Grolsch Premium Lager / Premium Pilsner
Grolsch Bierbrouwerij N.V.

Grolsch Premium Lager / Premium PilsnerGrolsch Premium Lager / Premium Pilsner
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From:
Grolsch Bierbrouwerij N.V.
 
Netherlands
Style:
European Pale Lager
Ranked #136
ABV:
5%
Score:
73
Ranked #27,804
Avg:
3.15 | pDev: 18.41%
Reviews:
757
Ratings:
2,136
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 09, 2024
Added:
Sep 10, 2001
Wants:
  42
Gots:
  474
Labelled as either Grolsch Premium Lager or Grolsch Premium Pilsner
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Avagadro:
Photo of Avagadro
Reviewed by Avagadro from New Jersey

4.68/5  rDev +48.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A: dark straw and bordering amber, Grolsch is quite a bit darker than other Euro Pale Lagers (EPLs). Based on this, and that the brew doesn't show prominent caramel tones, I would venture to say that Grolsch has endured a multi-decoction mash.

S: bouquet is upfront, expressing spicy continental hops and a sharp, sulfury yeast bite.

T: taste is bordering that of a good Czech pils, except a touch sweeter. Grolsch is quite dry, but not completely, with tones of grain, sulfer, and many layers of hops.

M: light, but chewy on the palate. I'm willing to bet that they took after Urquel and used proteins and complex carbs to achieve a brew that was full on the palate while maintaining dryness.

D: the best EPL I've had by far. I would be willing to day that it is due to Grolsch bearing more resemblance to the German and Czech pilsners than the often lower quality ELPs. Regardless of style assignment, Grolsch is a well crafted and delightful beer well worth a try.
May 16, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of Grax
Reviewed by Grax from Iowa

3.94/5  rDev +25.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The aroma is floral and hoppy, with a juicy undertone. The body is almost like 7-Up at first taste, with a wave of sweet hoppiness and floral sweetness. Very bubbly and refreshing, it's a solid and reliable beer.
Mar 09, 2024
 
 
Photo of hopsputin
Reviewed by hopsputin from New Jersey

3.61/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
a: clear amber color with a frothy off-white 2 finger head that can probably pour a lot higher

s: sweet grains and corn. a touch of astringent medicine and generic over-ripe fruit

t: sweet grains and a sweet corny taste as well. a touch of generic very mellow earthy hops and maybe some cardboardy notes

m: light mouthfeel with high carbonation

o: for the style, it is probably average. it could be a touch crisper in flavor
Feb 18, 2024
 
Rated: 3.93 by Larry101

Feb 08, 2024
Photo of Ant777uk
Reviewed by Ant777uk from England

1.91/5  rDev -39.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2
Re-reviewing...this seems to actually be brewed in Holland, which is great.

Fairly standard pilsner colour and head is looking pretty good. Exactly 5%, not a good sign. Quite a sweet, lightly flowery, light Czech style hoppy aroma. Boring can design, looks much better in a corked bottle.

Taste is light, refreshing, with rather faint bitterness and very light hoppiness. Not overtly malty or sweet, and rather tasteless. The hops do taste good, there is just not enough of them. It tastes crisp and natural, mouth feel is rather thin.

I think this would be great on a hot day, however when analysed it is rather simple and uninspiring.

I used to drink this back in the day at university and at my parent's house in a corked bottle. It superceded every other commercial pilsner by a mile. This used to be amazing about 20 years ago.

Taste is just lacking in the Grolsch hops from 20 years ago. Still, I like the bitterness, without it would get a much lower score. Feel is rather simple. Malt is ok but seems to have been pasteurized a bit too much. Feel is quite simple and watery, with a very faint hops bitterness in the background. Very faint.

A formerly great beer is now superceded by other commercial beers such as Belgian brewed Stella.

Most beers do not get worse with time. This, probably my favourite pilsner when I was about 18, has become seriously worse over a relatively short time.
Feb 01, 2024
 
Rated: 3.79 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania

Dec 17, 2023
Photo of Roguer
Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Beautiful beer, with good head production, strong retention, and excellent lacing. Very lively. Body is a lovely gold color.

Pleasant if simple aroma. Bready, slightly floral.

Definitely on the sweeter side on the palate, not quite too sweet, but definitely not the most balanced. It's not a bad beer, but it's not particularly rewarding, either.
Dec 17, 2023
Photo of Jayhew
Rated by Jayhew

4.75/5  rDev +50.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Just bought a 4-pak….I haven’t drank(drunk?) this since high school in the 70’s. Love it! Love the bottle, too!
Dec 15, 2023
Photo of MetalRugMan
Rated by MetalRugMan from Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +34.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
All around good beer, love the swing top bottles.
Dec 09, 2023
Photo of foamy-afterglow
Reviewed by foamy-afterglow from Canada (ON)

2.83/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Pretty average across the board.

Nice colour, ok smell of straw, bit of skunkyness in the flavour profile, decent bitterness in the finish.

Been on a pilsner kick lately and this one just doesn't reach the upper echelon.
Dec 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by KeithGreatNorth from Canada (BC)

Dec 03, 2023
 
Rated: 3.64 by Taenim from Maine

Oct 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.02 by Mickeyharris from Alabama

Oct 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.9 by JoshuaPerraton from Ireland

Oct 17, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by TwilightBeerCareer from Illinois

Oct 06, 2023
 
Rated: 3.03 by ScrantanDave from England

Sep 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by BrisLoganite from Australia

Sep 24, 2023
 
Rated: 3.12 by PaulSlazinger from Pennsylvania

Sep 23, 2023
Grolsch Premium Lager / Premium Pilsner from Grolsch Bierbrouwerij N.V.
Beer rating: 73 out of 100 with 2136 ratings