Pilsner revisited: giving a beer a second try

In your defense, you could have easily had a skunked bottle several years ago, I believe Tenth and Blake has been making a more concerted effort to keep Urquell from getting lightstruck as of late.

 

Yes.

 

One beer that I'd consider giving a second try would be Samichlaus. I had it many years ago and found it to be repugnant. It would be interesting to see if I still felt the same way about it now.
But generally speaking I stay away from beers I initially detest.

 

Yes. IPAs. Hated them until I had Pliny on tap at Russian River. Now, I love them. I just needed the right kick in the ass.

 

I just got one of those sixers today- the store was all out of Troegs Sunshine Pils, but the PU will do me just fine. Pilsners are great beers when done well.

 

I thought Pilsner Urquell was medicore. I only have had 1 bottle of it but I dont remember it being hoppy at all compared to hoppy pilsners out there like Prima Pils and Noble Pils and others.

 

Mmmm. Pilsner Urquell is divine in a tall glass on a warm day. Many years ago I wrote off lagers when I got high and mighty on my craft beer crusade. But it all comes full circle. Now I have come to truly appreciate how delicate lagers are and why they can taste so bad if handled poorly or just left to collect dust somewhere.


As for craft beers I came around on, probably Yeti and 90 Minute. Cutting my craft beer teeth on San Diego IPAs, 90 Minute was much maltier than the beers I was drinking at the time. Plus I have no idea how fresh that first bottle might have been. Now I snatch it up whenever I find it less than a month old.

Can't explain Yeti. Just didn't care for its aroma or something the first time, but now I have become a fan. It's not my favorite or anything, but I do enjoy a 12oz bottle every once in a while. I feel the same way about Gonzo from Flying Dog. But not until I tried the barrel-aged version.

 

Prima Pils by Victory is tremendous. If you can find some Kolsch's in your neck of the woods you may want to take the plunge. Similar style and great in the summer. Chocorua Kolsch is nearby in Effingham and I think it's great. I've not tried Victory's.

As to your thread question, I never much cared for wheat beers (they always seemed to be mixed with lemons, raspberries, cherries, blueberries or the like) when I first came across them and then I was exposed to Weihenstephaner's Heffeweisbier and Wow! the idea of a wheat beer all of a sudden made a ton of sense and I now seek out new versions regularly.

Cheers.

 

Back in the bad old days, about 1980, Urquell was one of the 5 or 6 imports in my local store. It sold in 4pks. As a poor student I considered it a treat. I'd drink more of it today, but there seems to always be something even better on the shelf, on tap ....

 

Prima pils is nothing like a traditional pilsner. Delicious, but untraditional.
Urquell should have a nice spicy hop character from saaz hops, if it's reasonably fresh

 

I actually just had La Fin Du Monde for the second time, and it was great! for some reason (probably the fact I was only 6 months in to craft brew) I didn't like it the first time I tried it.

 

" ...the store was all out of Troegs Sunshine Pils."

 

and Weihenstephaner Pilsener, too

I had one of the Urquells last night, and found it to be one of the better ones I've had- fresh tasting and not a hint of light-struck aroma- so I'm not sorry I got it. Their recent QC program seems to be working.

 

How long have you been drinking German Pilsners? I know they have been dumbed down.

Have you ever had Waldhaus Pils? That near the Border with Switzerland in Baden-Wurttemberg, and was what Prima was modeled on. I have never been in that corner of Germany, but may go next time to try that beer.

 

I love Pilsners and good Pale Lagers when they're well made. It's just like any other *real* style (as in not the industrial light lagers); I love them when they're well made and taste good.

 

When all is said and done, Pilsner is my favorite beer. Clean. Tasty. Refreshing. Looks beautiful in the proper glass. Non-offensive (as opposed to offensive). Just a great beer.

 

Never had that one. I was actually recently in Germany and had quite a few good pilsners, but none nearly as hoppy as Prima Pils. Maybe I'm judging German pilsners too quickly.

 

The hopping level has been going down for some time. Prima is not to the style made today, but some German Pilsners have become much less assertive.