Pilsners and such

Too many breweries make a pilsner (or Kolsch, or cream ale, or blond) with the idea that they "need to" make a lawnmower beer and thus they crank something out with little passion or thought to cover BMC drinkers that visit the taproom. This is a damn shame, and IMO why so many craft fans think such beers are not exciting - because many simply aren't.

I've had 97 barrel aged imperial stouts that were the exact same viscous booze bomb, but when I discover a dry, clean Pils that's perfectly clear with no off notes, I cancel my plans.

 

Victory Prima Pils is one of my favorite beers and I rated it as such (4.38). The style itself falls victim to the in your face flavor bombs that are the current rage - be it IPAs, APAs, sours or stouts. Unless consumer tastes change, the lighter styles will not get the sales volume and hype. That's just the way it is, but that doesn't mean that the lighter styles are not capable of being rated outstanding or world class when truly judged against their respective style guidelines.

 

I just wish that I could buy Lowenbrau these days. Many times I've mentioned this beer, and the fact that my Father kept it in the fridge, knowing well that a 16 year old was drinking it and getting an education in something other than Schlitz. I was very responsible, didn't drive drunk, and loved the dry bready goodness of that Munich delight. One afternoon I came home from basketball practice and my Dad summoned me out onto the back patio. He had a chilled 6-pack of Lowenbrau, we drank it all, and that was the best conversation that he and I ever had. He told me about some of the war stuff that he didn't tell anyone. He lived for about another 8 years and I treasure those moments and the beauty of the beer.

 

Anyone tried the Pick Six Pilsner from Pizza Port? Saw they have this available at our local TW and was thinking of grabbing some. Pilsner is a wonderful beer style and very tasty and refreshing, go Pils!

 

Grapefruit Kellerbier or Maple Syrup Kellerbier...maybe Pappy Van Winkle Kellerbier.

That should do it.

 

I do like a good Pilsner but just think there is a trend toward the IPA's and more hoppy beers right now. Even though not all Pilsners are created equally and most of us Americans associate pilsners with Miller and Budweiser. Many home brewers look down at these beers which I personally think is a bit narrow minded but I believe is part of the reason pilsners may not be popular in some home brew communities. I could be wrong on this but isn't pilsners mostly lagered which takes more time and better temperature control is needed which many home brewers may not possess the patience or equipment.

 

Wow. Home-brewing must have really changed since I drifted away from the hobby. We were always trying to perfect a good lager back in the 90s. Sure, we loved Pale Ales and Imperial Stouts too, but we respected the challenge of getting a lager just right (not that it always happened).

Look up Eckhardt's Treatise on Lager Beers -- great home-brewing primer.

 

But, they are actually UNDERrated.

The highest rated pilsner is a 4.06. Really? NO pilsner on earth is as good as the 3,000th highest rated IPA in the database?

 

I have noticed that as well. I don't like how they are instantly chopped down just because people's disdain for adjunct lagers etc. To me a craft Lager or Pils should be treated differently. Although I have had some trouble finding one that sings to me. IPA's are good but rather boring to me. They all taste the same.

 

Was that the Miller brewed version of Lowenbrau (which was an adjunct lager)?

Cheers!

 

No, it was in mid to late 60s. Munich boldy on the bottle. The version from Eden's Miller brewery was not very good. I tried it once.

 

Yeah, I was not a big fan of the Miller version of Lowenbrau either.

Cheers!

 

A good Pils destroys any middling IPA , my selection here is exactly two , Burials Shadowclock and Prima . If Sly Fox and Trauger Pils were available I'd drink these over most IPAs that I can get. I'd like to see Trauger in 16 oz cans.

 

But you would 'settle' for 12 ounce cans if they decided to distribute to North Carolina!?!

Cheers!

 

I definately would, I love that this beer is different , the incredibly dry finish works for me. It's a top 3-4, there's a few that I really like, but there just different.

 

We folks in SEPA are spoiled. When I go to the beer store to purchase a 6-pack of locally brewed Pilsners the 'challenge' is to decide which one I want to buy. I suspect that the PA Pilsner that bought the most of in 2015 was Troegs Sunshine Pils but that is just a guess. The good news is that you really can't 'go wrong' picking any of the other PA brewed Pilsners.

Cheers!

 

This logic only holds true if you assume that a 4.06 on one scale means exactly the same thing on the other scale, and vice versa. Not a safe assumption.

 

Not my highest rated Pilsner -- not even my highest rated lager. Doin' my best to bend the curve!

 

I assume that you are talking about the AAL "Pilsners". The homebrewers I know really like to make German Pils and Czech Pils.

To top it off, not so long ago the Homebrewer of the Year was awarded to an AAL, as it was brewed exceptionaly well and it is a dificutl style to brew. For all of the people that don't know - it is a brewing competition not an extreme beer competition.

 

This one is pretty tasty right now:

Pine Mountain Pilsner - Deschutes Brewery

Cheers!