Bohemian Pilsner | von Trapp Brewing
Brewed by:
von Trapp Brewing
Vermont, United States
vontrappbrewing.com
Style: Bohemian Pilsener
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.40%
Availability: Summer
Notes / Commercial Description:
A smooth, crisp Bohemian pilsner with a harmonious blend of Perle and Saaz hops.
IBU 42
Added by Jmbbabson on 06-27-2014
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 235 | Reviews: 81
3.94/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 Oz Bottle poured into glass
Look - yellow straw color, thick foam head which is slow to fade and some nice lacing on glass
Smell - I've noticed a lot of the Von Trapp beers smell similar, like a house style. This one smells like lots of grain, yeast and hops, fairly basic beer aroma but the hops are herbal and earthy. A mineral quality as well like mountain spring water.
Taste - Hops show up much more in the taste. It's quite bitter but that's what the style calls for. Grass and tonic water at first, hops finish and linger in the palate. It's certainly crisp, carbonation is medium-high.
Overall, it's got a strong taste..more so than most Euro Pilsners to be honest. It's one of my favorite Pilsners, but I am not a huge fan of this style because it just sticks to the palate and i don't want more than one of these. Grade is a B+
843 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 Oz Bottle poured into glass
Look - yellow straw color, thick foam head which is slow to fade and some nice lacing on glass
Smell - I've noticed a lot of the Von Trapp beers smell similar, like a house style. This one smells like lots of grain, yeast and hops, fairly basic beer aroma but the hops are herbal and earthy. A mineral quality as well like mountain spring water.
Taste - Hops show up much more in the taste. It's quite bitter but that's what the style calls for. Grass and tonic water at first, hops finish and linger in the palate. It's certainly crisp, carbonation is medium-high.
Overall, it's got a strong taste..more so than most Euro Pilsners to be honest. It's one of my favorite Pilsners, but I am not a huge fan of this style because it just sticks to the palate and i don't want more than one of these. Grade is a B+
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4.07/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.75
3.71/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a sparkling yellow-gold with just a slight haze to it. Fluffy white head dissipates to a thin, bubbly lacing. Can certainly pick up the saaz hops on the aroma, but they are rather faint. Definitely one of the better pilsners out there but, in my book, doesnt compete with Victory Prima Pils (which is one of my favorite beers, period). Missing something on the back end. Still - i wouldnt turn this down in the future.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a sparkling yellow-gold with just a slight haze to it. Fluffy white head dissipates to a thin, bubbly lacing. Can certainly pick up the saaz hops on the aroma, but they are rather faint. Definitely one of the better pilsners out there but, in my book, doesnt compete with Victory Prima Pils (which is one of my favorite beers, period). Missing something on the back end. Still - i wouldnt turn this down in the future.
424 characters
3.87/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.61/5 rDev +19.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
This will be my fourth entry of/in Happy Loads of New (Mainly) Lager Beers Sunday (Week 718). I purchased several bottles from von Trapp Brewing at Hunger-n-Thirst & as the eradication of the Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody rolls on, these are next in line.
From the Bottle: "'A little of Austria[,] a lot of Vermont'"; "A smooth, crisp Bohemian pilsner with a harmonious blend of Perle and Saaz hops"; "By the family that inspired 'The Sound of Music'"; "Brewed on the grounds of Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, this lager is crafted with the finest traditional ingredients and our pure Vermont spring water."; "IBU: 42".
This was the one that I was most excited to try! When I was merely a budding hophead, FerMentor Lew (@therealbeerfly) put me onto the idea that some Lagers were also hop-driven, introducing me to Pilsners. Now, I am much more accepting of Lagers, but back then I was a bit of a snob. I still really like a Czech/Boho Pils & so I Pop!ped the cap to see what von Trapp had to offer. I offered a slow, gentle C-Line pour into the awaiting glass & was rewarded by the formation of two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, bone-white head with great retention, making me wait as it slowly fell back, leaving great lacing in its wake. Color was Straw-Yellow (SRM = > 2, < 4) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was rich with freshly-mown grass & hay, evincing that they had not held back on their use of hops! Mmm. My mouth was watering as I lifted the glass to my maw. She declined a taste, so I took a drink. Mouthfeel was big & creamy! How did they achieve this in a Lager?!? The taste was wonderfully bitter, very evocative of a handful of Saaz hops. I was not getting much in the way of maltiness, but it has long been my understanding that such is the difference between a Czech/Boho Pils & a GER Pils. Further, I was reminded of Pilsner Urquell, which is one of my favorite CANned Pilsners. Once again, von Trapp, would you CANsider putting ALL of your beers into CANs? Pretty please? With hops on top? I wanted to savor this one, but it was just so good & my spirit was weak, leading to my drinking it down like it was nothing. It had a lovely crisp dryness on the finish & I began to envision myself on the beach with a cooler filled with this beer on a hot, humid Summer's day. My numbers are going to be high, but I feel as though they are justified. YMMV.
