Blue Paddle Pilsener | New Belgium Brewing
Brewed by:
New Belgium Brewing
Colorado, United States
newbelgium.com
Style: Czech Pilsener
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.80%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by kbub6f on 07-18-2001
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 1,359 | Reviews: 428
Reviews by speter:
More User Reviews:
3.72/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pilsner. As an American, I see this style as the McDonalds of beer styles. Typical, unexciting, yet often solid. That said, this is akin to a specialty sandwich...yum..nicely done, but I'd rather go to a nice sit down restaurant.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pilsner. As an American, I see this style as the McDonalds of beer styles. Typical, unexciting, yet often solid. That said, this is akin to a specialty sandwich...yum..nicely done, but I'd rather go to a nice sit down restaurant.
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4.15/5 rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
What an unexpected find at Pipe and Pint here in Greensboro today actually had it given to me it was part of the owners personal stash,anyways pours a vibrant yellow with not much head wich kept the rating at 4 I really liked the vibrant color of this brew.Aroma was like walking thru a meadow of flowers kinda sweet and grassy with a good toasted malt character.Taste was grainy and lightly sweet with a nice smacking of hops that hits nicely in the finish.One of the best American pilsners out there at least from my perspective I wish I had more!
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
What an unexpected find at Pipe and Pint here in Greensboro today actually had it given to me it was part of the owners personal stash,anyways pours a vibrant yellow with not much head wich kept the rating at 4 I really liked the vibrant color of this brew.Aroma was like walking thru a meadow of flowers kinda sweet and grassy with a good toasted malt character.Taste was grainy and lightly sweet with a nice smacking of hops that hits nicely in the finish.One of the best American pilsners out there at least from my perspective I wish I had more!
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4/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance The head is huge and deep. It showed some decent retention as it laced the glass. The body is a pretty yellow with an orange tint.
Smell Yep, thats a pils. The soft, sophisticated floral hops mix with some spice and a light sweetness. So far, so good.
Taste The grassy hops come out a little more in the taste along with a light sense of grain. The complexity is its strong point IMO. Everything works together quite well.
Mouthfeel I know that many of the other reviews indicated a lot of carbonation here, but I dont find it typical of the style and certainly couldnt locate more than a moderate amount here (which is good, IMO). This Pils is light-bodied and very refreshing.
Drinkability - A good pils is one of the smoothest brews on earth, and this one hits the mark. Of all the times Ive been prosted to the finish while living in Germany, pils is the only style I could do from a full glass. Make this a warmish and I could do the bottle. Yet another diverse accomplishment from this amazing brewery.
Update I reviewed this a month after joining the site back in the fall of 2003 so thought it would be run to re-rate it with a 2004 vintage. I juggled a few scores around but still ended up with a solid 4.0. Good job, New Belgium. This is a hard style to nail.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance The head is huge and deep. It showed some decent retention as it laced the glass. The body is a pretty yellow with an orange tint.
Smell Yep, thats a pils. The soft, sophisticated floral hops mix with some spice and a light sweetness. So far, so good.
Taste The grassy hops come out a little more in the taste along with a light sense of grain. The complexity is its strong point IMO. Everything works together quite well.
Mouthfeel I know that many of the other reviews indicated a lot of carbonation here, but I dont find it typical of the style and certainly couldnt locate more than a moderate amount here (which is good, IMO). This Pils is light-bodied and very refreshing.
Drinkability - A good pils is one of the smoothest brews on earth, and this one hits the mark. Of all the times Ive been prosted to the finish while living in Germany, pils is the only style I could do from a full glass. Make this a warmish and I could do the bottle. Yet another diverse accomplishment from this amazing brewery.
Update I reviewed this a month after joining the site back in the fall of 2003 so thought it would be run to re-rate it with a 2004 vintage. I juggled a few scores around but still ended up with a solid 4.0. Good job, New Belgium. This is a hard style to nail.
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2.92/5 rDev -18.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Murky Piss Yellow with a thin skim and minute carbonation.
Strong aroma of chicken sate or chicken bouillon.
Taste is mild and light with just hints of hops and malts. Subtle lemon like finish.
Mouthfeel has a wonderful bitter finish. Hops are felt more than tasted. Salty. Biting and only nominally crisp.
Drinkability: This is dull and lacks the crispness and dryness that I desire in a Pilsener.
Very poor example of the style.
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look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Murky Piss Yellow with a thin skim and minute carbonation.
Strong aroma of chicken sate or chicken bouillon.
Taste is mild and light with just hints of hops and malts. Subtle lemon like finish.
Mouthfeel has a wonderful bitter finish. Hops are felt more than tasted. Salty. Biting and only nominally crisp.
Drinkability: This is dull and lacks the crispness and dryness that I desire in a Pilsener.
Very poor example of the style.
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3.68/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours golden with a white head. Nothing great but not water with a yellow tint.
Lemon and soft biscuit in the nose. Honey comes out as it warms. Not a lot going on but what it does have is pleasant, though it does lack a noticable hop presence.
Taste is similar, with nothing really standing out, good or bad. Clean and balanced, doesn't taste like cheap grain. Light bodied without being thin and finishes dry and slightly bitter.
Pleasant but nothing to rave about.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours golden with a white head. Nothing great but not water with a yellow tint.
Lemon and soft biscuit in the nose. Honey comes out as it warms. Not a lot going on but what it does have is pleasant, though it does lack a noticable hop presence.
Taste is similar, with nothing really standing out, good or bad. Clean and balanced, doesn't taste like cheap grain. Light bodied without being thin and finishes dry and slightly bitter.
