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Perla Chmielowa (Hop Pearl)
Perla Browary Lubelskie S.A.


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Perla Browary Lubelskie S.A.
- Poland
- Style:
- European Pale Lager
Ranked #37 - ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 79
Ranked #28,333 - Avg:
- 3.42 | pDev: 15.2%
- Reviews:
- 84
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 16, 2023
- Added:
- Jul 22, 2002
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 16
SCORE
79
Okay
79
Okay


Notes:
Perła Chmielowa is the leading product of the brewery. The finest quality ingredients, the use of the best hops of the Lubelskie region, and the original centuries old recipe have the greatest influence on the unique attributes of this beer, its characteristic bitterness and the golden color. Owing to this Perła Chmielowa is able to meet the demands of the most exacting gourmets and boast worldwide appreciation.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by monkist from Hungary
3.68/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
The can says it’s a Pils but still it is a Euro Lager? Doesn’t quite taste like one but it doesn’t taste like a 100% pilsner either. It claims to be a hopped version and you can actually feel the intensity, although I don’t know the original. There is a slight cheap quality lingering over it, trademark of the Euro Lagers but in a way it is slightly better. Well, no matter what it is, it can pass as a German Pilsner no problem.
Mar 16, 2023Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York
3.52/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.52/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Bottle purchased at Polska Chata in Irondequoit, NY.
This one pours a very clear golden yellow color, with a small foamy head, and lots of lacing.
This smells like sweet grain, grassy hops, and bread dough.
This is definitely reasonably tasty, but definitely a bit too sweet for the pale lager style – there’s a sweet doughiness and graininess that the grassy hop character just can’t overcome. The sweetness is less present when the beer is colder, in the frosted pint glass they serve the beer in here.
This is lighter bodied, crisp, clean, and very drinkable.
I want a bit more bite and less sweetness, but I do still enjoy this.
Nov 21, 2022This one pours a very clear golden yellow color, with a small foamy head, and lots of lacing.
This smells like sweet grain, grassy hops, and bread dough.
This is definitely reasonably tasty, but definitely a bit too sweet for the pale lager style – there’s a sweet doughiness and graininess that the grassy hop character just can’t overcome. The sweetness is less present when the beer is colder, in the frosted pint glass they serve the beer in here.
This is lighter bodied, crisp, clean, and very drinkable.
I want a bit more bite and less sweetness, but I do still enjoy this.
Reviewed by elnachooo from Spain
2.25/5 rDev -34.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
2.25/5 rDev -34.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
Cerveza de color dorado, con un dedo espumoso de poca durabilidad. Cuerpo ligero y carbonatación media. Aroma lupulado y a pan. Sabor ligeramente dulce.
Apr 27, 2021Reviewed by Danzifer from Ohio
3.41/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.41/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours clear golden. Nice thick fine head. Smells a little strange, very boozy. Sort of an odd taste too, but I can get behind it. It is from halfway around the world after all, certainly not something we're used to in the Midwest. Mouthfeel is pretty crisp. It's pretty rich in character for a pilsner. Decent.
Dec 17, 2020Reviewed by Foyle from North Carolina
3.43/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.43/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Poured from 500ml bottle into pilsner glass. A thick, foamy white head drops slowly with mild lacing. Color is slightly hazy light gold with abundant carbonation. Aroma is pungent grains, grassy hops, and bread dough. Mouthfeel is light-to-medium and frothy with a drying finish. Flavor is quite sweet, malt dominate with hops taking a backseat. Overall: good but a little cloying. Would not want to drink more than one in a session.