2,384 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
This will be my fourth entry of/in Happy Loads of New (Mainly) Lager Beers Sunday (Week 718). I purchased several bottles from von Trapp Brewing at Hunger-n-Thirst & as the eradication of the Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody rolls on, these are next in line.
From the Bottle: "'A little of Austria[,] a lot of Vermont'"; "A smooth, crisp Bohemian pilsner with a harmonious blend of Perle and Saaz hops"; "By the family that inspired 'The Sound of Music'"; "Brewed on the grounds of Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, this lager is crafted with the finest traditional ingredients and our pure Vermont spring water."; "IBU: 42".
This was the one that I was most excited to try! When I was merely a budding hophead, FerMentor Lew (@therealbeerfly) put me onto the idea that some Lagers were also hop-driven, introducing me to Pilsners. Now, I am much more accepting of Lagers, but back then I was a bit of a snob. I still really like a Czech/Boho Pils & so I Pop!ped the cap to see what von Trapp had to offer. I offered a slow, gentle C-Line pour into the awaiting glass & was rewarded by the formation of two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, bone-white head with great retention, making me wait as it slowly fell back, leaving great lacing in its wake. Color was Straw-Yellow (SRM = > 2, < 4) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was rich with freshly-mown grass & hay, evincing that they had not held back on their use of hops! Mmm. My mouth was watering as I lifted the glass to my maw. She declined a taste, so I took a drink. Mouthfeel was big & creamy! How did they achieve this in a Lager?!? The taste was wonderfully bitter, very evocative of a handful of Saaz hops. I was not getting much in the way of maltiness, but it has long been my understanding that such is the difference between a Czech/Boho Pils & a GER Pils. Further, I was reminded of Pilsner Urquell, which is one of my favorite CANned Pilsners. Once again, von Trapp, would you CANsider putting ALL of your beers into CANs? Pretty please? With hops on top? I wanted to savor this one, but it was just so good & my spirit was weak, leading to my drinking it down like it was nothing. It had a lovely crisp dryness on the finish & I began to envision myself on the beach with a cooler filled with this beer on a hot, humid Summer's day. My numbers are going to be high, but I feel as though they are justified. YMMV.
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3.9/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12-oz. bottle needed a strong pour to make a 1/2 finger sized foamy white short-lived head with spotty lacing.
Hazy light yellow-straw color, the yellow fades in front of light.
Grain, grass and herbal hops greet the nose.
Taste begins lightly bitter from hops and grass as semi-sweet malt and hidden carbonation richens the middle. The clean and semi-dry finish features toasted cracker like malt with a pleasing hop presents and a faint bitter/pepper aftertaste.
Medium-rich body with above average carbonation (despite the short head), good balance of semi-sweet and dry/bitter.
Smooth and sessionable, alcohol is well hidden. Great hop flavors yet light and balanced by the bready, grainy and semi-sweet malts.
714 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12-oz. bottle needed a strong pour to make a 1/2 finger sized foamy white short-lived head with spotty lacing.
Hazy light yellow-straw color, the yellow fades in front of light.
Grain, grass and herbal hops greet the nose.
Taste begins lightly bitter from hops and grass as semi-sweet malt and hidden carbonation richens the middle. The clean and semi-dry finish features toasted cracker like malt with a pleasing hop presents and a faint bitter/pepper aftertaste.
Medium-rich body with above average carbonation (despite the short head), good balance of semi-sweet and dry/bitter.
Smooth and sessionable, alcohol is well hidden. Great hop flavors yet light and balanced by the bready, grainy and semi-sweet malts.
714 characters
3.79/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
4.19/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This is a splendid brew! I will definitely having more von Trapp brews in the future. While Vermont is famous for NEIPAs and other ales, this lager brew certainly doesn't disappoint either. Here goes:
A: Hazy straw colored - not the most appealing color, particularly when you have other pilsners that are crystal clear. Pours a good head, although it readily dissipates. The lacing, however, is simply spectacular, and it lingers on the glass long after consumption. Alright.
