Plzeň
Brouwerij 't IJ


Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Brouwerij 't IJ
- Netherlands
- Style:
- English Pale Ale
Ranked #104 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #26,943 - Avg:
- 3.56 | pDev: 14.89%
- Reviews:
- 19
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 05, 2021
- Added:
- Feb 19, 2002
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good


Notes:
Plzeň goes to show that a beer doesn’t need a lot of alcohol to be special. With its fine, hoppy flavour, this 5% blond beer can certainly hold its own against the stronger beers. Brewed only from pale barley malt, this is a floral beer with delightful, hoppy aromas of hay and fresh grass. Deliciously dry, with a long-lasting aftertaste. We named the beer after the Czech town of Plzeň, from which Pilsner beers originate. Despite that, our Plzeň is not a Pilsner; it is a refreshing, bitter, top-fermented beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by benfons from Belgium
3.79/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.79/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: pale yellow colour, thin but dense head, lots of bubbles rising up
S: grassy hops, hints of malt
T: clean, just grassy hops, nice bitter finish
M: enough body for a lager, nice carbonation
O: clean crisp lager, nice hoppy finish, good drinkability
Jan 08, 2014S: grassy hops, hints of malt
T: clean, just grassy hops, nice bitter finish
M: enough body for a lager, nice carbonation
O: clean crisp lager, nice hoppy finish, good drinkability
Reviewed by metter98 from New York
3.6/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.6/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at Brouwerij 't Ij, Amsterdam, Netherlands
A: The beer is clear light yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high white head that died down, leaving a thin head covering the surface and lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of grassy and herbal hops are present in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste has flavors of herbal and grassy hops along with a light amount of bitterness.
M: it feels nearly medium-bodied on the palate and has a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is quite hoppy for the style and the grassiness is unique but it goes down rather easily.
Apr 16, 2013A: The beer is clear light yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high white head that died down, leaving a thin head covering the surface and lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of grassy and herbal hops are present in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste has flavors of herbal and grassy hops along with a light amount of bitterness.
M: it feels nearly medium-bodied on the palate and has a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is quite hoppy for the style and the grassiness is unique but it goes down rather easily.
Reviewed by jneiswender from Massachusetts
2.37/5 rDev -33.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
2.37/5 rDev -33.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Had this beer at the brewery in Amsterdam. Served on tap, cool in small taster snifters.
A-light gold cloudy body and a white head.
S-light grain and yeasty presence.
T-sweet light grain front, astringent bitter hop finish
M-light
D-A bit too coarse for me. Okay but just not for me. I would not drink this again.
Aug 11, 2010A-light gold cloudy body and a white head.
S-light grain and yeasty presence.
T-sweet light grain front, astringent bitter hop finish
M-light
D-A bit too coarse for me. Okay but just not for me. I would not drink this again.
Reviewed by crossovert from Illinois
2.94/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.94/5 rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
330ml bottle.
Pours a pale gold with a big foamy bright white head that leaves some decent lacing and sticks for a while. The name of this beer reminds me of Pilsen, but this is a top-fermenter.
The smell has a hint of golden raisin and spiciness, perhaps form the hops. I have to give it a lower score though cause it isn't all that appetizing.
The taste is sweet, with a malt presence, I don't taste much hops besides a slight spicy bitterness int he end but nothing much really.
It isn't something too special, this brewery does better.
Jul 22, 2010Pours a pale gold with a big foamy bright white head that leaves some decent lacing and sticks for a while. The name of this beer reminds me of Pilsen, but this is a top-fermenter.
The smell has a hint of golden raisin and spiciness, perhaps form the hops. I have to give it a lower score though cause it isn't all that appetizing.
The taste is sweet, with a malt presence, I don't taste much hops besides a slight spicy bitterness int he end but nothing much really.
It isn't something too special, this brewery does better.
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois
4.43/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
4.43/5 rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Insane amount of rapid carbonation. Immediately the foam built up in the bottle, and in the glass created a souffle type head, of the finest, creamiest variety. Just as nice as Duvel, if not better. Pale hazy yellow, it looked more like a Wit. Dense coating of lace. inside the glass.
Dusty grains, Orval spice (Brett), clover, signature BPA yeast esters.
Earthy vegetal dry hops, citrus, thyme, sage, pepper. Soda crackers and dried flowers. A bone dry finish. Super clean and refreshing. If ever there was an import doppelgänger to Bam Biere, this would be it.
I was hooked on this stuff after finding it at Spuyten Duyvil, and finally was able to buy some to provide this review. Label notes: Rounded corner decal, looked newer that other t'IJ labels i've seen in the past. Make sure your bottle is fresh.
