König Pilsener | König-Brauerei GmbH




Brewed by:
König-Brauerei GmbH
Germany
koenig.de
Style: German Pilsener
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.90%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 04-24-2002
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 685 | Reviews: 309
Reviews by foles:
4.38/5 rDev +15.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer is about as good as a german pils gets in the north of Germany. I had this is Duisburg on tap (industrial heartland of the Ruhr), a few streets away from the brewery, but regularly buy it at home in Australia due to the its relative high quality compared to its low price.
Lovely presenting beer, perfect pale gold, creamy head. Noble hoppy nose with hints of bitterness (yes on the nose) and mild grassiness. Assertive bitterness on the palate, but herbal, spicy hopiness and clean background pilsner malt. The beer was somewhat softer on tap, whereas the bottled version seems more robust (maybe just not as fresh). Either way supremely drinkable! While a few steps off the best pilsners out there, it really is a great beer.
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look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer is about as good as a german pils gets in the north of Germany. I had this is Duisburg on tap (industrial heartland of the Ruhr), a few streets away from the brewery, but regularly buy it at home in Australia due to the its relative high quality compared to its low price.
Lovely presenting beer, perfect pale gold, creamy head. Noble hoppy nose with hints of bitterness (yes on the nose) and mild grassiness. Assertive bitterness on the palate, but herbal, spicy hopiness and clean background pilsner malt. The beer was somewhat softer on tap, whereas the bottled version seems more robust (maybe just not as fresh). Either way supremely drinkable! While a few steps off the best pilsners out there, it really is a great beer.
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More User Reviews:
4.3/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: 12oz euro style green bottle with no freshness date to be found.
Appearance: Pale yellow with the slightest chill haze, tight bubbly white lace leaves a few rings around the glass.
Smell: Faint lemon in the aroma hinting towards floral.
Taste: Medium bodied with a crisp malty palate, slightly restrained bitterness ... more subtle and flavourful than bitter, yet still helps to balance quite well with a spicy bite. The hops become more evident in the finish as they linger with some residual sweet grain.
Notes: Forget Becks or the similar ... a fine pils to be had any time of the year. A treat for either the veteran micro drinker or a macro drinker. Goes down well yet very tasty at the same time.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Presentation: 12oz euro style green bottle with no freshness date to be found.
Appearance: Pale yellow with the slightest chill haze, tight bubbly white lace leaves a few rings around the glass.
Smell: Faint lemon in the aroma hinting towards floral.
Taste: Medium bodied with a crisp malty palate, slightly restrained bitterness ... more subtle and flavourful than bitter, yet still helps to balance quite well with a spicy bite. The hops become more evident in the finish as they linger with some residual sweet grain.
Notes: Forget Becks or the similar ... a fine pils to be had any time of the year. A treat for either the veteran micro drinker or a macro drinker. Goes down well yet very tasty at the same time.
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4.31/5 rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nice golden yellow clear out of the bottle. A nice white frothy head that leaves lacing in the glass. It smells wonderful with nice aroma of nuts and spices. It tastes great with a nice balance of hops bitterness to the malts. A full mouth with just a nice lingering hops note at the end. Overall a very nice pilsner type beer that will certainly be up in my list of this type of beer. One of the best of the pilsners.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a nice golden yellow clear out of the bottle. A nice white frothy head that leaves lacing in the glass. It smells wonderful with nice aroma of nuts and spices. It tastes great with a nice balance of hops bitterness to the malts. A full mouth with just a nice lingering hops note at the end. Overall a very nice pilsner type beer that will certainly be up in my list of this type of beer. One of the best of the pilsners.
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4.23/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
330 ml bottle into lager glass, best before 7/28/2015. Pours slightly hazy golden straw color with a small dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings down the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of cracker, biscuit, light honey, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of pale malt and earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of big cracker, biscuit, light honey, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Moderate amount of herbal/spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of cracker, biscuit, pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness on the finish for a short bit. Awesome robustness and balance of pale malt and earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Large amount of dryness after the finish. Very clean on lager flavors with zero yeast ester notes present. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, crisp, and lightly sticky/grainy mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming present after the finish as expected of 4.9%. Overall this is an awesome German pilsner style. All around great robustness and balance of pale malt and earthy hop flavors; and very smooth, crisp, and clean to drink. A highly enjoyable offering.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
330 ml bottle into lager glass, best before 7/28/2015. Pours slightly hazy golden straw color with a small dense white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings down the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of cracker, biscuit, light honey, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of pale malt and earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of big cracker, biscuit, light honey, herbal, grass, pepper, and yeast earthiness. Moderate amount of herbal/spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of cracker, biscuit, pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness on the finish for a short bit. Awesome robustness and balance of pale malt and earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Large amount of dryness after the finish. Very clean on lager flavors with zero yeast ester notes present. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, crisp, and lightly sticky/grainy mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming present after the finish as expected of 4.9%. Overall this is an awesome German pilsner style. All around great robustness and balance of pale malt and earthy hop flavors; and very smooth, crisp, and clean to drink. A highly enjoyable offering.
