The Royal Rug
Alternate Ending Beer Co.
- From:
- Alternate Ending Beer Co.
- New Jersey, United States
- Style:
- German Pilsner
Ranked #30 - ABV:
- 4.8%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #8,522 - Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 4.1%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 13
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 19, 2026
- Added:
- Jan 10, 2021
- Wants:
- 2
- Gots:
- 3
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
If you happen to be at a Ralph’s with your checkbook, consider swapping out that carton of milk for a clean, crisp Royal Rug. This traditional Pils has quickly become a taproom favorite, especially now that we are pouring it oh, so slowly to give it that moosey head that just jiggles for you.
As many of you know, the real life Dude designed our brewing system along with Boy Wonder @SpecificMechanical to allow us to do decoction brewing, which is so rare these days. We are able to move our grain from kettle to mash tun and back, boiling ⅓ of the grain to capture additional flavor, color and aroma. It’s a time-consuming process but well worth it as this spectacular beer accentuates a toastiness that wouldn't be found without it. The Mittelfrüh & Tradition hops provide floral notes with a soft bitterness in this extremely delicate Pilsner.
This was the first beer we brewed on our system, and we are so excited to do it again for you for this very special can release. And yes, it is true, one of our three wishes after rubbing that lamp was to make a beautiful pilsner much like our heroes at Bierstadt Lagerhaus. The dude abides.
As many of you know, the real life Dude designed our brewing system along with Boy Wonder @SpecificMechanical to allow us to do decoction brewing, which is so rare these days. We are able to move our grain from kettle to mash tun and back, boiling ⅓ of the grain to capture additional flavor, color and aroma. It’s a time-consuming process but well worth it as this spectacular beer accentuates a toastiness that wouldn't be found without it. The Mittelfrüh & Tradition hops provide floral notes with a soft bitterness in this extremely delicate Pilsner.
This was the first beer we brewed on our system, and we are so excited to do it again for you for this very special can release. And yes, it is true, one of our three wishes after rubbing that lamp was to make a beautiful pilsner much like our heroes at Bierstadt Lagerhaus. The dude abides.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania
4.12/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
19.2 oz stovepipe can
pours a clear yellow golden color, with thick layer of white head. grassy hop aroma, with crackery malt. similar taste, with a crisp finish. easy drinking, with a thin to medium body
Apr 13, 2026pours a clear yellow golden color, with thick layer of white head. grassy hop aroma, with crackery malt. similar taste, with a crisp finish. easy drinking, with a thin to medium body
Reviewed by ScaryEd from New Hampshire
4.06/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16 oz can
Pours a clear bright gold color with a large fluffy white head. Great retention. Leaves some splotchy lacing.
Aroma is grassy and floral. Lots of bread, lemongrass and cereal grains.
Very clean flavor. Zesty citrus, spicy hops, cereal grains, grass, and sweet bread. Has a nice herbal tea like quality.
Medium-light bodied with good carbonation. Dry and crisp. Highly drinkable.
Definitely a very good pilsner. A touch sweeter than expected but still nicely balanced and really easy to drink.
Feb 25, 2026Pours a clear bright gold color with a large fluffy white head. Great retention. Leaves some splotchy lacing.
Aroma is grassy and floral. Lots of bread, lemongrass and cereal grains.
Very clean flavor. Zesty citrus, spicy hops, cereal grains, grass, and sweet bread. Has a nice herbal tea like quality.
Medium-light bodied with good carbonation. Dry and crisp. Highly drinkable.
Definitely a very good pilsner. A touch sweeter than expected but still nicely balanced and really easy to drink.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.34/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.34/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Slightly murky, yellow body with a sudsy white head and sporadic lacing. Aromas of biscuit and paler malts, supporting the grassy hops and grain. Taste has slight sweetness from the malt, hops and grains dance together through the slightly bready yeast. Feel is pale and grainy but in a well balanced way with the rest of the pilsner elements. Really enjoyed this paler pils
Nov 13, 2025
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: pours translucent straw yellow body with a white head with some retention; no lacing.
S: apricot, chamomile, lemongrass notes.
T: sweet, chamomile and maybe lavender notes; hints of orange peel and apricot.
M: crisp and refreshing.
O: solid feel and taste combo; solid Pilsner.
Jul 20, 2025S: apricot, chamomile, lemongrass notes.
T: sweet, chamomile and maybe lavender notes; hints of orange peel and apricot.
M: crisp and refreshing.
O: solid feel and taste combo; solid Pilsner.
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia
4.27/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16 ounce can - $3.75 at Woodstock Beer Market in Woodstock, Georgia.
FEB/13/2025.
