A Good Czech Pilsner

True, Jack. They do send out specials. I had a couple at a. World of Beer near me 2 or so years back. It was pretty good, but pricey, as it was flown in for freshness.

Edit - when I lived in Germany, I never saw the unfiltered unpasteurized. Had lots of the regular production version. A fresh keg was always a treat. Older ones lost the hop aroma, go figure.

 

Do you guys know if Pilsner Urquell ever comes to the States in an unfiltered and pasteurized form... or is it safe to say that if it's advertised as unfiltered it's unpasteurized too?

 

Only kegs flown in for special promotions. That's what I had once.

 

I hope they do this again in the near future. A "World of Beer" just opened in Cambridge here in MA.

This unfiltered/unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell is very high on my beer bucket list. It may even be number one. It might even be ahead of Julius, or Good Morning, or King Julius...I don't know, whatever replaced Heady Topper on that list.

 

Yeah, "might" for me too .

 

Sorry for the confusion, but I specifically meant unfiltered but still pasteurized. Wondering if that was something they put out as well.

 

That I don't know.

 

Chris,

I am personally not familiar with an unfiltered but pasteurized version.

A beer bar in my area (Blue Dog – Chalfont, PA) had the unfiltered and unpasteurized Pilsner Urquell pouring last October (2016) as part of an event they call The Wealth of Riches. Unfortunately I was unable to make it to this event.

See beer menu below.

Cheers!

 

Spuyten Duyvil by me had some last year as well. I couldn't attend either.

@TongoRad

 

I was at the Blue Dog at a later date; I visited after shopping at my LHBS which is less than a mile away. The owner told me that he typically gets the unfiltered/unpasteurized PU every 6 months or so. I am hoping for a spring tapping that I am able to attend.

Cheers!

@Ranbot

 

Didn't we also have a World of Beer, but it closed up shop? Something happened there that took it off my radar. Thanks for the other tip, though!

 

Wow, that may be the most ridiculous beer list I've ever seen.

I've always wanted to check that bar out when I'm in New York...sounds like an excuse to go!

 

I heard that too. Went once and felt no desire to ever return based on the other options in Manhattan. Let me know if you ever get word about the unfiltered Urquell being around. I heard it's like juice.

 

The proper term for this version of Pilsner Urquell is "New England-style".

 

The "New England/Czech style Pilsner" is actually the softest beer in history.

Styles are so confusing!

 

Try the new New Belgium Pilsener. Trust me, it's spot on.

 

I don't trust you

 

Happy to see Czech pale lager being discussed. In my experience, diacetyl levels there are wide ranging, much like British bitter. Some overpowering, some right in the pocket, others non-existent. Also, I'm always puzzled by those who claim German Pils are hoppier than Czech pale lager. Take away Jever and few other outliers, and this is rarely the case. I always enjoy trips through Germany and then heading to the Czech Republic, as the hopping rates are clearly different.

 

Aldi's pilsner Wernesgruerner has good hop flavor either Tettnang or Spalt. And strong perceived bitterness.
Wurzburger pilsner had strong perceived bitterness and flavor.
Bitburger has good bitterness.
Koenig Pilsener has good bitterness.

The Bavarian pilsners may not be as bitter. And the generic ones like Warsteiner, Beck's, and the like are at a low level.

But at least Pilsner Urquell in the cans, bottles, and draught that I've drank had very little perceived bitterness and the hop flavor was buried in the malt.
I still have to buy Staropramen though.

But it's really all about the perceived bitterness. The IBU's don't really matter. They just measure isomerized alpha acids.
The water and malt flavor determine your perception of the IBUs.

 

Are they really though? I mean when you look at the average Pils from northern bavaria, specifically franconia (and too a lesser extent some good exmaples from Thüringen), I'd say czech pale lagers and those german pilsners that come from regions close the czech republic can be pretty close in terms of bitterness, but also regarding maltiness and full bodies...

Wernesgruener is a bit of an exception, but the others are totally different to czech beers to my tounge...

Uhm. Have a good franconian Pils fresh, like Gampertbräu Försterpils or St. Georgenbräu Buttenheim Pils, and say that again