Sep 25, 2020Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England
2.97/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
2.97/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Canned in a big old 500ml can and purchased whilst waiting at the chip shop for my order at the convenience store next door
Pours a crystal clear light wheat coloured body with massive thick white head
Aroma is glucose and rice powder
Flavour is not much more than the aroma, some slight hempish notes
Sep 06, 2020Pours a crystal clear light wheat coloured body with massive thick white head
Aroma is glucose and rice powder
Flavour is not much more than the aroma, some slight hempish notes
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England
2.53/5 rDev -26%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
2.53/5 rDev -26%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5
L- Quite pale gold, clear, pours with a thin head of curiously large (2-3mm) white bubbles that fast clears to a thin ring.
S- So mild, almost nothing, perhaps just just bready grain.
T- Quite zesty and bright, I suspect that is as much from dissolved CO2 as hops as it's edge reminds me of the dry/zesty edge in soda water. The flavour is pretty austere, a bit cardboardy, a bit over-carbonated factory generic lager.
F- On a hot day, at that mountain-top beer-shack you've spent 10 hours hiking towards you would be grateful to have one of these. One word I'd use is refreshing. There are a couple of others too, but I better keep them to myself.
O- The beer has the profile of a brew that's had too much of a monopoly in it's native market, so it's decidely average yet to be found everywhere. Like Tiger Beer in Singapore. Like Long Life/Harp/Double Diamond/etc/ect back in 1970's UK.
There is nothing about this beer that would lead me to buy it again. It's dull and characterless even compared to UK/under-license brewed Stella and Kronenbourg...
Bought from a convenience shop, Oksa Quality Food, 117 Clarendon Road, in London W11. £1.30/500ml can BB: 02/02/2021.
Jul 24, 2020S- So mild, almost nothing, perhaps just just bready grain.
T- Quite zesty and bright, I suspect that is as much from dissolved CO2 as hops as it's edge reminds me of the dry/zesty edge in soda water. The flavour is pretty austere, a bit cardboardy, a bit over-carbonated factory generic lager.
F- On a hot day, at that mountain-top beer-shack you've spent 10 hours hiking towards you would be grateful to have one of these. One word I'd use is refreshing. There are a couple of others too, but I better keep them to myself.
O- The beer has the profile of a brew that's had too much of a monopoly in it's native market, so it's decidely average yet to be found everywhere. Like Tiger Beer in Singapore. Like Long Life/Harp/Double Diamond/etc/ect back in 1970's UK.
There is nothing about this beer that would lead me to buy it again. It's dull and characterless even compared to UK/under-license brewed Stella and Kronenbourg...
Bought from a convenience shop, Oksa Quality Food, 117 Clarendon Road, in London W11. £1.30/500ml can BB: 02/02/2021.
Reviewed by IceChuggington from Canada (AB)
2.13/5 rDev -37.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2
2.13/5 rDev -37.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2
When I was in Lublin for 6 weeks everyone who had this beer did not want it again. People were resorting to Heineken over this, but our main bar ran out of Heineken after just 3 weeks. This is like a poor mans Heineken, it attempts to be neutral but still leaves a poor aftertaste to it. Eh it ca deserve 2 Smirnoff Ices/10
Jun 19, 2020Rated by HighBrowandLowenBrau from Minnesota
3.57/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.57/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Tried on Tap at The Perłowa Beer House on 9/7/2018
I thought it was a serviceable lager, fairly generic but nothing offputting about it
Jun 01, 2020I thought it was a serviceable lager, fairly generic but nothing offputting about it
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts
3.36/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.36/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours clear, gold in color with 1/2 inch head. Taste is grass, honey, and dark bread. Medium light bodied, sweet, with moderate carbonation. Makes for a nice and clean crisp lager. Could do a couple.
Dec 03, 2018Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa
3.9/5 rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 0.5-liter bottle into a flute, Pale golden yellow color, with a one-finger white head that settled quickly leaving no lacing. Lots of carbonation, with a steady stream of bubbles rising from the bottom of the flute. Lovely malty aroma, with notes of dark bread, light caramel, grassy and herbal hops, and tart apple. These characteristics describe the flavor profile as well. Slightly sweet, with just the right amount of pleasant bitterness. Mouthfeel is on the light side, with a finish that is crisp and clean. This is a very good pale lager that would pair well with a variety of foods, but works just fine as a nice, refreshing stand-alone quaff as well.
