STS Pils
Russian River Brewing Company

STS PilsSTS Pils
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From:
Russian River Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
German Pilsner
Ranked #61
ABV:
5.35%
Score:
88
Ranked #12,981
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 10.89%
Reviews:
131
Ratings:
506
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 19, 2024
Added:
Jul 26, 2014
Wants:
  34
Gots:
  67
STS Pils is a classic German-style pilsner but with a Russian River twist because we dry hop this beer with a small amount of European hops. It is straw in color and will often have a slight haze due to the fact that there is a small amount of yeast left in the beer. This beer is hop-forward with a firm malt foundation, strong lager yeast characteristic, and a dry, bitter finish.

A truly great Pilsner is a difficult beer to perfect, as its light crisp flavor profile leaves little room for error. Modern brewing techniques (such as open-top fermentation) and old-world traditions create the distinct qualities in STS Pils.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RaulMondesi:
Photo of RaulMondesi
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I find this beer to be refreshing, even humbling.

In this vast, warped world of IPA’s (West Coast/East Coast/Brut/Juice/Hazy)... it’s really nice to sit down with a Pils and know that you are not going to get knocked across the head like Robert Ryan in “The Set Up.” Not only that, STS does not ask for the moon, even when it has the stars. It just chills and says, “Hey, I’m here, and thanks for inviting me to the party.”

And just like that, I have a feeling of completeness.
Nov 09, 2018
More User Ratings:
Photo of kotocar
Reviewed by kotocar from California

4.29/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A little astringent & metallic. Taste has a bit of bite into it. I really like the mouthfeel and carbonation but the taste is a little too bitter/astringent for me. It has spicy/citrus hops in it, so I like that it doesn't taste like an IPA (some pilsners do). I'd come back to this if it wasn't so expensive.
Mar 19, 2024
Photo of jonphisher
Reviewed by jonphisher from New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Thanks for this one @snaotheus

Lightly cloudy straw colored, white head, soapy, decent initial cap retention.

Nose is cracker like with grainy sweetness, touch of herbal character with some light floral undertone; perhaps a very light touch of sulfur.

Taste is richer cracker, verges towards bread like still with grainy sweet character, hop character is noticeably more earthy and grass like that nose implied…once warm I even get a light weed like note.

Bigger end of light bodied, smooth, moderate grassy bitterness on the finish, soft on the palate, mostly dry with some linger light malt.
Jan 13, 2024
 
Rated: 3.5 by Hellpop65 from Kansas

Nov 19, 2023
Photo of ivanbrew
Reviewed by ivanbrew

5/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
It’s a straw collar with a little bit of haze to it very aromatic floral Hops Quite a bit bitter for a Pilsner reminds me a little more of an IPA but definitely a good beer
Nov 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.57 by RanchMisfit from Colorado

Oct 28, 2023
Photo of buschbeer
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

3.31/5  rDev -16.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
1 PINT, 1.25 FL. OZ. bottle
Served in a pilsner glass

This beer pours straw colored. A timid pour still yields several inches of off-white head that leaves rings of lacing as I imbibe.

Minerally, metallic with a lemon lime smell

Bitter, minerally, metallic flavor. I get a lemon lime flavor from the hops.

Medium bodied with an effervescent mouthfeel

Not my jam
Aug 29, 2023
Photo of Sabtos
Reviewed by Sabtos from Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A chill haze settles out to reveal a largely clear pale gold body under a tall, level white foam head.

Frothy and moderately bitter of grassy herbality, a little resinous allium emerges after a touch of white wheat and corn nut develop before coming to a cleanly bone dry finish.
Aug 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.43 by Taenim from Maine

Aug 20, 2023
Photo of TheWaySheGoes
Reviewed by TheWaySheGoes from Illinois

4.9/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Smells nice, bit of grass notes. Mid palette, def a german style pils. Bitterness is firm. Bready and malty. Taste lingers on the backend. Very clean beer. Grainy malt character up front. Tastes like a fresher and better version of the mass produced German brands you see on shelves. No sight of out of control hop character American craft brewers attempt with their pilsners. Well done, but a bit pricey. I would imagine German drinkers would adore this. Fantastic pilsner!
Jun 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

Jun 25, 2023
Photo of cyclonece09
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

3.94/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours yellow orange with a white head. Smells of sweet cereal grain. Tastes of sweet cereal grain with just a hint of fruit. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking with good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Jun 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by NickThePyro from Washington

May 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.45 by bowmanad3

Apr 09, 2023
Photo of ScaryEd
Reviewed by ScaryEd from New Hampshire

4.07/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
17.25 oz bottle (what)

Absolutely gorgeous looking beer. Crystal clear pale gold color with a nice frothy white head. Good retention. Lacing for days.

Lots of cracker on the aroma. Some spicy hops, some floral hops, and a bit of citrus. Burnt toast on the back-end.

The flavor is....good. Very good, even. Bready malts lead the charge followed by citrusy and spicy hops.

The feel is medium-light bodied with good carbonation. Not quite crisp but has enough bite to be gently refreshing. Very clean. Dry.

Overall, this is a great take on a German pils. It's flavorful, hoppy, but too hoppy, and very drinkable.
Feb 27, 2023
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
In a clear pint glass after being drawn from a tap, it's almost crystal clear. It has color, a bright and light golden-amber. The white head is immaculate, tight and enduring. The proper aroma of Pilsner malt and hops is just strong enough. It's taste is clean and quite sharp. Overall, it has a little more hop bite and a little less malt character than many American Pilsners. Missing is that delightful nutty note some in the style bring. The glass lacing is light, but regular. Overall, it drinks very cleanly, lightly and with a good hop bite to finish.
Feb 10, 2023
Photo of Mortal_Wombat
Reviewed by Mortal_Wombat from Texas

3.84/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: Straw yellow with a fluffy, stark white head. The head takes a while to dissipate and is considerably rocky.

Smell: Cracker and strong floral hop notes. Some toasted breadiness on the back of the hops but not much.

Taste: Crackery and toasted bread note comes through pretty well before being completely overtaken by the hops. Definitely some noticeable influence from Russian River as the hop bite has a bit more unique character than the standard German hop bite. Finished pretty dry.

Feel: Medium body, moderate and crisp level of carbonation. Very easy to drink.

Overall: Doesn't blow me away but is faithful to all the normal beats of a German-style pilsner.
Feb 01, 2023
Photo of bristol2120
Reviewed by bristol2120 from Illinois

3.12/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours pale gold, with a decent head, but not much lacing. Smell is very subdued. Hops are right upfront in the taste, and the attendant dryness is pleasant. Seems like the citrus notes are a bit too amped up though. This is a fairly refreshing pilsner, and I would say overall it is pleasant enough, but there isn't really anything special going on here.
Jan 27, 2023
 
Rated: 3.87 by karlstratos from New Jersey

Jan 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4.13 by siege06nd from Virginia

Jan 15, 2023
STS Pils from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 506 ratings