Ol' Factory Pils
Two Roads Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
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- Style:
- Pilsner - German
Ranked #182 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #33,345 - Avg:
- 3.76 | pDev: 11.7%
- Reviews:
- 111
- Ratings:
- From:
- Two Roads Brewing Company
- Connecticut, United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 20
- Gots
- 141
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good
Notes:
Traditional in concept with a Two Roads twist…dry hops. We use a combination of classic German as well as American hop and malt varieties in our Pils. We renovated a 100 year-old factory building and designed this Pils to have “extra” aroma…so, pardon the pun! Crisp…refreshing…refined.
Reviews: 111
| Ratings: 505
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Reviews by jlindros:
jlindros from Massachusetts
4.35/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Another neat local brewery, hopefully making some good beers. I haven't had much from them yet aside from the so-so style beers. A pilsner or lager is one you really need to pay attention to details, so hopefully this was done well, which really tells a lot about a brewery. even a bottling date! 4/11/14
Pours a nice fizzy fluffy 1 finger head that fades at a med pace, lots of little bubbles popping on the sides, a hazy fairly sediment laden straw colored beer with a nice column of bubbles rising up in the center.
Nose is quite nice! I could smell it right from the pour with plenty of pilsner malts, nice toasty straw malts, pilsner all over, mild grassy grainy notes as well. Also mixed in is plenty of noble hops, grassy and aromatic, little floral like even, great hop aroma. Well done and true to the style, reminds me of hte original Noble Pils from Sam Adams before they redid it and made it year round.
Taste starts again with the straw malts, toasty pilsner malts and straw all over, fairly toasty and grainy like. nice and soft with a great lager crispness. Then plenty of hops, tons of noble grassy hops again, floral and a bit leafy, with fair bitterness, nice hop presence again. Finish is dry and crisp again, soft feeling lager too, with tons of grassy hops lingering, it actually turns a bit spicy even, long lingering bitterness, and a faint orange rind like note as well.
Mouth is med to lighter bod, soft and crisp lager notes, and plenty of nice carbonation.
Overall quite nice, a really well done lager, with a nice grassy hop noble hop character that turns almost American like on the finish, spicy too, with nice pilsner malts and lagering qualities. Quite nice and happy with this brewery now. Can't wait to try the others.
Jul 24, 2014
4.35/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Another neat local brewery, hopefully making some good beers. I haven't had much from them yet aside from the so-so style beers. A pilsner or lager is one you really need to pay attention to details, so hopefully this was done well, which really tells a lot about a brewery. even a bottling date! 4/11/14
Pours a nice fizzy fluffy 1 finger head that fades at a med pace, lots of little bubbles popping on the sides, a hazy fairly sediment laden straw colored beer with a nice column of bubbles rising up in the center.
Nose is quite nice! I could smell it right from the pour with plenty of pilsner malts, nice toasty straw malts, pilsner all over, mild grassy grainy notes as well. Also mixed in is plenty of noble hops, grassy and aromatic, little floral like even, great hop aroma. Well done and true to the style, reminds me of hte original Noble Pils from Sam Adams before they redid it and made it year round.
Taste starts again with the straw malts, toasty pilsner malts and straw all over, fairly toasty and grainy like. nice and soft with a great lager crispness. Then plenty of hops, tons of noble grassy hops again, floral and a bit leafy, with fair bitterness, nice hop presence again. Finish is dry and crisp again, soft feeling lager too, with tons of grassy hops lingering, it actually turns a bit spicy even, long lingering bitterness, and a faint orange rind like note as well.
Mouth is med to lighter bod, soft and crisp lager notes, and plenty of nice carbonation.
Overall quite nice, a really well done lager, with a nice grassy hop noble hop character that turns almost American like on the finish, spicy too, with nice pilsner malts and lagering qualities. Quite nice and happy with this brewery now. Can't wait to try the others.
