Garten Bräu Special Pilsner
Capital Brewery

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From:
Capital Brewery
 
Wisconsin, United States
Style:
German Pilsner
Ranked #508
ABV:
4.7%
Score:
80
Ranked #26,038
Avg:
3.52 | pDev: 12.78%
Reviews:
98
Ratings:
170
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 10, 2023
Added:
Apr 16, 2002
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  10
A German-style pilsner brewed with malts and hops imported from Europe. The slight sweetness of pilsner malt is perfectly balanced by the clean, dry bitterness of noble hops. One of our original Garten Brau beers, Capital Pilsner has truly stood the test of time.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Shazbott:
Photo of Shazbott
Rated by Shazbott

1.5/5  rDev -57.4%

Feb 24, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

3.56/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a completely clear, medium golden color with a moderate white head. SRM of 7. (4.00)

Aroma: Strong cracker and toasted bread aromas. Cracker and yeast and bready.

Flavor: Moderate flavors of bread malts, toasted cracker and more bread malts. Some yeast. Light lemon with a smooth, bready finish.

Feel: Medium-bodied. Average carbonation. A slightly sweet lemonbread finish.

Compared to Pivo Pils 8/1/22: Pours a similar color. Milder aromas. More sweet bread and cracker. Less yeast. Sweeter.

Compared to WarPigs A Light in the Black 8/1/22: Pours lighter, milder aromas. More sweet bread and cracker. Less bitter, grass, yeast. Smoother and sweeter. Winner Three Floyd's.

Compared to North Coast Scrimshaw Pils 9/26/22: Pours a lighter color. Milder aromas. More smooth pale malt. Less bread and biscuit malt. Cleaner and lighter.

Overall: Definitely leans toward a bready and malty pilsner. Bread, toasted cracker, and some sweet lemon flavors. Not really earthy nor grassy. A bready, but mostly sweet malty finish. Probably not going to be a go-to German Pilsner, but pretty underwhelming, or near par if I'm being generous for a German Pils. (Rating: 3.54+)
Aug 01, 2022
Photo of TheOccasionalBeer
Reviewed by TheOccasionalBeer from Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I never know if the metallic part of a scent is from the metal bottle cap, or if my brain is just using that as a stand-in for something more subtle. In any event, a little metal, apricot, and citrus hits the nose (gently) on opening the bottle. A nice white head forms on the pour, but quickly subsides from 1.5 fingers into the transparent honey-colored brew. I'm definitely picking up apricot with a little citrus at the end. It feels surprisingly slippery and only a hint of carbonation mid-mouth. This is a great bear for a warm night, and probably any other.
Jul 11, 2022
 
Rated: 3.42 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 19, 2021
 
Rated: 2.77 by BrendanStoehr96 from Wisconsin

Jun 29, 2021
 
Rated: 3.52 by travelguy from Ohio

Jun 18, 2021
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.54/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
a fine pils, i like the resurgence of the style lately, not that this one hasnt been around awhile, but perhaps its beers like this that have inspired the recent comeback of american craft lager in european styles, at least planted the seed. its pretty classic to me, not as dry as i personally prefer them to be, but i can taste the yeast, which is key in really any pils type, and even with a little finishing sweetness it still drinks crisp and light, the high carbonation really helps with that. a little less clear than others and a shade deeper in color too, great head on it lasts the whole glass. this bottle got lost in the fridge, and there is some slight oxidation on account of my tardiness to drink this probably, but the beer remains rather refreshing even with that. the classic dusty german malt profile in full effect here, some noble bittering, and overall even if this isnt amazing, its spot on to what i am used to in the imports, and frankly could have come from overseas. very true to style and region.
Mar 05, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by Turbo from Minnesota

May 06, 2018
 
Rated: 3.54 by Rilesmiles from Wisconsin

Aug 22, 2017
Photo of LeRose
Reviewed by LeRose from Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a somewhat dark golden color, couple fingers of dense, foamy head that lasted and clung decently.

The aroma is on the weak side - seems to be missing the floral notes in particular, just a hint of lemon and a vague spice note. Nice contribution of biscuit-like malt, suggestion of sweetness.

Initially the taste is sweet and clean. The hops are present but I don't think they are assertive enough for the style. There is nice bitterness at this point, but it devolves into a bitter aftertaste and mouthfeel that is almost unpleasant. Faint lemon, very faint on the floral Noble hops character.

Dry, medium body, carbonation appropriate to the style.

Overall this is a decent beer but I did not enjoy the weird bitterness and mouthfeel in the aftertaste. The flavor does not hold up to other examples of the style - it isn't a bad flavor, just not enough.
Jun 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4.04 by Rollmeaway2loadout from Illinois

Feb 19, 2017
Photo of drpimento
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

2.79/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Aroma is wet grain and some malt. Flavor is carbonic tang up front followed my malt sweetness. Sweet German Pilsner? Can't remember having had one. This isn't for me. Mildly sweet finish.
Aug 23, 2016
 
Rated: 3.17 by Squire from Mississippi

May 22, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by eldoctorador from Chile

Nov 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.58 by Hendrick24 from Wisconsin

Sep 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.46 by spycow from Illinois

Aug 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.03 by Whiskeydeez from Kansas

Aug 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by jpuetz from South Dakota

Aug 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Sweffin from Wisconsin

Jul 02, 2015
Garten Bräu Special Pilsner from Capital Brewery
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 170 ratings