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4.13/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I recently tried two highly rated Pilsners, Brooklyn Pilsner and Prima Pils. I thought Brooklyn was the better beer but, unfortunately, I can't seem to find any around here (Buffalo NY). I was offered a taste of the König Pilsner at my local Beer Store, liked it, bought it, love it. I got a 15 pack of 500 ml cans for $15.99. Are you kidding me? Das ist güt, Meir Herr! It looks yellow, with tiny bubbles. I smells like tulips with just a hint of blackberries. It tastes light and yet so heavy...so heavy it's my brother. And finally it feels velvety with silky smoothness and very sleek like pumaskin pjs. There. I am a beer snob.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I recently tried two highly rated Pilsners, Brooklyn Pilsner and Prima Pils. I thought Brooklyn was the better beer but, unfortunately, I can't seem to find any around here (Buffalo NY). I was offered a taste of the König Pilsner at my local Beer Store, liked it, bought it, love it. I got a 15 pack of 500 ml cans for $15.99. Are you kidding me? Das ist güt, Meir Herr! It looks yellow, with tiny bubbles. I smells like tulips with just a hint of blackberries. It tastes light and yet so heavy...so heavy it's my brother. And finally it feels velvety with silky smoothness and very sleek like pumaskin pjs. There. I am a beer snob.
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4.62/5 rDev +22.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Appearance - clear straw color with fluffy white head
Smell - grass, wheat, cracker, hint of black pepper
Taste - lemon zest, grassy flavor, wheat, cracker, malt, hint of black pepper
Mouthfeel - crisp, refreshing beer, light end of being medium bodied without being thin, medium carbonation, slightly sweet, hint of bitterness on the end to keep this balanced
Overall - this is an excellent pilsener, the best I've had thus far for consumption at home, I would suggest getting this in a can as this is probably the closest iteration to the true integrity of what this beer is supposed to taste like. Will make this a staple in my fridge
Price Point - $5.99/ 4pk 16.9 oz cans
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Appearance - clear straw color with fluffy white head
Smell - grass, wheat, cracker, hint of black pepper
Taste - lemon zest, grassy flavor, wheat, cracker, malt, hint of black pepper
Mouthfeel - crisp, refreshing beer, light end of being medium bodied without being thin, medium carbonation, slightly sweet, hint of bitterness on the end to keep this balanced
Overall - this is an excellent pilsener, the best I've had thus far for consumption at home, I would suggest getting this in a can as this is probably the closest iteration to the true integrity of what this beer is supposed to taste like. Will make this a staple in my fridge
Price Point - $5.99/ 4pk 16.9 oz cans
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4.65/5 rDev +23%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A classic golden pilsner with about 1 finger of head that settles quickly with a nice lacing. A distinct aroma of grains with a slight hint of citrus. This is a very good tasting beer for the style. I taste perfectly malted grains. None of the skunk that I normally get with the mass market German or Dutch lagers. Probably the best of the German Pilsners I've tried. I really appreciate the creamy texture which is rare for a pilsner style. This is my new go to Pilsner. I wish that I'd found it sooner.
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A classic golden pilsner with about 1 finger of head that settles quickly with a nice lacing. A distinct aroma of grains with a slight hint of citrus. This is a very good tasting beer for the style. I taste perfectly malted grains. None of the skunk that I normally get with the mass market German or Dutch lagers. Probably the best of the German Pilsners I've tried. I really appreciate the creamy texture which is rare for a pilsner style. This is my new go to Pilsner. I wish that I'd found it sooner.
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3.43/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
mine was a litle skunked (damn green bottles),want to try it when its not.Heard good things about it,Iam not a real pilsner fan though.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
mine was a litle skunked (damn green bottles),want to try it when its not.Heard good things about it,Iam not a real pilsner fan though.
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3.65/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pale yellow color with a scant head and lace.
S: The smell of grains and a hint of grassiness
are there.
T: Very clean tasting without a real standout
single flavor, but a good hop residue left
behind.
M: Clean and crisp very light pilsner but not
what I would consider thin.
D: Very drinkable pils. refreshing and a good
easy drink.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pale yellow color with a scant head and lace.
S: The smell of grains and a hint of grassiness
are there.
T: Very clean tasting without a real standout
single flavor, but a good hop residue left
behind.
M: Clean and crisp very light pilsner but not
what I would consider thin.
D: Very drinkable pils. refreshing and a good
easy drink.