Jul 24, 2014
More User Reviews:
StonedTrippin from Colorado
3.56/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
this was somewhat uninspiring to me, sure its hoppier than a lot of what else is out there in the style, but it seems sort of dumbed down and cheap to me at the same time, looking pretty flat in the shaker pint from the tap, and having an overly grainy aroma, not as delicate and balanced here as i like the style to be, but with a decidedly citrus forward hop aromatic. the flavor is the same, a little more bready and less crackery on the pils malt than i prefer, but still on the dry side. the hops have some finishing bitterness and even a noble sort of spiciness, but i get more of a northwestern citrus profile than anything else. lots of malt there at the end too, more than i generally prefer in a pilsener, and not a lot of flavor from the lager yeast so it seems proportionally a little strange. i also need more carbonation from a light lager like this, this one really sags, and drinkability suffers as a result. overall not a bad beer, a fine pint, but i will be in no rush to drink this one again with so many nice craft pils types around right now. one of the weaker two roads beers i have had, but i will revisit it in bottle or can...
Jun 19, 2018
3.56/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
this was somewhat uninspiring to me, sure its hoppier than a lot of what else is out there in the style, but it seems sort of dumbed down and cheap to me at the same time, looking pretty flat in the shaker pint from the tap, and having an overly grainy aroma, not as delicate and balanced here as i like the style to be, but with a decidedly citrus forward hop aromatic. the flavor is the same, a little more bready and less crackery on the pils malt than i prefer, but still on the dry side. the hops have some finishing bitterness and even a noble sort of spiciness, but i get more of a northwestern citrus profile than anything else. lots of malt there at the end too, more than i generally prefer in a pilsener, and not a lot of flavor from the lager yeast so it seems proportionally a little strange. i also need more carbonation from a light lager like this, this one really sags, and drinkability suffers as a result. overall not a bad beer, a fine pint, but i will be in no rush to drink this one again with so many nice craft pils types around right now. one of the weaker two roads beers i have had, but i will revisit it in bottle or can...
Jun 19, 2018
Amendm from Rhode Island
3.85/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12-oz. can PKG 12OCT18 needed an moderate pour for a finger sized soapy white head with long retention and minimal lacing.
Clear pale straw color, yellow-straw in front of light.
Grainy malt and faint herbal hops for the nose.
The taste begins dry and bitter, the middle is semi-dry with biscuit, wheat malt and bitter hops. The finish returns to dry/bitter and is smooth and crisp, spice and herbal hops linger briefly. Medium light body, plenty of carbonation. A bit heavy on the hops, the dry hopping is atypical yet not over powering. Nice balanced easy drinker. Alcohol is barley noticeable.
Dec 17, 2018
3.85/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12-oz. can PKG 12OCT18 needed an moderate pour for a finger sized soapy white head with long retention and minimal lacing.
Clear pale straw color, yellow-straw in front of light.
Grainy malt and faint herbal hops for the nose.
The taste begins dry and bitter, the middle is semi-dry with biscuit, wheat malt and bitter hops. The finish returns to dry/bitter and is smooth and crisp, spice and herbal hops linger briefly. Medium light body, plenty of carbonation. A bit heavy on the hops, the dry hopping is atypical yet not over powering. Nice balanced easy drinker. Alcohol is barley noticeable.
Dec 17, 2018
BeerAdvocate from Massachusetts
4.11/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
From BeerAdvocate Magazine #79 (Aug 2013):
BAM! An instant favorite here, so fine tuned and well balanced. It easily rivals most of its counterparts—of course, freshness helps, but still. Big mugs are a must, which is a hint that Two Roads should package in 16oz cans.
STYLE: German Pilsner
ABV: 5.0%
AVAILABILITY: Year-round
LOOK: Bright pale yellow, sudsy
SMELL: Fresh-cut grass, spicy hop, soft hop resin, clean, bready, leafy
TASTE: Lovely smoothness, fluffy moderate body, fresh maltiness, bread, grassy, nutty, spicy herbal hop, balanced bitterness, oily resin, clean palate, peppery; long, dry, hoppy finish
Mar 26, 2015
4.11/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
From BeerAdvocate Magazine #79 (Aug 2013):
BAM! An instant favorite here, so fine tuned and well balanced. It easily rivals most of its counterparts—of course, freshness helps, but still. Big mugs are a must, which is a hint that Two Roads should package in 16oz cans.
