Kernza Pils
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- From:
- Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
- Delaware, United States
- Style:
- German Pilsner
Ranked #342 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #26,514 - Avg:
- 3.8 | pDev: 9.47%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 17
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 27, 2025
- Added:
- Mar 27, 2022
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 4
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good
With a restless desire to create what hasn't yet been imagined, we've teamed up with our friends at Patagonia Provisions to craft an innovative pilsner that aims to restore our planet with every sip. A crisp, refreshing German-style pilsner, Kernza® Pils is brewed with organic barley, organic Contessa hops, and Kernza® - a revolutionary new long-rooted perennial grain developed by The Land Institute.
A cousin of wheat, Kernza® plants develop massive root structures that can stretch up to 12 feet underground, preventing precious topsoil from eroding. The roots also draw down carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the Earth ... precisely where it belongs.
Bursting with floral notes, Kernza® Pils is bright and snappy, with a subtle spiciness thanks to the Kernza® addition.
Every sip you take helps us plant more Kernza®, fight the climate crisis and brew more delicious beer ... we'll cheers to that!
A cousin of wheat, Kernza® plants develop massive root structures that can stretch up to 12 feet underground, preventing precious topsoil from eroding. The roots also draw down carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the Earth ... precisely where it belongs.
Bursting with floral notes, Kernza® Pils is bright and snappy, with a subtle spiciness thanks to the Kernza® addition.
Every sip you take helps us plant more Kernza®, fight the climate crisis and brew more delicious beer ... we'll cheers to that!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by chasingradedgems:
Reviewed by chasingradedgems from Hawaii
4.65/5 rDev +22.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.65/5 rDev +22.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Nice hops smell with floral notes.
Tastes like a solid pils with a slight bitterness that shines because the beer is crisp and clean.
A solid choice for a beach day, I picked it up on a beach camping session and it shined. Not heavy, which is great when youre looking for a hot beach day beer.
Highly recommend this beer when a pils is needed or just a clean light beer.
Jul 17, 2022Tastes like a solid pils with a slight bitterness that shines because the beer is crisp and clean.
A solid choice for a beach day, I picked it up on a beach camping session and it shined. Not heavy, which is great when youre looking for a hot beach day beer.
Highly recommend this beer when a pils is needed or just a clean light beer.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut
3.5/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: crystal clear; medium gold in color; 1 finger white head that receded to a moderate collar; nice lacing;
S: corn sweetness and a bit of spice;
T: pale, grainy malt from start to finish; a bit of lemon at the end; with mild bitterness;
M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: refreshing and easy drinking; reminded me more of an AAL than a pilsner;
Sep 27, 2025S: corn sweetness and a bit of spice;
T: pale, grainy malt from start to finish; a bit of lemon at the end; with mild bitterness;
M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: refreshing and easy drinking; reminded me more of an AAL than a pilsner;
Reviewed by eluvah from New York
2.95/5 rDev -22.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
2.95/5 rDev -22.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Ours hazy with little head. Not much of anything on the nose. Has a hint of lemon flavor, left a bit of film on my tongue. Don’t know if this is what they were going for but this beer is not for me.
Sep 15, 2022
Reviewed by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania
3.74/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 ounce can poured into a tulip glass. Best by Sept 2022, so good enough.
L---Crystal clear, light bright gold color. Fluffy white head faded to a ring and left deceent lacing.
S---Floral as advertised. Some lemon.
T---Floral & citrus hops. Some slight maltiness.
F---Light/medium body with decent carbonation. Not really that crisp cleaan feel you want in a pils.
O---Pretty meh. I was hoping for better.
Aug 24, 2022L---Crystal clear, light bright gold color. Fluffy white head faded to a ring and left deceent lacing.
S---Floral as advertised. Some lemon.
T---Floral & citrus hops. Some slight maltiness.
F---Light/medium body with decent carbonation. Not really that crisp cleaan feel you want in a pils.
O---Pretty meh. I was hoping for better.
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts
3.46/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
3.46/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5
Best by September 2022
Yet another new DFH beer. It seems like a lot more of their new ones are hitting distro these days as compared to the past few years which is cool. An all organic Pilsner with a unique variety of grain used. It sounds cool, much like a lot of the green-focused beers they’ve done in the past. Let’s get into it
Pours a slightly cloudy pale gold with 2 fingers of white head that fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing
This is far too sweet in the nose. It might be because it’s not the freshest but it’s still not great. I’m picking up on aromas of honey, biscuity malt, peppery malt, lemon zest, and soft bread
It has a similar problem in taste, with even less bite than the aroma had. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting bready malt, sweet honey, floral hops, and lemon zest. The swallow brings notes of sweet honey, cereal grain, floral hops, and light lemon zest
A light body pairs with moderate carbonation, resulting in a crisp beer. Finishes mostly dry and refreshing but that doesn’t really help when the flavor is lacking
It’s not the worst thing in the world but it’s really not great. Just a touch more hops and it would be better
Aug 24, 2022Yet another new DFH beer. It seems like a lot more of their new ones are hitting distro these days as compared to the past few years which is cool. An all organic Pilsner with a unique variety of grain used. It sounds cool, much like a lot of the green-focused beers they’ve done in the past. Let’s get into it
Pours a slightly cloudy pale gold with 2 fingers of white head that fades to a thin ring and leaves minimal lacing
This is far too sweet in the nose. It might be because it’s not the freshest but it’s still not great. I’m picking up on aromas of honey, biscuity malt, peppery malt, lemon zest, and soft bread
It has a similar problem in taste, with even less bite than the aroma had. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting bready malt, sweet honey, floral hops, and lemon zest. The swallow brings notes of sweet honey, cereal grain, floral hops, and light lemon zest
A light body pairs with moderate carbonation, resulting in a crisp beer. Finishes mostly dry and refreshing but that doesn’t really help when the flavor is lacking
It’s not the worst thing in the world but it’s really not great. Just a touch more hops and it would be better
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey
4.04/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
(12 oz can, SEP 2022; purchased single off shelf... poured into a 14 oz mug)
L: clear, yellow-gold liquid, dusted with fine speckled sediment; tall swell of foam on the pour, but it deflates to a messy cap... surprisingly no lace
S: wet cloth diaper; overtone of zesty, spicy-herbal... slowly morphs into a lemon-orange tinged biscuity affair... overall, yes, Pilsner-like in character, but with a certain something different about it... Corn Pops?
