Let's talk Pilsners

I was a big fan of Victory Prima Pils but I think Dogfish Head Piercing Pils is pretty good. I also enjoyed Prost's Pilsner when I was in Denver.

 

Pears in a pils? Pass.

 

Concur. Scrimshaw is great. A perfect summer brew.

 

Have to agree with you way too much emphasis in craft brewing these days on IPAs. Wonder if the heavy use of hops is part of the reason we might face a shortage of premium hops this year. Pilsner Urquell played a big part in my departure from the mass produced swill that tastes like panther pee you see so heavily advertised on TV.

 

It just might surprise you some day (in a good way) if you ever do have a chance to try it. The pear is very subtle- more like a hint of fruity sweetness on the finish. Aside from that, it's all business.

 

It's a tasty brew but I wouldn't call the pear subtle...I couldn't drink more than one of these in a session.

 

I felt like if you didn't tell me it was pear, I'd be hard-pressed to identify it as such, so that's what I meant by subtle. There's definitely something fruity about it, though- maybe I should have used a better word than 'hint'. I could see it being a good summer brew, myself- I think I could do a few under the right circumstances.

 

I don't want even "a hint" of fruity sweetness in my pilsner.

 

I hear you on that one, and sort of started there, but I also found myself wondering if and how they would pull it off. As it turns out I found it to be a pretty enjoyable beer. I highly doubt it will supplant any of my favorite 'straight' Pilsners, but probably will work as a nice change of pace for me.

 

I was surprised at how much I liked DFH Piercing Pils. I was assuming it'd be more like a fruit beer but instead it was refreshing like a crisp pilsner with a little more body and a tiny bit of extra sweetness. However, at $50+ a case here, I won't be buying any more when I can buy cases of better pilsners for $15+ cheaper.

 

Well, some Pilsners will have a "hint" of citrus from certain hops and yeast, but nothing nearing a Lambic or even an APA.

 

Keith, I would recommend that you give it a try (buy a pint at TJs or purchase a 4-pack).

As Michael (TongoRad) aptly described the pear flavor is subdued and you really can't distinguish that pear was used per se.

I was talking to Jeff (of TJs) about Piercing Pils and we both had the thought that Dogfish Head should have released this beer later. It would be an excellent late spring/summer beer.

Cheers!

Jack

 

I don't mind a little sweetness in a pilsner, but fruit character is a little odd. Seems like a flavor profile better suited for a blonde ale of some sort.
I did enjoy the Lakefront Maple Doppelbock (and many of the Sam Adams seasonals), so that's not to say that adjuncts don't belong in lagers.

For a pilsner, I think Keesmann Herren Pils > everything else.
After that, Tannenzaepfle, Jever, Faessla, and Augustiner. I like a little malt accent so I tend to prefer the ones from the south.

 

Chris, I would encourage you to give Piercing Pils a try. I really couldn't discern the specific pear (fruity) flavor per se. There was 'something' in that beer that I could best describe as a subtle sweetness. I enjoyed drinking Piercing Pils and to echo what I posted before I think this beer would be an excellent warm/hot weather beer.

Cheers!

Jack

 

Notch Pils (unfiltered czech lager at 4.0%) out of Mass. $15.99 for a 12pk/12oz cans. Plus it seems to be on draft in most places around the city.

 

Have you ever had Notch Černé Pivo? If so, what are your opinions on that beer?

Cheers!

 

All valid points BUT, I (though shamed to admit it) I have not always been the beer nerd I am today. Most of my life I just spent drinking it. I had no clue there was actual physical evidence on why PU had changed so much until I started looking into these things deeper a few years ago. My palate telling me there's something not right predates this epiphany by many years.
As you probably know from my natural habitat, the German Forum, I'm neither a home brewer nor do I spend much time obsessing over production methods. I just drink the stuff and when something changes (usually to the worse) I start complaining

 

That one made my Monday morning, hahahaha.

 

Best Pilsner so far that I've tried is Veltins Pilsner. I first tried it on tap in Helen GA. It was SO refreshing! That noble pils and prima pils are pretty good too. I'll take em all.

 

"Veltins" is considered "Fernsehbier" (which is our indiginous derogatory term for what you'd call BMC) in Germany.