STYLE: German Pilsner
ABV: 5.0%
AVAILABILITY: Year-round
LOOK: Bright pale yellow, sudsy
SMELL: Fresh-cut grass, spicy hop, soft hop resin, clean, bready, leafy
TASTE: Lovely smoothness, fluffy moderate body, fresh maltiness, bread, grassy, nutty, spicy herbal hop, balanced bitterness, oily resin, clean palate, peppery; long, dry, hoppy finish
Mar 26, 2015
NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
4.24/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Two Roads Brewing Co. "OL'FACTORY"
12 oz. brown glass bottle, "BTLD 04/16/15 09:10"
I absolutely love this beer! Brilliant. The hop character is spicy, grassy, lemony, herbal, and even a touch piney. The malt expresses pilsner malt, but there's subtly biscuity and nutty side to it as well which is probably coming form the residual yeast. It looks great, maintaining its fluffy white head for seemingly forever while leaving beautiful lacing behind (I don't mind the slight haze, and in fact like it, but I guess I do have to ding them there a little bit). Does it fit exactly what I think of when I think of German pilsner? No, but that's the beauty of it in a certain way. The body seems lighter (not that it necessarily is), and the hops really give it life. It's unique. Excellent! When I saw this I knew I had to pick it up based on the quality of their Saison, and from this point on I'll try any of their beers that I see.
Oct 29, 2015
4.24/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Two Roads Brewing Co. "OL'FACTORY"
12 oz. brown glass bottle, "BTLD 04/16/15 09:10"
I absolutely love this beer! Brilliant. The hop character is spicy, grassy, lemony, herbal, and even a touch piney. The malt expresses pilsner malt, but there's subtly biscuity and nutty side to it as well which is probably coming form the residual yeast. It looks great, maintaining its fluffy white head for seemingly forever while leaving beautiful lacing behind (I don't mind the slight haze, and in fact like it, but I guess I do have to ding them there a little bit). Does it fit exactly what I think of when I think of German pilsner? No, but that's the beauty of it in a certain way. The body seems lighter (not that it necessarily is), and the hops really give it life. It's unique. Excellent! When I saw this I knew I had to pick it up based on the quality of their Saison, and from this point on I'll try any of their beers that I see.
Oct 29, 2015
metter98 from New York
3.95/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: The beer is clear light yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high bright white head that gradually died down, leaving patches of bubbles on the surface, a thin ring around the edge of the glass, and some lacing down the sides.
S: Moderate to strong aromas of grassy hops are present in the nose.
T: The taste is also dominated by flavors of grassy hops, which contribute a light to moderate amount of bitterness, and also has underlying notes of bready malts.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I found this to be an enjoyable American version of a German-styled beer. It tasted a little hoppier compared to other beers in the German Pilsener style and the hop aromas and flavors seemed more resembling that of a Munich Helles Lager.
Mar 28, 2014
3.95/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A: The beer is clear light yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high bright white head that gradually died down, leaving patches of bubbles on the surface, a thin ring around the edge of the glass, and some lacing down the sides.
S: Moderate to strong aromas of grassy hops are present in the nose.
T: The taste is also dominated by flavors of grassy hops, which contribute a light to moderate amount of bitterness, and also has underlying notes of bready malts.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: I found this to be an enjoyable American version of a German-styled beer. It tasted a little hoppier compared to other beers in the German Pilsener style and the hop aromas and flavors seemed more resembling that of a Munich Helles Lager.
Mar 28, 2014
stakem from Pennsylvania
4.35/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
12oz can poured into a pint glass. The brew appears a hazy golden yellow color with 2 fingers of white froth that holds solid leaving webby lace as it fades.
The smell is fresh with a sweet footy grain appeal before grassy noble hops. Fantastic clean aromatics for a pils on this crossed between earthy herbal hops and bready fresh grains.
The taste initially is sweet with fresh bready malt that becomes sharply contrasted with a grassy herbal hop bitterness that is in no way excessive. A perfect balance of contrasting flavors that almost gets fruity with lemon as it warms up.
This is medium to light bodied with moderate carbonation. This is nearly a flawless execution of a pils. If I was gonna brew a pils, I would be estatic if it turned out anything like this. Thank you again for gifting me with this Kegatron. There was just something about this brew that I was really digging...perhaps the recent change in weather or maybe this was exactly what I needed after 2 hours of yard work? Whatever it was, this fit the bill perfectly for the moment.
