Online Tasting - Pilsner July 14-16 - Planning Thread

Discussion in 'The Bar' started by sulldaddy, Jul 1, 2023.

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  1. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,786) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I believe its time for another online tasting event here on Beeradvocate. Its been a bit since the last one, so lets start chatting about an upcoming one.

    Since its summer time and its plenty hot in lots of places, it seems like time for a light refreshing beer style that almost EVERYONE should have access to.

    Its gonna be a Pilsner Tasting!!

    So get your mugs a ready and fill up your fridges with imports or local examples and prepare to share your experiences with all of us!

    For the event lets roll with these three example styles:

    Bohemian / Czech Pilsner
    The Bohemian Pilsener has a slightly sweet and evident malt character and a toasted, biscuit-like, bready malt character. Hop bitterness is perceived as medium with a low to medium-low level of noble-type hop aroma and flavor.
    Which gives us the most frequently rated beer in the style of : Sierra Nevada Summerfest

    German Pilsner
    A classic German-style Pilsner is straw to pale in color with a malty sweetness that can be perceived in aroma and flavor. Perception of hop bitterness is medium to high.
    Which gives us the most frequently rated beer in the style of : Victory Brewing Prima Pils

    And if you want something a little heartier.
    Imperial Pilsner
    Similar to a Pilsner in appearance, but expect a more pronounced malty backbone and an intense bitterness. Malt flavors tend to be quite sweet in many examples.
    Which gives us the most frequently rated beer in the style of : Dogfish Head Brewing My Antonia


    A tasting thread will be opened up separately. There we will share our tasting experiences!

    For now, Please use this thread to share photos of your hauls, tell stories about your favorite pils experience, share your knowledge of history of pilsners, or simply photos of you with a large mug of bright golden lager!
     
    #1 sulldaddy, Jul 1, 2023
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  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    One 'traditional' Pilsner missing from the above list is Classic American Pilsner:

    [​IMG]
    https://www.morebeer.com/articles/Pilsen_Beer

    Earlier today I did a web search looking for a Classic American Pilsner collaboratively brewed by Zero Gravity Brewing and Brewery Novalis which they brand as Original Recipe:

    "This pre-prohibition lager is a collaboration with our friends at Brewery Novalis in Syracuse, NY. This take on a historical lager style incorporates Czech hops as well as rice in the malt bill reflecting what lagers might have tasted like in the US at the turn of the century (1880's-1900). Malty, crisp and light on the pallet it is a true delight."

    If I can locate that beer at any of my local beer retailers I will buy it and discuss it in this thread. Otherwise I have my homebrewed Classic American Pilsner which I will discuss. I also have two other homebrewed Pilsners to discuss:
    • Bohemian Pilsner which is brewed using Moravian Pilsner Malt and generously hopped with Czech Saaz hops.
    • 1896 Michelob which is my reconstruction of the original Michelob beer first brewed in 1896 by AB; a US brewed Bohemian Pilsner.
    Cheers!

    P.S. I suspect that some folks will use this thread to discuss Pilsners with 'unique' marketing names like Italian Pilsner, New Zealand Pilsner, West Coast Pilsner, etc. I think we should award a gold star to the BA who finds and discusses a beer branded as Mexican Pilsner.:wink:
     
    #2 JackHorzempa, Jul 1, 2023
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  3. DIM

    DIM Grand Pooh-Bah (4,788) Sep 28, 2006 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    This sounds awesome, thanks @sulldaddy for organizing! We'll be on vacation that weekend, if I can find a tropical pils I'll be sure to chime in. Look forward to reading either way!
     
    #3 DIM, Jul 1, 2023
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  4. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    LOVE THIS. Ill pick up some local stuff to review and partake of that weekend. Thank you @sulldaddy for taking the lead on this and getting it rolling!
     
    #4 FBarber, Jul 2, 2023
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  5. ChicagoJ

    ChicagoJ Grand Pooh-Bah (5,247) Feb 2, 2015 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for hosting this tasting event @sulldaddy ! This is a style that has presented a challenge to me since Fall 2021, as my palate has become salt sensitive exclusive to some versions of this style. Will try to find a couple new ones for the weekend, but definitely can find and share three favorites as well.

    Here are a few of my year round available German Pilsner favorites (with my overall score posted), though in pilsner / near pilsner glasses, not the mugs mentioned in your OP post.

    Trumer Pils - 4.5 - Brewed for American distribution in Berkeley, California & widely available.

    [​IMG]

    Half Acre Pony - 4.5 - Distributed in several states, by far my favorite Chicago version.

    [​IMG]

    Urban Chestnut - Stammtisch 4.5 - Not sure if this Saint Louis version goes beyond Missouri and Illinois, but definitely worth picking up.

    [​IMG]

    Prost!
     
    #5 ChicagoJ, Jul 2, 2023
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  6. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    [​IMG]
    No, I will not be drinking this beer. Will need to settle for half a star.
     
    #6 zid, Jul 2, 2023
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  7. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Chris, it would be challenging for you (or anybody else) here since according to Untappd: “This beer is no longer being produced by the brewery.”