Mar 06, 2018Reviewed by Ant777uk from England
3.3/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.3/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Great aroma when you open the bottle, very inviting.
It's good to see a stronger pilsner at 6 % for a change...
Seems a bit sweeter than the Perla Export version. There is kind of a honeyness to the overall experience, and there is some bitterness on the after taste. Needs a bit more hops though and if they made it 7% it would be pretty good.
Well made, fairly inoffensive, more interesting pilsner than most. Possibly this unconsciously is receiving a higher mark than it should due to the fact this is my first beer for about a week...
Oct 01, 2017It's good to see a stronger pilsner at 6 % for a change...
Seems a bit sweeter than the Perla Export version. There is kind of a honeyness to the overall experience, and there is some bitterness on the after taste. Needs a bit more hops though and if they made it 7% it would be pretty good.
Well made, fairly inoffensive, more interesting pilsner than most. Possibly this unconsciously is receiving a higher mark than it should due to the fact this is my first beer for about a week...
Reviewed by flyingpig from Scotland
2.03/5 rDev -40.6%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2.03/5 rDev -40.6%
look: 1.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
500ml bottle from Express shop, Warsaw (2.69 PLN):
Definitely up there with the worst of the Polish beers that I've reviewed here so far, this one was very cheap & basic tasting with made it a hard one to work my way through. There was some early sweetness but the balance wasn't great & too many adjuncts featured throughout as well making it one that I really struggled finishing & I wouldn't have again.
Apr 24, 2017Definitely up there with the worst of the Polish beers that I've reviewed here so far, this one was very cheap & basic tasting with made it a hard one to work my way through. There was some early sweetness but the balance wasn't great & too many adjuncts featured throughout as well making it one that I really struggled finishing & I wouldn't have again.
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)
3.54/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
500ml can (@ 6.0% ABV) - the first new Polish brew to show up around here in a long, long while!
This beer pours a clear, bright medium golden yellow colour, with a near teeming tower of puffy, tightly foamy, and caked bone-white head, which leaves a bit of low-lying craggy atoll lace around the glass as it quickly blows off.
It smells of grainy and crackery cereal malt, a touch of lager yeast, earthy honey, and some decent leafy, grassy, and somewhat perfumed floral green hop bitters. The taste is gritty and grainy pale malt, a further sugary cereal thing, subtle lemon citrus notes, faint mixed peppercorn, and more understated grassy, weedy, and floral hoppiness - the extra point of alcohol doing a very weak petrol fume impression.
The carbonation is fairly benign in its lazy-seeming frothiness, the body a so-so middleweight, and mostly smooth, perhaps a hint of wan hop ingress making for a mild ado here. It finishes off-dry, the general cereal character predominating, while the minor fruity and noble hoppy essences fade to black.
Overall, this is a serviceable enough strong Euro lager, despite the brewer's claims to Pils status - no real off-flavours, a capable hop imprint, and as mentioned, some deftly integrated additional booziness. Plain, yeah, but easy to put back, and dream of Continental vacations past.
Nov 21, 2016This beer pours a clear, bright medium golden yellow colour, with a near teeming tower of puffy, tightly foamy, and caked bone-white head, which leaves a bit of low-lying craggy atoll lace around the glass as it quickly blows off.
It smells of grainy and crackery cereal malt, a touch of lager yeast, earthy honey, and some decent leafy, grassy, and somewhat perfumed floral green hop bitters. The taste is gritty and grainy pale malt, a further sugary cereal thing, subtle lemon citrus notes, faint mixed peppercorn, and more understated grassy, weedy, and floral hoppiness - the extra point of alcohol doing a very weak petrol fume impression.