Apr 30, 2015
4.35/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
12oz can poured into a pint glass. The brew appears a hazy golden yellow color with 2 fingers of white froth that holds solid leaving webby lace as it fades.
The smell is fresh with a sweet footy grain appeal before grassy noble hops. Fantastic clean aromatics for a pils on this crossed between earthy herbal hops and bready fresh grains.
The taste initially is sweet with fresh bready malt that becomes sharply contrasted with a grassy herbal hop bitterness that is in no way excessive. A perfect balance of contrasting flavors that almost gets fruity with lemon as it warms up.
This is medium to light bodied with moderate carbonation. This is nearly a flawless execution of a pils. If I was gonna brew a pils, I would be estatic if it turned out anything like this. Thank you again for gifting me with this Kegatron. There was just something about this brew that I was really digging...perhaps the recent change in weather or maybe this was exactly what I needed after 2 hours of yard work? Whatever it was, this fit the bill perfectly for the moment.
Apr 30, 2015
ucmike11 from Connecticut
3.88/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Feb 27, 2016
3.88/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Feb 27, 2016
Newport_beerguy from Rhode Island
3.83/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
May 17, 2015
3.83/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
May 17, 2015
StormAles from Canada (ON)
3.58/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Oct 08, 2017
3.58/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Oct 08, 2017
alexsergio from New York
3.5/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 11, 2015
3.5/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 11, 2015
PatrickCT from Connecticut
3.99/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 28, 2016
3.99/5 rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 28, 2016
SadMachine from New Jersey
3.65/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 18, 2017
3.65/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sep 18, 2017
DuBeats from Massachusetts
3.96/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Apr 29, 2015
3.96/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Apr 29, 2015
MGibbons from Maryland
3.71/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Apr 19, 2018
3.71/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Apr 19, 2018
agreenman19 from Connecticut
3.93/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 27, 2016
3.93/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 27, 2016
rollywud22 from North Carolina
3.97/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hazy golden appearance...Nice and inviting. Honey and slightly hoppy nose. Taste stays true to nose, which is nice! Overall, very nice American rendition of a pilsner.
Aug 29, 2015
3.97/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hazy golden appearance...Nice and inviting. Honey and slightly hoppy nose. Taste stays true to nose, which is nice! Overall, very nice American rendition of a pilsner.
Aug 29, 2015
chubenzino from California
4/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oct 16, 2015
4/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oct 16, 2015
dipaslife4me from Connecticut
4.1/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jan 20, 2016
4.1/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jan 20, 2016
Immortale25 from North Carolina
3.74/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into an Ommegang stemmed glass. Bottom of can says 03/02/16.
A- Pours a slightly hazy medium golden color with a 1/2 inch white head that retains decently before becoming a paper-thin ring around the edge of the glass and a small side patch of surface foam. Non-resilient lacing slides quickly down the glass.
S- The dry-hop aroma has probably faded significantly in the four months this has been sitting. What's left is some crackery malt and a bit of honey sweetness.
T- Grainy malt character. Smooth and mild with some hop bitterness on the back end. A bit of sweetness rounds things out.
M- Slightly sharp from the hops with medium carbonation and a lightish body.
O- Not bad for not being all that fresh. Could knock back a few of these on a hot summer day like today.
Jul 18, 2016
3.74/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured into an Ommegang stemmed glass. Bottom of can says 03/02/16.
A- Pours a slightly hazy medium golden color with a 1/2 inch white head that retains decently before becoming a paper-thin ring around the edge of the glass and a small side patch of surface foam. Non-resilient lacing slides quickly down the glass.
S- The dry-hop aroma has probably faded significantly in the four months this has been sitting. What's left is some crackery malt and a bit of honey sweetness.
T- Grainy malt character. Smooth and mild with some hop bitterness on the back end. A bit of sweetness rounds things out.
M- Slightly sharp from the hops with medium carbonation and a lightish body.
O- Not bad for not being all that fresh. Could knock back a few of these on a hot summer day like today.
Jul 18, 2016
BidYouABrew from Connecticut
3.75/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
May 07, 2016
3.75/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
May 07, 2016
Ol' Factory Pils from Two Roads Brewing Company
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
505 ratings
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