at best sulfur as the hops drown it out, but there is some there.
The mouthfeel is prickly, easy to drink, medium bodied, pleasant acidity, The taste is mostly forward hops of the piney and skunky variety. The malts are pretty much overwhelmed, very little malt character, Lingering bitterness, firmly bittered (I'd prefer about 10 IBU less), cleanly fermented, no off flavors.
A nice hop forward lager, although I wouldn't call it a pilsner (albeit it says "American hopped pils" on the can.) This is more like an baby-IPA w/o any crystal malts. Still it's quite good as I wasn't expecting a German or Czech pils. If you like IPA's and want a nice beer to go with your burgers and brats, or around a summer campfire, this would do nicely.
May 11, 2020
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by Mitchster from Michigan
5.5% ABV, 42 IBU.s
Hopped with Chinook, Centennial, Cascade and Crystal.
Pours out to a slightly hazy medium-light golden, forming a thin white head with poor retention and lacing. Medium carbonation, ~2.5 carbs or so. The nose is quite hoppy. I definitly get chinook and centennial, but I swear I smell citra too. At any rate, piney, MJ skunk, fresh floral, spicy, very nice. No off aromas. No DMS, Subtle at best sulfur as the hops drown it out, but there is some there.
The mouthfeel is prickly, easy to drink, medium bodied, pleasant acidity, The taste is mostly forward hops of the piney and skunky variety. The malts are pretty much overwhelmed, very little malt character, Lingering bitterness, firmly bittered (I'd prefer about 10 IBU less), cleanly fermented, no off flavors.
A nice hop forward lager, although I wouldn't call it a pilsner (albeit it says "American hopped pils" on the can.) This is more like an baby-IPA w/o any crystal malts. Still it's quite good as I wasn't expecting a German or Czech pils. If you like IPA's and want a nice beer to go with your burgers and brats, or around a summer campfire, this would do nicely.
May 11, 2020
3.27 by Unclevince from West Virginia on May 09, 2020
3 by BEER88 from Washington on May 08, 2020
4.04 by brewpubmellon from Michigan on May 07, 2020
2.15/5 rDev -43.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
by Told from South Carolina
This doesn't even resemble a Pilsner. It's a thin IPA over-hopped to unpleasantness. The hops are so heavy and sharp; they overwhelm the weight of the beer.
May 06, 2020
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
by Told from South Carolina
This doesn't even resemble a Pilsner. It's a thin IPA over-hopped to unpleasantness. The hops are so heavy and sharp; they overwhelm the weight of the beer.
May 06, 2020
3.99 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania on Apr 30, 2020
Pilsner from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
813 ratings