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4.7/5 rDev +24.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.2/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Sampled: On tap. pint glass
Aroma: Clean maltiness with a bit of hoppy spiciness. Pale gold, the color of straw, with decent head retention. This is the beer Budeweiser wishes it could be - the combination of typically round, sweet decoction mash flavor combined with a nice firm bitterness and hoppiness that is near-perfect in balance. The lingering bitter-hop-malt-spiciness flavors at the back of your tongue after a long sip just screm "more!!" One of the best, if not the best, Pilsners I've yet tried. Good in bottle (if it hasn't been skunked), but better on tap.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Sampled: On tap. pint glass
Aroma: Clean maltiness with a bit of hoppy spiciness. Pale gold, the color of straw, with decent head retention. This is the beer Budeweiser wishes it could be - the combination of typically round, sweet decoction mash flavor combined with a nice firm bitterness and hoppiness that is near-perfect in balance. The lingering bitter-hop-malt-spiciness flavors at the back of your tongue after a long sip just screm "more!!" One of the best, if not the best, Pilsners I've yet tried. Good in bottle (if it hasn't been skunked), but better on tap.
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3.4/5 rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.06/5 rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle.
The beer pours a clear yellow color with a white head. The aroma is grain, grass, corn and a little bit of citrus.
The flavor is grain, corn and grassy hops. There is a low amount of bitterness.
Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this bottle.
The beer pours a clear yellow color with a white head. The aroma is grain, grass, corn and a little bit of citrus.
The flavor is grain, corn and grassy hops. There is a low amount of bitterness.
Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.
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3.15/5 rDev -16.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.88/5 rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Received in December shipment of my BOTM club.
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Pilsner glass.
Appearance: Clear, pale yellow with a thick frothy white head that leaves some light lacing behind.
Smell: Grass, hay, bitter apple, spicy hops and some light metallic bitterness.
Taste: Nice rounded apple, pear and grass malt backbone, with a light spicy and metallic bitterness coming through.
Feel: Moderate carbonation, light body and dry finish.
Drinkability: More than solid example of a light, dry German Pils. While not as bitter as some (although still quite dry), it is very well balanced and I could see drinking a decent amount of this if available.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Received in December shipment of my BOTM club.
Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Pilsner glass.
Appearance: Clear, pale yellow with a thick frothy white head that leaves some light lacing behind.
Smell: Grass, hay, bitter apple, spicy hops and some light metallic bitterness.
Taste: Nice rounded apple, pear and grass malt backbone, with a light spicy and metallic bitterness coming through.
Feel: Moderate carbonation, light body and dry finish.
Drinkability: More than solid example of a light, dry German Pils. While not as bitter as some (although still quite dry), it is very well balanced and I could see drinking a decent amount of this if available.
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4.5/5 rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours brilliant straw gold under a 2” finely bubbled white foam cap.
S: Spicy hop aromas but somewhat muted.
T: Light spicy malts with a spicy hop accent on the finish. No apple and no fruity esters.
F: Clean, smooth and crisp with medium to medium light body, medium to medium high carbonation.
O: A refreshing, easy to drink German Pilsener.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours brilliant straw gold under a 2” finely bubbled white foam cap.
S: Spicy hop aromas but somewhat muted.
T: Light spicy malts with a spicy hop accent on the finish. No apple and no fruity esters.
F: Clean, smooth and crisp with medium to medium light body, medium to medium high carbonation.
O: A refreshing, easy to drink German Pilsener.
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3.8/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear pale golden color with a nice white head that leaves some lacing. Aroma of grassy hops with some malt. Taste is again grassy hops with a bready flavor and a bit of honey. Thin body with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall this is a pretty solid German Pilsner that is very drinkable. I'll definitely try this again next summer.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a clear pale golden color with a nice white head that leaves some lacing. Aroma of grassy hops with some malt. Taste is again grassy hops with a bready flavor and a bit of honey. Thin body with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall this is a pretty solid German Pilsner that is very drinkable. I'll definitely try this again next summer.
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4.71/5 rDev +24.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Crisp, clear, mouth feel.
Not overly carbonated.
Excellent permeation of pils flavor and good to last dreg.
Typically I find this beer on sale at the Piggly Wiggly, in 4 packs.
I consider an excellent pils like this a highly underated beer in a land flowing with mediocre to horrible lagers, and overpriced over ABV'd microbrews. This is the beer you need when you want a beer that goes right down the middle in excellent form.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Crisp, clear, mouth feel.
Not overly carbonated.
Excellent permeation of pils flavor and good to last dreg.
Typically I find this beer on sale at the Piggly Wiggly, in 4 packs.
I consider an excellent pils like this a highly underated beer in a land flowing with mediocre to horrible lagers, and overpriced over ABV'd microbrews. This is the beer you need when you want a beer that goes right down the middle in excellent form.
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König Pilsener from König-Brauerei GmbH
Beer rating:
3.78 out of
5 with
685 ratings
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