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Pilsener
Brouwerij Nacional Balashi

Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Brouwerij Nacional Balashi
- Aruba
- Style:
- European Pale Lager
Ranked #277 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 68
Ranked #29,878 - Avg:
- 2.86 | pDev: 20.28%
- Reviews:
- 74
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 28, 2023
- Added:
- Oct 11, 2002
- Wants:
- 8
- Gots:
- 41
SCORE
68
Poor
68
Poor

Notes:
The beer has a deep golden color totally clear and transparent, with a bitterness which is soft to the tongue and nose however with an aroma of fresh hops, a short aftertaste and easy on foam. The combination of all feels fresh and smooth to the mouth when cold, perfect for Aruba's hot climate.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by howardnss from Pennsylvania
2.97/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
2.97/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Bit of a rolling rock feel and taste. Easy to drink when planning on having more than one.
Jan 26, 2023Reviewed by dacrza1 from New Jersey
2.2/5 rDev -23.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
2.2/5 rDev -23.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
DATE: July 31, 2022... OCCASION: saying goodbye to Aruba will not be easy--reviewing this beer is one way to cope! GLASSWARE: nondescript pokal... as with other Balashi products, its golden yellow body sports few bubbles that contribute a vanishing act of a sparkling white head which eventually rings the glass in a pencil-thin cluster... beefy corn, cracker, light floral hops, honey, and metallic ping--what one expects from a beer of this purpose and climate... dry and abrupt, its light-bodied presence doesn't spend time at the teeth or the tongue... though light and refreshing enough to fulfill its goal ("perfect for Aruba's hot climate"), it doesn't inspire the next sip.... lemon, hay, honey, metal, corn, and cracker make a predictable profile, one that seems a Dutch principality would be destined to produce... not hating, especially while on the One Happy Island, but off the island, this wouldn't be my pick if I had another choice--just another foreign offering in a green bottle/can... that said, I raise my glass in salute of the brewers for producing a truly Aruban beer...
Aug 01, 2022Reviewed by Creevo from Michigan
3.98/5 rDev +39.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +39.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had bottled , 7.5oz at Lola’s at dinner in Aruba. Had no idea what to expect but wanted to sample what was local. Came in a green bottle and tasted just like Heineken. Refreshing in the hot Sun. Not surprising the taste was identical seeing the Dutch connection.
Mar 31, 2022Reviewed by donspublic from Texas
3.58/5 rDev +25.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev +25.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from can into tulip, good 2 finger cream colored head, good retention and lacing. Pale yellow in the glass, clear, slight particles floating, but the beer is 2 years old, so all forgiven. Smell is crushed grain, slight grassiness. Taste is sweet malt, some grassiness and a mild sweetness thru the finish. Dry finish with a mild bitterness and a slight salinity on the palate. I have had worse, and for the 2+ years on the can hidden in the back of my fridge, not bad. This would be easy to crush on the beach
Dec 12, 2019Reviewed by 1009 from Massachusetts
3.31/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.31/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
This is the official beer of Aruba and it truly embodies the island style of a Pilsner. The beer takes you back to the colonial routes of the island while adding it’s own smooth tropical taste. A real treat!
Mar 11, 2019Rated by BFCarr from New Jersey
2.39/5 rDev -16.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25
2.39/5 rDev -16.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25
There's worse out there, but this is with them.
Jan 26, 2019Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
3/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
My bestie brought a can of this back for me to try. It poured a clear golden with fizzy white head that dissipated quickly and left no lace. The scent had faint white wine flare. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with grain flourish. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall its an ok beer.
Jan 18, 2019Reviewed by Jlabs from New York
3.75/5 rDev +31.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +31.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a pint glass via bottle
Color is a mild yellow
Smell is a sweet malt
Tatse is the maltiness followed buta sweet creaminess
Medium carbination
Decent mouthfeel
The beer itself is nothing special yet it tastes really good when you are drinking it in a raft going through a lazy river with the sun beating on your face
Nov 06, 2018Color is a mild yellow
Smell is a sweet malt
Tatse is the maltiness followed buta sweet creaminess
Medium carbination
Decent mouthfeel
The beer itself is nothing special yet it tastes really good when you are drinking it in a raft going through a lazy river with the sun beating on your face
Reviewed by CHickman from New York
3.03/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.03/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
An 8 oz stubby can from Aruba, it pours clear yellow color with a 1 finger white head that faded rather slowly, leaving basically zero lacing. I didn't expect much in the looks department, like trolling a bar at last call, however this was decent enough looking.
Smells of caramel, corn husk, malt and lemon zest or faint hops. Again, didn't expect much and didn't get much.
My first impression of the flavor is that it's very sweet, like corn syrup and light caramel. Then it tastes like a lager with the sweet malt, vegetables or corn husk, honey, earthy notes, mild skunky notes and toasted grains. Seems they run the same brewing and flavor playbook between Miami and Venezuela.
Jun 30, 2018Smells of caramel, corn husk, malt and lemon zest or faint hops. Again, didn't expect much and didn't get much.
My first impression of the flavor is that it's very sweet, like corn syrup and light caramel. Then it tastes like a lager with the sweet malt, vegetables or corn husk, honey, earthy notes, mild skunky notes and toasted grains. Seems they run the same brewing and flavor playbook between Miami and Venezuela.
Pilsener from Brouwerij Nacional Balashi
Beer rating:
68 out of
100 with
204 ratings
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