Pilsner and Lager Beers

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by ZionNation, Jul 12, 2013.

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  1. ZionNation

    ZionNation Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2013 Arizona

    Hey, I love dark heavy beers and super hoppy IPAs, LOVE THEM!! However, I am also of the opinion that lagers and pilsners don't get the respect they deserve. I love them too (maybe more), especially during the summer months. I am not a brewer but it seems that lagers are more difficult to get right, and there are far fewer craft lager/pilsner beers out there. This list is far from definitive, I have left some out. But the other day I complied a quick list and ranking of generally available American craft pilsner/lager beers.

    1. Victory Prima Pils
    2. Lightning Brewery Elemental Pils
    3. Firestone Privo Pils
    4. Great Divide Nomad Pils
    5. Rogue Kells Irish Lager
    6. North Coast Scrimshaw Pils
    7. Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager
    8. New Belgian Shift Lager
    9. Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils
    10. Lagunitas Czech Style Pilsner
     
    #1 ZionNation, Jul 12, 2013
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  2. ZionNation

    ZionNation Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2013 Arizona

    I am new here (not new to beer), so I don't know. looked good on my monitor, but I made it bigger. I have some more to add to the list later including some of the Coney Island brews, one or two Imperial Pilsners, the Odell Double Pils was disappointing. more to follow.
     
    #2 ZionNation, Jul 12, 2013
  3. joelwlcx

    joelwlcx Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2007 Minnesota

    Schell's pilsner
    Flying Dog Under Dog lager
    Surly Hell
     
    #3 joelwlcx, Jul 12, 2013
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  4. ZionNation

    ZionNation Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2013 Arizona

    August Schell beers are very good, haven't seen them in my neck of the woods for ages.
     
    #4 ZionNation, Jul 12, 2013
  5. superspak

    superspak Grand High Pooh-Bah (10,927) May 5, 2010 North Carolina
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Add Great Lakes Wright Pils to that list. Such a spot on style example. Also, not American, but Weihenstephaner's Pilsner was another spot on example I really enjoyed. Stoudt's Pils is probably the best one from the states I've ever had. Another lesser known one that was awesome was Pearl Snap from Austin beerworks I got in a trade last year.
     
    #5 superspak, Jul 12, 2013
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  6. dar482

    dar482 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,063) Mar 9, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Awesome list. It's a great time to be trying out more lagers. I also see as a good opportunity to have some non-American beers, mostly the Czech and German lagers. I feel the community does not give enough respect and appreciation for these well crafted classics.
     
    #6 dar482, Jul 12, 2013
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  7. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    New Glarus Edel Pils and Totally Naked.....both amazing. Toppling Goliath Dorothy's New World Lager.
     
    #7 BottleCaps80, Jul 12, 2013
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  8. ZionNation

    ZionNation Initiate (0) Jun 24, 2013 Arizona

    I am originally from Ohio, last I was there was for a funeral, but sampled some Great Lakes product and was impressed. The Weihenstephaner beers are uniformly great, didn't make my list since I only included American domestic beers.
     
    #8 ZionNation, Jul 12, 2013
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  9. KS1297

    KS1297 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2013 Wisconsin

    Nice list. Allow me to add Wernesgruner German Pils. $5.99/6pk at Aldi.
     
    #9 KS1297, Jul 12, 2013
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  10. lsummers

    lsummers Maven (1,275) Jun 21, 2010 California

    I'll take...
    Troegs Sunshine Pils
    Victory Prima Pils
    Jever Pilsener

    I was so excited when I found out how good Pilsners and Kolsches are. I also love hoppy and motor oil beers but there's a time and place for something light, balanced, and delicious.
     
    #10 lsummers, Jul 12, 2013
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  11. basscram

    basscram Initiate (0) Mar 29, 2006 Maine

    Yep. lagers are sometimes underappreciated. It's not that difficult to brew but getting your ferm temps right are paramount. Your list is making my mouth water! Plus thinking about your list is cooling me off cause its super hot right now and those beers would really hit the spot after work. Oh. They are sessionable which also makes them wonderful. Oh I'm a big Kolsch fan too by the way. perfect ale that everyone thinks is a lager. so devious.
     
    #11 basscram, Jul 12, 2013
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  12. BB1313

    BB1313 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,290) Jul 16, 2009 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Don't forget about Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, Eliot Ness, and Oktoberfest.. which are all world-class.

    I'm also a huge fan of Columbus Summer Teeth.. Kellerbiers are unappreciated and we need more of them..
     
    #12 BB1313, Jul 12, 2013
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  13. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Great list...I really get into these beers in the summer months a lot....

    Not sure how available Sammy Noble Pils is these days but that one should make the list somewhere...
     
    #13 ZAP, Jul 12, 2013
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  14. mmmbirra

    mmmbirra Pundit (877) Apr 19, 2009 Italy

    My favorite US pils was always Pikeland Pils, but I don't know what the distribution on that one is.
     
    #14 mmmbirra, Jul 12, 2013
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  15. edwado

    edwado Initiate (0) Jul 9, 2013 New Jersey

    There is nothing like a six of Prima Pils on a hot day.Pour it into your pilsner glass sitting by your pool,well you get the picture
     
    #15 edwado, Jul 12, 2013
  16. BethanyB

    BethanyB Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2013 New York

    Great thread! I have been wanting to open my mind to more lagers out there, but I get nervous about buying because I feel like I'm going to end up thinking I may as well have chugged a Coors Light. I need some experienced suggestions like these. I don't want to be an unwarranted ale snob. :wink:
     
    #16 BethanyB, Jul 12, 2013
  17. LloydXmas

    LloydXmas Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2012 Massachusetts

    Jack's Abby only brews lagers and are worth checking out.
    Troegs Sunshine Pils
    Victory Prima Pils
    Sam Adams Double Agent
     
    #17 LloydXmas, Jul 12, 2013
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  18. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah


    If your American craft pils/lager tastes like Coors Light, the brewer may have accidentally added tons of corn to the beer. In which case, something went horribly wrong during the brewing process.

    I'll typically mix it up between German and American depending on freshness, but since this is about American...

    Troegs Sunshine Pils (my favorite this year, great batch)
    Sierra Nevada Summerfest
    Victory Lager
    Lefthand Polestar Pils (a bit higher in alcohol than I prefer my pils, but still solid)
    Stoudts Pils
    Stoudts Munich Gold
    Sam Adams Noble Pils
    Smuttynose Vunderbar Pilsner (excellent beer if you get it)
     
    #18 AlcahueteJ, Jul 12, 2013
  19. JackHorzempa

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

    Sly Fox Pikeland Pils is indeed a tasty beer; I prefer it on draft. Sly Fox has limited distribution: Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware.

    Cheers!
     
    #19 JackHorzempa, Jul 12, 2013
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  20. ben4unc

    ben4unc Zealot (704) Feb 28, 2013 North Carolina
    Trader

    Foothills Torch Pilsner - have 1/2bbl on kegerator currently - my favorite
    Mama's Little Yella Pils - close 2nd
    Summerfest
     
    #20 ben4unc, Jul 12, 2013
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