S: Good, but somewhat muted. Straw, horse-blanket, and grass and various spices from the Saaz hops. Also somewhat grainy.
T: Very good. Initial spiciness and grassiness from the Saaz hops gives way to grainy cereal malt. A good balance between hops and malt.
F: Great.
O: A good beer. Will definitely have again.
810 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This is a splendid brew! I will definitely having more von Trapp brews in the future. While Vermont is famous for NEIPAs and other ales, this lager brew certainly doesn't disappoint either. Here goes:
A: Hazy straw colored - not the most appealing color, particularly when you have other pilsners that are crystal clear. Pours a good head, although it readily dissipates. The lacing, however, is simply spectacular, and it lingers on the glass long after consumption. Alright.
S: Good, but somewhat muted. Straw, horse-blanket, and grass and various spices from the Saaz hops. Also somewhat grainy.
T: Very good. Initial spiciness and grassiness from the Saaz hops gives way to grainy cereal malt. A good balance between hops and malt.
F: Great.
O: A good beer. Will definitely have again.
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4.04/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L - Slightly hazy golden with huge white puffy head. Big-Time lacing.
S - Earthy with some grass and lemon notes.
T - follows the nose pretty well but better actually. Really tasty.
F - Fairly smooth with a light mouth feel. Not as carbonated as the look.
O - A really good beer. Very drinkable and tasty.
308 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L - Slightly hazy golden with huge white puffy head. Big-Time lacing.
S - Earthy with some grass and lemon notes.
T - follows the nose pretty well but better actually. Really tasty.
F - Fairly smooth with a light mouth feel. Not as carbonated as the look.
O - A really good beer. Very drinkable and tasty.
308 characters
3.55/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear gold / orange color. Medium light body with about average carbonation. Felt just a little watery.
The aroma is malts, cereal, grains, yeast, floral hops, and some earthy grass.
Taste is way more bitter than the aroma hints at to the point of overshadowing the other flavors. Cereal, grains,grass, yeast, and malts do show up but a little weak compared to the hop bitterness.
Overall it was good but by far the most bitter pilsner I've ever had. Not sure I would seek this out again although I can still see why others liked it so much
554 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear gold / orange color. Medium light body with about average carbonation. Felt just a little watery.
The aroma is malts, cereal, grains, yeast, floral hops, and some earthy grass.
Taste is way more bitter than the aroma hints at to the point of overshadowing the other flavors. Cereal, grains,grass, yeast, and malts do show up but a little weak compared to the hop bitterness.
Overall it was good but by far the most bitter pilsner I've ever had. Not sure I would seek this out again although I can still see why others liked it so much
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4/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle:
Body is a dirty straw golden, mostly clear but a little fog hazes things ever so slightly. The head builds up nicely, but under control - had to take a pause to finish the pour. Lacing is fairly heavy, strata of dense white breaking up spotty layers.
The nose isn't very strong, but a spicy bready and somewhat fresh but light evergreen note come to me. The taste has much more boldness, a clean, slightly grainy opening followed fairly quickly by the Noble hops profile expected from the beer. It's a tad more fresh grass initially though the spiciness of the Saaz unearths itself by mid-taste.
There is a moderate carbonation, and the bolder flavors sort of shroud a lean towards a watery feel. The lingering bitterness has a little piney aspect added to the lingering grass and spice notes from the taste while the beer is sitting on the palate.
A nicely bold-flavored offering that brings enough malt and bitterness to be interesting and allowing the bitterness to win out, but not overpower, my palate.
1,023 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle:
Body is a dirty straw golden, mostly clear but a little fog hazes things ever so slightly. The head builds up nicely, but under control - had to take a pause to finish the pour. Lacing is fairly heavy, strata of dense white breaking up spotty layers.
The nose isn't very strong, but a spicy bready and somewhat fresh but light evergreen note come to me. The taste has much more boldness, a clean, slightly grainy opening followed fairly quickly by the Noble hops profile expected from the beer. It's a tad more fresh grass initially though the spiciness of the Saaz unearths itself by mid-taste.
There is a moderate carbonation, and the bolder flavors sort of shroud a lean towards a watery feel. The lingering bitterness has a little piney aspect added to the lingering grass and spice notes from the taste while the beer is sitting on the palate.
A nicely bold-flavored offering that brings enough malt and bitterness to be interesting and allowing the bitterness to win out, but not overpower, my palate.
1,023 characters
3.81/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.08/5 rDev +5.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
L: Clear straw with streams of bubbles, and a massive creamy white head. Excellent retention and sheets of lacing.