T: now that's more like it... bursting with Czech pils goodies... rich, doughy malt soup as its base, saturated with florally fruity hop oils, finished with a slow, stealthly bitter, peppery swell... aftertaste carries a mildly yet densely toasty note, also getting more fresh grassy and green onion spicy over time
F: delicately silky-luscious in its initial caress, sliding away quietly, but leaving a zesty flame in its wake... arguably somewhat flat and lazy, but thankfully the delayed, expansive bitter stun upon the tongue and backs of the front teeth give it a bit of shape and dimension
O: gets toastier and drier as it goes, but this is overall a tasty beer, satisying my desires from the style well enough... I'd buy more of this just to support the efforts and concept, but its good enough that I'd crave another (1987)
Aug 11, 2022L: clear, yellow-gold liquid, dusted with fine speckled sediment; tall swell of foam on the pour, but it deflates to a messy cap... surprisingly no lace
S: wet cloth diaper; overtone of zesty, spicy-herbal... slowly morphs into a lemon-orange tinged biscuity affair... overall, yes, Pilsner-like in character, but with a certain something different about it... Corn Pops?
T: now that's more like it... bursting with Czech pils goodies... rich, doughy malt soup as its base, saturated with florally fruity hop oils, finished with a slow, stealthly bitter, peppery swell... aftertaste carries a mildly yet densely toasty note, also getting more fresh grassy and green onion spicy over time
F: delicately silky-luscious in its initial caress, sliding away quietly, but leaving a zesty flame in its wake... arguably somewhat flat and lazy, but thankfully the delayed, expansive bitter stun upon the tongue and backs of the front teeth give it a bit of shape and dimension
O: gets toastier and drier as it goes, but this is overall a tasty beer, satisying my desires from the style well enough... I'd buy more of this just to support the efforts and concept, but its good enough that I'd crave another (1987)
Reviewed by jzeilinger from Pennsylvania
3.75/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Best by: Sept. 2022
A - Pale gold color with minimal lacing and light carbonation.
S - Light floral and lightly sweet malt in the background.
T - Malt base is very unique with a slight bit of sweetnes and hard to describe, actually. Over top is a little bit of floral with some malt sweetness in the background.
M - Medium body with gentle carbonation.
O - Decent, not a favorite, but decent.
Aug 06, 2022A - Pale gold color with minimal lacing and light carbonation.
S - Light floral and lightly sweet malt in the background.
T - Malt base is very unique with a slight bit of sweetnes and hard to describe, actually. Over top is a little bit of floral with some malt sweetness in the background.
M - Medium body with gentle carbonation.
O - Decent, not a favorite, but decent.
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
4.02/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Straw yellow body; clear; decent carbonation; respectable head, white and sudsy. Beautiful grassy, floral aroma; fresh hay. Mild, refreshing taste; very light malt base; moderate hop bitterness, somewhat spicy in character. Light body; a bit soft, a little velvety in texture; mild juiciness.
This is a delightful beer with an interesting back story. It fits in perfectly with the warm summer weather. It is light, refreshing, and crushable.
Pouring temperature: 40 °F; canning data: SEP 2022
Jul 24, 2022This is a delightful beer with an interesting back story. It fits in perfectly with the warm summer weather. It is light, refreshing, and crushable.
Pouring temperature: 40 °F; canning data: SEP 2022
Reviewed by DrOfGolf from Delaware
4.06/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.06/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
I poured this into a clear glass beer mug and it was a light golden color. The head was a foamy white that was about 2 fingers thick. The smell was of malt and hops. I expected a bigger and better taste, which I didn't get, but I would definitely drink it again.
Jul 21, 2022
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
4.15/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a clear golden color with a nice head and lacing
Aroma has floral and hop hints
The taste follows the nose with a floral and hop flavor
A light bodied decently carbonated beer
A good Pilsner
Jun 23, 2022Aroma has floral and hop hints
The taste follows the nose with a floral and hop flavor
A light bodied decently carbonated beer
A good Pilsner
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