The carbonation is fairly benign in its lazy-seeming frothiness, the body a so-so middleweight, and mostly smooth, perhaps a hint of wan hop ingress making for a mild ado here. It finishes off-dry, the general cereal character predominating, while the minor fruity and noble hoppy essences fade to black.
Overall, this is a serviceable enough strong Euro lager, despite the brewer's claims to Pils status - no real off-flavours, a capable hop imprint, and as mentioned, some deftly integrated additional booziness. Plain, yeah, but easy to put back, and dream of Continental vacations past.
Reviewed by Rand_Schoeb from Connecticut
4.67/5 rDev +36.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.67/5 rDev +36.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
This is a light, biscuity sweet beer that is a fine summer beverage but is eminently drinkable at any time. Light enough to drink for lunch and a worthy alternative to similar German biers such as Hofbrau Munich,
Oct 03, 2016Reviewed by Cthulhusquid from Washington
4.18/5 rDev +22.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.18/5 rDev +22.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look: 1 finger white head, darkish yellow body.
Smell: Light toasted grains, light grass, and light honey.
Taste: Same as above, but with a slight metallic note.
Feel: Light body, medium-high carbonation. Slightly dry.
Aug 12, 2016Smell: Light toasted grains, light grass, and light honey.
Taste: Same as above, but with a slight metallic note.
Feel: Light body, medium-high carbonation. Slightly dry.
Rated by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.45/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.45/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Reviewed in Roger Protz' CAMRA classic "300 Beers To Try Before You Die!" and also is on the "1001."
May 04, 2016Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island
2.97/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
2.97/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Poured from a 16.9oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.
A: The beer is a light gold color with a thin white head that fades very quickly and leaves a very thin lace on the glass.
S: The aroma contains light caramelized malts, lager yeast, adjuncts and a very faint touch of hops.
T: The taste starts out bready with flavors of lager yeast, grain and adjuncts followed by a mild malt sweetness. The hops presence is also mild but brings a little bit of balance. The after-taste is slightly bready and slightly sweet.
M: Crisp and a little smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.
O: Not very flavorful, goes down ok, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style, it’s not too bad for the style but there are still some others in the style that I would choose first.
Apr 09, 2016A: The beer is a light gold color with a thin white head that fades very quickly and leaves a very thin lace on the glass.
S: The aroma contains light caramelized malts, lager yeast, adjuncts and a very faint touch of hops.
T: The taste starts out bready with flavors of lager yeast, grain and adjuncts followed by a mild malt sweetness. The hops presence is also mild but brings a little bit of balance. The after-taste is slightly bready and slightly sweet.
M: Crisp and a little smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is clean.
O: Not very flavorful, goes down ok, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style, it’s not too bad for the style but there are still some others in the style that I would choose first.
Reviewed by Holstenboyclarence from England
3.34/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.34/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
500ml bottle from New Kent Road General Store, poured into a latte glass
Pours a light straw colour
smell is that of dried hemp
taste is medium dry with a definite taste of beer. Goes down well paired with sunflower rye bread
This beer reminds me of the early stage of lager drinking, a real nostalgic gulp for me. The flavour reminds me of days past - a sip of beer in the cool summer breeze in the city, a hazy stroll through bustling streets whilst you take a mouthful closer into the unknown.
A top drink for anyone doing street beers with a close friend.
Jan 31, 2016Pours a light straw colour
smell is that of dried hemp
taste is medium dry with a definite taste of beer. Goes down well paired with sunflower rye bread
This beer reminds me of the early stage of lager drinking, a real nostalgic gulp for me. The flavour reminds me of days past - a sip of beer in the cool summer breeze in the city, a hazy stroll through bustling streets whilst you take a mouthful closer into the unknown.
A top drink for anyone doing street beers with a close friend.
Perla Chmielowa (Hop Pearl) from Perla Browary Lubelskie S.A.
Beer rating:
79 out of
100 with
146 ratings
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