S: Cool herbal hops, floral, some grass and lemon, and some cracker malt.
T: Cool, slightly minty hops upfront, followed by bell pepper, lemon zest and grass. Soft cracker malt. Clover and honeysuckle on the finish. Not particular bitter, but just enough to balance what little malt sweetness there might. Crisp, clean, lightly dry, and extremely balanced.
F: Light, but not watery. Rolling carbonation. Smooth and crisp.
O: A superb pilsner. Excellent craftmanship.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
L: Clear straw with streams of bubbles, and a massive creamy white head. Excellent retention and sheets of lacing.
S: Cool herbal hops, floral, some grass and lemon, and some cracker malt.
T: Cool, slightly minty hops upfront, followed by bell pepper, lemon zest and grass. Soft cracker malt. Clover and honeysuckle on the finish. Not particular bitter, but just enough to balance what little malt sweetness there might. Crisp, clean, lightly dry, and extremely balanced.
F: Light, but not watery. Rolling carbonation. Smooth and crisp.
O: A superb pilsner. Excellent craftmanship.
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4.13/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle best by 12/05/18. Whatever the hell that means
Crisp and clean as a whistle. I want to swim in this. A delicate balance of spicy grassy lemony hops and cracker, white wonder bread malt. Enough talk, time to drink.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle best by 12/05/18. Whatever the hell that means
Crisp and clean as a whistle. I want to swim in this. A delicate balance of spicy grassy lemony hops and cracker, white wonder bread malt. Enough talk, time to drink.
230 characters
4.01/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.04/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
of course this is good! this is exactly what these guys do best, and it was a treat to have it on tap. bright yellow golden color and perfectly crystal clear under a full inch of white head that is constantly replenished by frantically rising carbonation that keeps coming through the whole drink. minerals and german pils malt in the nose, cleaner and fresher than it usually is, and i can seemingly appreciate the water profile of the beer right away too, although its anything but watery. i also smell the lager yeast, doughy but clean, and then the hops, which have a noble complexion and are rather well dosed, but without the usual grassy spice to them, fresh and fragrant on the whole, very summery and appetizing. the flavor is great too, everything i want and expect to be there and nothing i dont, minerals again, ground it and keep it earthy. the malt is flavorful but also really simple and dry, and the yeast is there in the right amount as well. not too hoppy either, but with some light citrus and hay notes to it, rustic even for how well refined it is. this is perfectly dry, light bodied, and brilliantly carbonated, fresher than any importer pils type, and drinkable without end. a perfect summer lager, they nailed this one!
1,244 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
of course this is good! this is exactly what these guys do best, and it was a treat to have it on tap. bright yellow golden color and perfectly crystal clear under a full inch of white head that is constantly replenished by frantically rising carbonation that keeps coming through the whole drink. minerals and german pils malt in the nose, cleaner and fresher than it usually is, and i can seemingly appreciate the water profile of the beer right away too, although its anything but watery. i also smell the lager yeast, doughy but clean, and then the hops, which have a noble complexion and are rather well dosed, but without the usual grassy spice to them, fresh and fragrant on the whole, very summery and appetizing. the flavor is great too, everything i want and expect to be there and nothing i dont, minerals again, ground it and keep it earthy. the malt is flavorful but also really simple and dry, and the yeast is there in the right amount as well. not too hoppy either, but with some light citrus and hay notes to it, rustic even for how well refined it is. this is perfectly dry, light bodied, and brilliantly carbonated, fresher than any importer pils type, and drinkable without end. a perfect summer lager, they nailed this one!
1,244 characters
3.77/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the mixed 12 pack from Market Basket.
Brilliantly dark yellow color with a decent bubbly white head. Rich bready pilsner maltiness with faint floral spicy hops to counter. Clean and well made tasty beer.
209 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From the mixed 12 pack from Market Basket.
Brilliantly dark yellow color with a decent bubbly white head. Rich bready pilsner maltiness with faint floral spicy hops to counter. Clean and well made tasty beer.
209 characters
3.83/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.3/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
4.18/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Waterford crystal pilsner glass. Excellent foam and lacing. Perfect color for this brew. Nice hoppy smell. Perfect summertime beer.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured into a Waterford crystal pilsner glass. Excellent foam and lacing. Perfect color for this brew. Nice hoppy smell. Perfect summertime beer.
145 characters
Bohemian Pilsner from von Trapp Brewing
Beer rating:
3.86 out of
5 with
235 ratings
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