Pilsner decline in 2019?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by bubseymour, Jul 21, 2019.

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  1. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I posted a thread back in summer of 2017, where I noticed a boom in pilsners being made by most of the brewers that distribute to stores in my area (national & regionals mostly). My final realization was that most if not all were pretty mediocre/average and the after trying 10+ pilsners that summer it wasn't until fall when I had Sam Adams Bohemian Pilsener in their fall sampler pack did I finally find one that had the flavors I enjoy (pronounced noble hops w/ bready/buiscuity body).

    Anyway, here in 2019, I'm seeing very few pilsners out this summer in stores shelves (and very, very few locals in my area seem to be making them at all). I know some of the more reputable IPA/Stout/Sour brewers are taking crack at some, but offering them in the $16+ 4pack range, and I'm not really thinking that is going to go over very well at that price for pilsners.

    I have not seen FW Pivo anywhere in my area this summer at all (plenty of their various IPA releases though)
    I'm not even sure I saw Victory Prima Pils which has been a staple in my area for many years. Maybe its around and I just haven't noticed.

    I know up in NE and NY there are pockets of great Pilsner making going on a decent scale by brewers but how about the rest of the country? I had a few down in Asheville last fall that were very solid as well, but overall it seems to be very spotty.
     
    #1 bubseymour, Jul 21, 2019
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  2. officerbill

    officerbill Pooh-Bah (2,228) Feb 9, 2019 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm assuming you're talking about American brewers. Sadly many (most) brew American style pilsners (six point, victory, FW, et al) which means, of course, extra hops.
    Try Von Trapp, Great Lakes, Jack's Abbey; all solid old world pilsners.
     
    #2 officerbill, Jul 21, 2019
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2019
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  3. John_M

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

    Might just be a regional perspective. Where I live, there are a lot of excellent pils being made, with more coming on line all the time. Two of our biggest pils producers (heater allen and pFreim) just recently started selling their pils in cans, which certainly suggests that pils sales for them are doing very well indeed.

    I lived in your part of the country for a number of years, and one could always find good pils from SEPA. Maybe give some of the pils from Slyfox, Troegs, Stoudts and Victory a try. Would highly recommend some of the Braumeister pils from Victory. May need to drive up to the brewery to try them, but they're worth the drive (IMHO).
     
    #3 John_M, Jul 21, 2019
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  4. thedaveofbeer

    thedaveofbeer Savant (1,169) Mar 25, 2016 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Yep- this is a good suggestion- and I think Von Trap and Jacks abbey distribution keeps pushing farther south so you might be able to pick it up locally.
     
    #4 thedaveofbeer, Jul 21, 2019
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  5. yemenmocha

    yemenmocha Grand Pooh-Bah (4,116) Jun 18, 2002 Arizona
    Pooh-Bah

    I’m seeing less of the well known examples such as Victory Prima Pils and FW Pivo. Heck, even Pilsner Urquell is harder to find.
     
    #5 yemenmocha, Jul 21, 2019
  6. Mikecap

    Mikecap Pooh-Bah (2,098) May 18, 2012 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    You definitely weren't at the Pils and Love festival yesterday.

    This said, I'm not sure of your distribution, but Jack's Abby like someone mentioned is a great well-priced pick. Ardent Pilsner is phenomenal if that's sold near you which I think it may be. Crooked Stave makes a nice pilsner called Von Pilsner, and I believe they have a pretty wide distribution.

    I have a soft spot for Natty Boh as well...
     
    #6 Mikecap, Jul 21, 2019
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  7. thesherrybomber

    thesherrybomber Initiate (0) Jun 13, 2017 California

    Damn, I just got my hands on Trumer Pils (in cans!) this week.
     
    #7 thesherrybomber, Jul 21, 2019
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  8. rudiecantfail

    rudiecantfail Pooh-Bah (1,927) Aug 9, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    No Prima Pils? The horror. That's one of their best products, and I like a LOT of their work.
     
    #8 rudiecantfail, Jul 21, 2019
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  9. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    John, you may want to give the Prima a try again, there's a new formulation these days and one that tweaked the original recipe just a bit. Talked to several locals who think the tweak has improved the beer.
     
    #9 drtth, Jul 21, 2019
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  10. officerbill

    officerbill Pooh-Bah (2,228) Feb 9, 2019 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    How does Braumeister compare to Prima?
     
    #10 officerbill, Jul 21, 2019
  11. officerbill

    officerbill Pooh-Bah (2,228) Feb 9, 2019 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Thanks for that info, I'll give it another try:+1:
     
    #11 officerbill, Jul 21, 2019
  12. invertalon

    invertalon Pooh-Bah (2,249) Jan 27, 2009 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Have not seen Prima in Cleveland for months now, seriously. Supposedly in August we will get some new shipments. Hopefully. One of my absolute favorites. Might need to just get another keg of it.
     
    #12 invertalon, Jul 22, 2019
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  13. Navanation

    Navanation Zealot (578) Aug 20, 2016 Pennsylvania

    Dock Street meets any pilsner challenge.
     
    #13 Navanation, Jul 22, 2019
  14. ESHBG

    ESHBG Pooh-Bah (2,099) Jul 30, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm sorry to hear this, I can still get a ton of great local Pilsners and I drink the hell out of them, great summer beers for sure.
     
    #14 ESHBG, Jul 22, 2019
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  15. John_M

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

    Thanks for the heads up. I'll give it a try for sure. The previous recipe was fine, but not anything to write home about. The Braumeister versions were always so much better.

    Thanks for the tip!
     
    #15 John_M, Jul 22, 2019
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  16. John_M

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

    While there's plenty of hops, they're not as prominent in the braumeister versions. Plus, those versions seem to have a softer mouthfeel, and also a tad more cracker and light honey flavor. At least to my palate, I always thought them head and shoulders better than the prima. And I like the prima pils.
     
    #16 John_M, Jul 22, 2019
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  17. Mikecap

    Mikecap Pooh-Bah (2,098) May 18, 2012 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah I love Prima but Braumeister is a better beer for what it is. Softer, less-hopped, leaning towards a traditional German pils. Prima Pils to me is a German pils with an assertively hopped American influence, but it works.
     
    #17 Mikecap, Jul 22, 2019
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  18. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    I’ve been seeing more craft Pils and Lagers this summer, I’m also seeing a decrease in the rush to get NEIPAS to market. I haven’t seen Prima or Hop Devil in over a year id guess.
     
    #18 nc41, Jul 22, 2019
  19. craigbelly

    craigbelly Pooh-Bah (2,770) Dec 31, 2015 Iowa
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Locally I think I'm seeing higher quality and quantity of pilsners. Yes on the store shelves lack of though.
     
    #19 craigbelly, Jul 22, 2019
  20. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Is the Victory Braumeister a distributed beer? I've never seen it. We get pretty good distribution of Victory in my parts as as well.

    PS: Jacks Abbey, Von Trappe, Ardent, Crooked Stave, Great Lakes...not distributed in my parts of MD. Von Trappe is delicious though....one of my favorites. I've seen Von Trappe being sold in Lancaster PA...about 1.5 hrs from my house, that is closest I've seen it.
     
    #20 bubseymour, Jul 22, 2019
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