Pleasant but nothing to rave about.
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4.05/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
The Blue Paddle Pilsner pours from the bottle an opaque golden yellow with a half inch bubbly white head on top. Quite a nice hue with lots of active carbonation. Aromas of sweet crystal, pale malts along with a nice spicy, grassy noble hop presence with just a hint of lemon zest. Quite nice and refined.
First sip brings a nice creamy pale maltiness upfront a bit toasty with a light lemony citrus aspect. Mid palate brings a nice helping of spicy, grassy hops that impart a mellow bitterness on the way down. Flows down with a lingering toasted bread....quite a nice pilsner here IMHO. Enjoyable!
Mouthfeel has a solid body with a good creaminess that just flows down the back of the throat so easily. A well built pilsner that would be great for sessioning on hot summer days out by the beach. Ranks up there as one of my fave U.S. brewed pilsners. Thanks to mentor for the opportunity to sample this one!
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
The Blue Paddle Pilsner pours from the bottle an opaque golden yellow with a half inch bubbly white head on top. Quite a nice hue with lots of active carbonation. Aromas of sweet crystal, pale malts along with a nice spicy, grassy noble hop presence with just a hint of lemon zest. Quite nice and refined.
First sip brings a nice creamy pale maltiness upfront a bit toasty with a light lemony citrus aspect. Mid palate brings a nice helping of spicy, grassy hops that impart a mellow bitterness on the way down. Flows down with a lingering toasted bread....quite a nice pilsner here IMHO. Enjoyable!
Mouthfeel has a solid body with a good creaminess that just flows down the back of the throat so easily. A well built pilsner that would be great for sessioning on hot summer days out by the beach. Ranks up there as one of my fave U.S. brewed pilsners. Thanks to mentor for the opportunity to sample this one!
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2.79/5 rDev -22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle. Pours a crystal clear pale yellow with a good sized frothy white head that goes to a film that laces the glass.
The aroma is earthy grains.
The flavor is sweet malts then a grainy hoppiness and a crisp and lightly bitter finish. There are some sour notes in there too. The mouthfeel is on the light side...a bit watery but fairly smooth.
Overall, not too exciting but a decent brew.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12 oz bottle. Pours a crystal clear pale yellow with a good sized frothy white head that goes to a film that laces the glass.
The aroma is earthy grains.
The flavor is sweet malts then a grainy hoppiness and a crisp and lightly bitter finish. There are some sour notes in there too. The mouthfeel is on the light side...a bit watery but fairly smooth.
Overall, not too exciting but a decent brew.
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3.71/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
4.05/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Twelve ounce bottle is two months before "best by" date. Pours a crystal clear light golden body that is alive with carbonation. Two finger vanilla head hangs around a few minutes and deposits some attractive spiderweb lace.
Aroma features grassy and spicy hops with a hint of bready pilsner malt.
Light medium body is smooth and well carbonated.
Taste has a subtle crackery and bready malt base that has just a faint hint of sweetness. Grassy and spicy noble hops run the show and exhibit a solid bitterness throughout. Finishes clean, with a grassy hop bitterness in a long finish.
This is another solid American pilsener and one I will stock up when warmer weather rolls around. Very well crafted and highly drinkable.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Twelve ounce bottle is two months before "best by" date. Pours a crystal clear light golden body that is alive with carbonation. Two finger vanilla head hangs around a few minutes and deposits some attractive spiderweb lace.
Aroma features grassy and spicy hops with a hint of bready pilsner malt.
Light medium body is smooth and well carbonated.
Taste has a subtle crackery and bready malt base that has just a faint hint of sweetness. Grassy and spicy noble hops run the show and exhibit a solid bitterness throughout. Finishes clean, with a grassy hop bitterness in a long finish.
This is another solid American pilsener and one I will stock up when warmer weather rolls around. Very well crafted and highly drinkable.
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3.58/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into tall glass.
Appearance: Bright clear gold with moderate head and some sticky lacing.
Smell: Sweet apple and pear, some grassiness, and spicy noble hops. Aroma is nice at first but then becomes muted.
Taste: Rounded semi-sweet malts with apple, straw and light citrus. Spicy noble hop finish that is somewhat bitter.
Feel: Moderately high carbonation, light to medium body, crisp and dry finish.
Drinkability: Not the most full flavored Pilsner around but quite elegant and drinkable. More than solid Pilsner overall.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into tall glass.
Appearance: Bright clear gold with moderate head and some sticky lacing.
Smell: Sweet apple and pear, some grassiness, and spicy noble hops. Aroma is nice at first but then becomes muted.
Taste: Rounded semi-sweet malts with apple, straw and light citrus. Spicy noble hop finish that is somewhat bitter.
Feel: Moderately high carbonation, light to medium body, crisp and dry finish.
Drinkability: Not the most full flavored Pilsner around but quite elegant and drinkable. More than solid Pilsner overall.
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Blue Paddle Pilsener from New Belgium Brewing
3.59
out of 5
based on 1,359 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A: Lightly golden with two fluffy fingers of foam that fade with moderate lace.
S: Grassy noble hops and light biscuit pilsener malt. Very well balanced.
T: Fairly malty with a tendency towards some chocolate hints. There is an odd hollowness just after mid-palate, just before the hops kick in towards the end. The finish is great: hoppy bitterness without the common lager metallic twang.
M: Spot-on Czech pilsener.
O: If I could, I'd give this a 3.25. The hollowness spoils what would be an otherwise stellar Czech pilsener. Nonetheless, this is better than average.
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