Appearance: Pours a lightly hazed, yellow-hued body with a good-lookin', tall, white head. Blips and blobs of lacing on the way down.
Smell: Subtly spicy with some citrusy, floral lemon verbena atop a crisp, clean maltiness.
Taste: Bright clean cereal note and sweetness with a touch of graininess blending into the floral, lightly citrusy, spicy notes from the hops. Pleasantly bitter. Has a dry, altogether crisp finish with a smidgen of the bitterness lingering into the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation (with a bit of welcome zip to it).
Overall: As someone who can't even keep with the breweries in the Greater Metro Atlanta area, I was unfamiliar with Alternate Ending. This is a top-notch, tasty pils.
Apr 18, 2025FEB/13/2025.
Appearance: Pours a lightly hazed, yellow-hued body with a good-lookin', tall, white head. Blips and blobs of lacing on the way down.
Smell: Subtly spicy with some citrusy, floral lemon verbena atop a crisp, clean maltiness.
Taste: Bright clean cereal note and sweetness with a touch of graininess blending into the floral, lightly citrusy, spicy notes from the hops. Pleasantly bitter. Has a dry, altogether crisp finish with a smidgen of the bitterness lingering into the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium carbonation (with a bit of welcome zip to it).
Overall: As someone who can't even keep with the breweries in the Greater Metro Atlanta area, I was unfamiliar with Alternate Ending. This is a top-notch, tasty pils.
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
4.13/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Canned on: 2-13-25
A - Pours a light yellow gold with light carbonation and dense white foam that sticks to the sides of the glass.
S - Nice straw, earthy, dry aroma with light spicy citrus and floral.
T - Crisp, crackery, biscuity malt with a wall of spicy citrus and floral and ends with a lingering dry bitterness.
M - Medium body with prickly carbonation and a semi-dry finish.
O - This is a really great presentation of a Pilsner and enjoying this one.
Apr 10, 2025A - Pours a light yellow gold with light carbonation and dense white foam that sticks to the sides of the glass.
S - Nice straw, earthy, dry aroma with light spicy citrus and floral.
T - Crisp, crackery, biscuity malt with a wall of spicy citrus and floral and ends with a lingering dry bitterness.
M - Medium body with prickly carbonation and a semi-dry finish.
O - This is a really great presentation of a Pilsner and enjoying this one.
Reviewed by hopsputin from New Jersey
4.03/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
a: some slight chill haze on this, it's a murky yellow color with a 1 finger white rocky head
s: sweet crisp grains upfront followed by lemongrass and pepper spice. sweet grass and faint hay. a sweet lemon aroma and a big grainy malty backbone. very nice aroma
t: big sweet grainy flavor dominates the initial sip. sweet lemons and grass behind that. a generic citrus note and a hint of herbal bitterness. more sweet grains at the end
m: light mouthfeel with strong carbonation
o: pretty nice Pilsner, however it is on the sweeter side for a Pilsner. nothing offensive about it, i think it could just use a tad more balance
Dec 20, 2024s: sweet crisp grains upfront followed by lemongrass and pepper spice. sweet grass and faint hay. a sweet lemon aroma and a big grainy malty backbone. very nice aroma
t: big sweet grainy flavor dominates the initial sip. sweet lemons and grass behind that. a generic citrus note and a hint of herbal bitterness. more sweet grains at the end
m: light mouthfeel with strong carbonation
o: pretty nice Pilsner, however it is on the sweeter side for a Pilsner. nothing offensive about it, i think it could just use a tad more balance
Reviewed by KrakowBluegrass from Massachusetts
4.68/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I just saw this beer for the first time at Rapid Liquors in Stoneham, MA. Brought home a four-pack. The head is a big creamy cloud that sticks around. Nice bitterness, not too sweet, very crisp and refreshing. This is an excellent beer.
Aug 17, 2024
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey
4.02/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Cloudy gold orange appearance with a lasting thin white head.
Medium carbonation with about the same for the body all adding up to a nice feel.
Aroma is malt,yeast, cereal, grain,mildly floral and earthy.
Taste is very similar to aroma, very mild sweetness with an equal mild bitterness. Earthy,grain,cereal, with malt.
Overall this is an excellent attempt at the style and was impressive enough that I will look for other offerings from this brewery
Jun 09, 2023Medium carbonation with about the same for the body all adding up to a nice feel.
Aroma is malt,yeast, cereal, grain,mildly floral and earthy.
Taste is very similar to aroma, very mild sweetness with an equal mild bitterness. Earthy,grain,cereal, with malt.
Overall this is an excellent attempt at the style and was impressive enough that I will look for other offerings from this brewery
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