Is it me or is it the pils?

I don't want a malt forward Pils, that's what a Helles is for. You need that crisp hop bite, it's there you can tell, but it's certinly not over bearing. I'm far from an expert but a good Pils comes off as very clean and bright. Kinda the opposite for Helles, it's malty, more sweetish than not. I like them , but I prefer a crisp Pils. It's about the same for me with Fest beers, I prefer a crisp pale one over the richer Amber styles, these I find hits me as a bit too sweet.

 

I don't know if Stoudt's is available past central PA, but I always enjoyed their pils. It was especially good consumed at the brewery itself and I loved bringing home bottles when I lived in the region.

 

Have you tried Straub Pilsner?

 

I am big fan of Jever. It's my favorite pilsner, when I can it fresh.

 

I am also a fan of Jever when I can find it fresh (which can be challenging).

Cheers!

 

Which part of Western PA? I'm right outside of Pittsburgh and we get plenty of great Pils here. Outside of the ones mentioned, have you tried versions from Great Lakes, Fatheads, and Troegs? Have you been to Hofbrauhaus or over to Penn?

 

Also there is Stoudts Pils in PA which is a good one we get down here.

 

IMO, the vast majority of Americas best pilsners are regional and often isolated. Yet in Western PA, you're near a hotbed of them. Sly Fox, Stout's, Penn, Troegs, and Victory are doing good work. Those are just the well known ones I've had.
I haven't had Binding, but I do think you can find better examples than Lagunitas' (which I actually do like) and OB's.

Import-wise, Jever is usually viewed as the gold standard for dry northern pils. Rothaus is similar in quality, but isn't so dry/sharp. Ayinger's is a softer/rounder example that has become a new favorite of mine.

 

I had the Pikeland Pils.Good American Pils, but the "North German" part is bullocks.
I havent had a true North German Pils that its even remotely similar to.

 

I wouldn't hold out much hope for a fresh Jever, they're slow movers here I'm quite sure. Fresh is really a big key to trying to replicate a memory, and an 8-9 month or older Jever won't work I'm sure. When you were drinking those beers so many years ago undoubtably they were uber fresh or at the source kind drinking. It's one thing if what your trying isn't a direct hit, but it's another if you just don't flat out like Prima or Sly Fox or any other number of beers. They're great Pils even if they don't duplicate, so there's that.

 

I'm not a doctor but it seems to me that taste is an interpretation of flavor - that is generated by the brain. If so it would be your brain that changes not your tastebuds

 

Not a Doctor either but have worked with a few folks who study the sensory systems. It seems to be a complex mix of several things. First, there are two senses involved, the sense of smell and the sense of taste. Flavor is basically the result of both senses. It gets more complicated since the sense of smell involves input through the nose and input into the nasal passages in the back of the palate. Then, as you suggest the brain gets involved in processing and combining the information and that's where the visual and tactile come into play. Basically any of those can experience change over time, etc. and have an effect. So yes, replacement of the taste buds would play a relatively minor role in the total picture. But at a minimum a change in the population of tastebuds can have an effect as can changes in all the other things going on.

 

@patto1ro would applaud your choice of words here!

Have you had a northern German Pils that was brewed in the 1970's?

Cheers!

 

FWIW I am in 100% agreement with the aspect that brain 'processing' is the critical factor here.

Cheers!

 

The locals called Binding “dishwater” when I lived near Frankfurt in 1998.

 

You may find this an interesting and non-technical read.

https://www.bonappetit.com/entertaining-style/trends-news/article/sense-of-taste-changes-aging

Note in particular what it says about tastebuds regrowing after age 40. (Which I think we can assume to be the case for the OP. )

 

I was stationed in Germany 86-88. Drank a lot of Binding pils. Binding was in the beer machines on my kaserne. Kirn pils, Koenig, Bitburg, Eichbaum, Bischoff were common in the region. Binding was served at the local McDonald's. Hamburger royale mit kase and a cold Binding.

These days my local store has 4 packs of Bitburg and Koenig Pils cans which to me taste great and are about as fresh as can be expected and the price is ok. Maybe these are available in Western PA? As far as US pils I enjoy Prima pils. Nice bite to it and my store always has a fresh supply. Enjoy.