Oct 06, 2008Dusty grains, Orval spice (Brett), clover, signature BPA yeast esters.
Earthy vegetal dry hops, citrus, thyme, sage, pepper. Soda crackers and dried flowers. A bone dry finish. Super clean and refreshing. If ever there was an import doppelgänger to Bam Biere, this would be it.
I was hooked on this stuff after finding it at Spuyten Duyvil, and finally was able to buy some to provide this review. Label notes: Rounded corner decal, looked newer that other t'IJ labels i've seen in the past. Make sure your bottle is fresh.
Reviewed by ATPete from New Jersey
3.8/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Served at Brouwerij 't IJ in April 2008
A- Yellow color, good lasting white head, semi-hazy, good rising carbonation.
S- Some mint, hops, hay, with a good malt character.
T- light and grassy, not offensive, a touch of bitterness upon the finish gives it a nice hop note.
M- very light, no body to speak of really
D- Very good
May 05, 2008A- Yellow color, good lasting white head, semi-hazy, good rising carbonation.
S- Some mint, hops, hay, with a good malt character.
T- light and grassy, not offensive, a touch of bitterness upon the finish gives it a nice hop note.
M- very light, no body to speak of really
D- Very good
Reviewed by Dukeofearl from California
1.89/5 rDev -46.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
1.89/5 rDev -46.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
11.2 oz. bottle purchased at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA. in June 2007 for $4.59.
I have a great respect for the beers of this brewery, and I finally found one that was undrinkable. I didn't even keep notes on this one, which was hoppy bitter but in the worst possible way. I started it cold, and thought that was a problem, so I let it warm and open up, but that didn't help at all. I poured about 2/3 of it down the drain.
Jul 15, 2007I have a great respect for the beers of this brewery, and I finally found one that was undrinkable. I didn't even keep notes on this one, which was hoppy bitter but in the worst possible way. I started it cold, and thought that was a problem, so I let it warm and open up, but that didn't help at all. I poured about 2/3 of it down the drain.
Reviewed by GClarkage from California
2.39/5 rDev -32.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
2.39/5 rDev -32.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
07/07/07- Purchased at John's Marketplace in Portland, OR.
Presentation- 11.2oz bottle with a best by date on top of the cap. Poured into my Toubadour tulip.
Appearance- Clouded yellow colored pour. Overflowing and heaping white chunky head. It just kept growing and growing until a huge bubble popped in the botom of the head and then it sunk dramatically. Leaves nice chunk and bits 'o lace behind.
Smell- Heavy almost sour yeasty nose. Maybe a bit of dull citrus as well.
Taste- Possible oxidized brew here. Not sour, but not far from it. A bit of wet cardboard, some musty yeast with a bit of spices entangled in between. I hesitated, but it ended up as a drain pour.
Mouthfeel- A bit dry and somewhat tart. Not a good aftertaste and a medium to lower carbonation level.
Drinkability- Not really my favorite style to begin with, even though this was a bad bottle, I will probabaly not try to seek it out again. Just wanted to try as many of the beers from this brewery as possible. When I saw four different ones from John's I hadn't had before, I snagged them all regardless of style.
Jul 08, 2007Presentation- 11.2oz bottle with a best by date on top of the cap. Poured into my Toubadour tulip.
Appearance- Clouded yellow colored pour. Overflowing and heaping white chunky head. It just kept growing and growing until a huge bubble popped in the botom of the head and then it sunk dramatically. Leaves nice chunk and bits 'o lace behind.
Smell- Heavy almost sour yeasty nose. Maybe a bit of dull citrus as well.
Taste- Possible oxidized brew here. Not sour, but not far from it. A bit of wet cardboard, some musty yeast with a bit of spices entangled in between. I hesitated, but it ended up as a drain pour.
Mouthfeel- A bit dry and somewhat tart. Not a good aftertaste and a medium to lower carbonation level.
Drinkability- Not really my favorite style to begin with, even though this was a bad bottle, I will probabaly not try to seek it out again. Just wanted to try as many of the beers from this brewery as possible. When I saw four different ones from John's I hadn't had before, I snagged them all regardless of style.
Reviewed by GooberMcNutly from Florida
2.3/5 rDev -35.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.3/5 rDev -35.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Pour was large with good carbonation and a big, self sustaining head. Color was straw but cloudy and turbid. Aroma started off with a lambic and sour apple aroma with a sweet bite. Palate started out sour and lambic like with a rich acidic overtone on the biscuity malt backbone. Finished dry and cardboardy, probably oxidized.
Jan 15, 2007
Plzeň from Brouwerij 't IJ
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
50 ratings
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