Pilsener
Brouwerij Nacional Balashi

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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:
204
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 28, 2023
Added:
Oct 11, 2002
Wants:
  8
Gots:
  41
SCORE
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.
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Rated: 3.85 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Mar 28, 2023
 
Rated: 2.75 by crewfan1952 from Ohio

Feb 14, 2023
Photo of howardnss
Rated by howardnss from Pennsylvania

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, 2023
 
Rated: 3.01 by HarlotBronte from District of Columbia

Dec 21, 2022
Photo of dacrza1
Reviewed by dacrza1 from New Jersey

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, 2022
Photo of Creevo
Reviewed by Creevo from Michigan

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, 2022
 
Rated: 3.06 by Mickt465 from New Hampshire

Dec 24, 2021
 
Rated: 2.15 by emiliobaratta from Venezuela

Mar 04, 2021
Photo of donspublic
Reviewed by donspublic from Texas

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, 2019
 
Rated: 2.83 by Jstarr2517 from Connecticut

Nov 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by fthegiants from California

Nov 10, 2019
 
Rated: 3.03 by craigbelly from Iowa

Sep 18, 2019
 
Rated: 2.65 by robotic_being from Florida

Jun 25, 2019
 
Rated: 3.24 by JeffSK from Wisconsin

Apr 06, 2019
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Reviewed by 1009 from Massachusetts

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, 2019
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Rated 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
There's worse out there, but this is with them.
Jan 26, 2019
Photo of WoodBrew
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio

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, 2019
 
Rated: 2.78 by 54V4G3 from Belgium

Dec 03, 2018
Photo of Jlabs
Reviewed by Jlabs from New York

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, 2018
 
Rated: 2.5 by broadway848 from New York

Oct 16, 2018
 
Rated: 2.75 by mickyge from Massachusetts

Oct 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3 by Zekenyce from New Jersey

Sep 06, 2018
 
Rated: 2.78 by Jrosso from New Jersey

Jul 13, 2018
Photo of CHickman
Reviewed by CHickman from New York

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, 2018
 
Rated: 2.25 by Rammed96 from Maryland

Jun 19, 2018
 
Rated: 2.5 by von_kaiser from Connecticut

Apr 17, 2018
 
Rated: 3.46 by cd34 from Illinois

Apr 07, 2018
 
Rated: 2.69 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Feb 10, 2018
 
Rated: 2.5 by MonkeyPilates from Minnesota

Jan 10, 2018
 
Rated: 2.75 by jera1350 from Minnesota

Dec 24, 2017
 
Rated: 2 by rspauldi from Texas

Dec 21, 2017
 
Rated: 2.85 by icemanls4 from Switzerland

Nov 10, 2017
 
Rated: 2.52 by JizackFH from New York

Sep 26, 2017
 
Rated: 2.66 by DaveCash from New York

Sep 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3 by JamesLeung from Florida

Aug 27, 2017
 
Rated: 2.79 by socon67 from New York

Aug 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.35 by Minnesota_beer_guy from Minnesota

Aug 12, 2017
 
Rated: 3.26 by BeerBull from Massachusetts

Jul 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.11 by prost2hefeweizen from Oklahoma

Jun 28, 2016
 
Rated: 2.75 by thoglund from New York

Jun 09, 2016
Pilsener from Brouwerij Nacional Balashi
Beer rating: 68 out of 100 with 204 ratings