Your Favorite Pilsners

Sierra Nevada SummerFest, Victory Primo Pils and Jack's Abby SunnyRidge Pils.

 

biggest factor for a solid pils has got to be freshness... a fresh Prima Pils straight from the brewery is hard to beat

 

The Weihenstephaner Pils is pretty terrific if you can find it. Seems like the distribution is a bit spotty. The first time I was there it wasn't exported at all. From what I've heard, even the staff and students prefer their pils to the helles, although being near Munich I don't think they'd say it very loud.

 

Staff and students are mainly out-of-towners.

 

I guess I would fall into that category, too; I think the Pilsner is the better of the two beers as well. The Original is definitely a nice beer, but I'd take Augustiner, Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr and even Hoffbrau over it.

 

Personally, I prefer the Weihenstephaner pils slightly over the helles/Original. While good, I think their helles doesn't really stack up to the Augustiner and HB helles beers, which I personally think are top 2 from around town.
I'm not sure what the general opinion is in the area, but I definitely know a few former locals that greatly preferred the pils and generally felt it was underrated.
Ditto with the Augustiner pils, which is actually difficult to order in Munich. Not only will you get that look, they'll genuinely try to talk you out of it and make sure you know that it's expensive and "only in little bottles." As good as Lagerbier Hell is, their Pils is nearly as good. I'd even take one over Edelstoff.

 

That last part really gave me a chuckle. Hopefully there's an easier way to try it that just involves buying a bottle in the store and drinking it in your room or something .

 

Favorite Pilsners:
"Sunshine Pils" by Troegs
"Rumplepilsnen" by Full Pint
"Pils" by Lagunitas
"3-2-1 Win Pittsburgh Dad" by Full Pint

 

Even though they'll give you the run around, you can still order bottles at Am Dom, Brauestuben, and the Grossgaestatte. I've just told them that I'd had plenty of helles and that I just wanted to give the pils a try. I think once they understand that you aren't ordering it because you don't know any better they tend to lighten up. After all, an "ein pils" order is pretty much standard anywhere north of Bavaria.

 

I have been on a huge Pils bender for the past 6 months and it has become one of my favorite, if not my top favorite, style. I know I sound like a broken record but my favorite, easily findable, pils is still Pilsner Urquell. Them bready, crackery pils malts, crisp dry finish, and the old world yeast just really meshes with my palate. Phenomenal.

Then I tried a Koutská 12° Dvanáctka on tap a couple weeks back and was absolutely FLOORED by how great it was. It was like a Pilsner Urquell, only even better!

Weihenstephaner Pils is really good.

As for American versions:

Sierra Nevada Summerfest (I'm generally not a big fan of SN but they got this one right imo. Great brew and probably my favorite of their regular lineup.)
Berkshire Brewing Czech Pilsner
Stoudts Pils
Troegs Sunshine Pils
Pivo Pils (hoppier than your traditional Pils)
Victory Prima Pils (same as Pivo Pils) ...along with all of the Victory Pils beers
Jack's Abbey Sunny Ridge (MUST be very fresh or else it's meh...it falls off fast)
Narragansett Bohemian Pilsner (better than might be expected)

 

the crisp and summerfest are awesome.

 

Firestone Pivo Pils is my favorite

 

I've been out off by the green Urqell bottles. N. Americans: does the new box they come in seem to help?

 

It does. Plus, they tend to have pretty solid distribution now, too. Unless your store is putting them in a window or something, they should be fine. There's also the option of getting the beer in cans.

 

Boulevard Pilsner

 

North Coast Scrimshaw
Sixpoint The Crisp
Firestone Pivo
Lagunitas Pils
Great Lakes The Wright Pils
Dogfish Head My Antiona

 

I haven't had the Augustiner (I believe I only had their festbier when I was over there), but personally the Original is the best Helles I can get.......except Andech's. Andech's is definitely number one, the only beer that brings me back to Munich.

Getting back to the thread topic though, I agree. The Weihenstephan Pilsner is better than the Original. First time I ever had it I think I may have had a very old bottle, it didn't do much for me. Since then though each bottle has been a treat.

 

Lagunitas: Pils
Sixpoint: The Crisp
Sam Adams: Noble Pils

 

I've only had the Andechs helles on draught; I found it to be a little on the mellow side, but extremely well made. I bet it's excellent in 2 liter servings- it seems to be made for the long haul.