    Maybe folks didn’t ‘buy into’ the Mexican Pilsner stuff!?!

    Salud!
     
    #7 JackHorzempa, Jul 2, 2023
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  8. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Paging @Coronaeus
     
    #8 FBarber, Jul 2, 2023
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  9. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Jack, would Bohemia pilsner qualify? It is a pils style beer brewed in Mexico, soooo?

    The website mentions that the beer was inspired by pils brewed in Czechoslovakia, but the brewery doesn't seem to describe it as a Czech style pils. I haven't had a bottle in some time, but my recollection is that it really didn't seem to have too much in common with a traditional Czech pils. Personally, I found it much more similar to an American style pils.
     
    #9 John_M, Jul 2, 2023
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  10. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Well, the head honcho of this tasting is @sulldaddy so I will permit him to be the adjudicator here.
    John,it has been a number of years since I drank a bottle of Bohemia but FWIW it did not taste like the Bohemian Pilsners (Czech Pale Lagers) I drank in the Czech Republic.

    Below is how this beer is detailed on the brewery's website:

    “Bohemia Pilsner

    Bright and golden, this is the queen of the Bohemia line. It's a robust Pilsner style beer that has been created using only the highest quality ingredients from around the world and a fine selection of hops that are sourced from the Czech Republic. The hops provide a strong, bitter taste as well as an irresistible herbal aroma. Its full body is so complex that it can be compared to a fine wine.

    Hops: Stryan

    Color: Golden

    Recommended for: The pilsner is great at balancing different flavors and cleansing the palate of spicy sensations, making it the perfect pairing for spicy or salty foods.

    ABV:

    4.9%”

    https://www.bohemiabeerusa.com/

    An ‘interesting’ part of the above is they mention “fine selection of hops that are sourced from the Czech Republic” but then list “Hops: Stryan”. The stereotypical hop used to brew Bohemian Pilsners is Czech Saaz hops. I have no idea what “Stryan” hops are. Perhaps a misspelling of Styrian Goldings hops? I use Styrian Goldings hops frequently in my homebrewing but for flavor/aroma hops in my Belgian beers (e.g., Dubbel, Quad, Saison,…) and those hops are from Slovenia. Maybe Styrian Goldings hops are grown in the Czech Republic also?

    Perhaps a ‘split the baby’ answer here is that Bohemia is inspired by Bohemian Pilsners?

    Cheers!
     
    #10 JackHorzempa, Jul 2, 2023
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2023
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  11. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    That's actually how I interpreted the website description of Bohemia pilsner. While the beer takes inspiration and historical guidance from the Czech Bohemian style, I didn't get the impression that the brewers were trying to actually make a Bohemian style pils.

    A fine point perhaps, but sufficient I think to set this beer apart from other Czech style pils.
     
    #11 John_M, Jul 2, 2023
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  12. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,744) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader


    I don’t remember drinking this, but I rated it rather low compared to my general experience with Bellwoods lagers.

    A lot of Canadian beers that show as retired here aren’t. They just don’t get rated often enough. I bet this one will be available again later this summer.
     
    #12 Coronaeus, Jul 2, 2023
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  13. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    If this beer 'comes back from the dead' please let us know.

    Cheers!

    P.S. I wonder if they will choose to re-brand this beer as Lazarus Pilsner!?! :wink:
     
    #13 JackHorzempa, Jul 2, 2023
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  14. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,786) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I selected the pilsner styles listed on Beeradvocate. I believe any beer labeled as a pilsner is good to go for this tasting.

    I would only draw a line at something of a "dark" pils which Ive seen a few times from some places.

    I guess the only limitation would be if you review a new pilsner and its not in the BA DB. You will need to pick the style on the site to select the style on BA based on descriptors.

    Definitely looking forward to some locals getting shared here by folks, along with some of the import classics.
     
    #14 sulldaddy, Jul 2, 2023
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  15. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    :beers:
     
    #15 JackHorzempa, Jul 2, 2023
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  16. woodchipper

    woodchipper Grand Pooh-Bah (3,735) Oct 25, 2005 Connecticut
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm in and I'm pretty sure the Pilsner Queen (my wife) is in.
     
    #16 woodchipper, Jul 2, 2023
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  17. dennisthreeninefiveone

    dennisthreeninefiveone Pundit (980) Aug 11, 2020 New Jersey
    Trader

    Just wrote about a locally brewed Czech Pilsner in new Beer weekend should be interesting.
     
    #17 dennisthreeninefiveone, Jul 2, 2023
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  18. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Wait. It's not an ale anymore?
    [​IMG]
    It was when I first had it in the 1970s in a little sidewalk cafe in Santa Cruz...:thinking_face:
     
    #18 jesskidden, Jul 4, 2023
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  19. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    According to what I could find online, I think there are several Bohemia versions now (three?). Anyway, according to their website, they are making a pilsner (though for all I know, their definition of pilsner could be different than mine).
     
    #19 John_M, Jul 4, 2023
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  20. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I run into that a lot -- even around here. :smile:
     
    #20 steveh, Jul 4, 2023
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