Let's Give Lagers Some Love (2025)

Been working through the Von Trapp Spring and Pilsner samplers. My favorite brewery at the moment. Gonna be the summer of lagers for me I think.

 

I have been on the lookout for the Pilsner pack but so far no luck. According to the Jack’s Abby website the closest retailer for this pack is a Total Wine near Montclair, NJ. Where did you buy your Pilsner pack?

Cheers!

 

Directly from Vecenie's, their Pittsburgh wholesaler. The Pilsner pack is one of my favorite variety packs I've ever had. Up there with those SN Beer Camp backs years ago.

 

@adrock314 and @JackHorzempa is the Pilsner Variety pack you're talking about from Jack's Abby or Von Trapp?

 

My bad above.

The Pilsner Pack is from Von Trapp.

Cheers!

 

Vitamin Sea Brewing - Sea Lyfe American Lager



Thanks to @WunderLlama for this one!

a perfect lunch beer! clean and crisp and refreshing.

 

I get those two breweries mixed up in my head often too.

That Pilsner Variety Pack sounds good - looks like beers they label "Bohemian", "Czech-style" "Bavarian", and "West Coast" Pilsners.
https://www.vontrappbrewing.com/von-trapp-lagers-and-beers.htm

Have you seen any description on what would differentiate the "Bohemian" and "Czech" ones? Since those terms are often used interchangeably when it comes to sub-styles of Pilsners since the city of Plzeň /Pilsen is located in historical Bohemia.

 

The BJCP style guidelines have two ‘versions’ of Bohemian (Czech) Pilsners: Czech Pale Lager and Czech Premium Pale Lager. In the Czech Republic they choose to distinguish via the Original Gravity of the beer as measured by degrees Plato. For example, a Czech Pale Lager would be labeled as 10% and the Czech Premium Pale Lager would be labeled as 12%. Below is a photo of a bottle of Únětické pivo 10° that I purchased at the brewery (Únětický Pivovar).



https://www.morebeer.com/articles/Czech_Beers

Below is from the Von Trapp website:

“Bohemian Style Lager

5.4% - Our award winning lager featuring Saaz hops and Pilsner malt. Spicy and zesty with notes of honey and hay.

Czech Pale Lager

4.5% - Unfiltered and double decocted, this traditional lager is made with 100%

Czech ingredients including floor-malted barley and Budvar yeast.”

https://www.vontrappbrewing.com/files/7012/pilsner_pack_sell_sheet_v4.pdf

It would appear that a distinguishing feature of their Bohemian Style Lager (5.4% ABV) and their Czech Pale Lager (4.5% ABV) is the difference in alcohol level. Sort of like in the Czech Republic 10° vs. 12°.

Von Trapp also provides ‘extra’ details about the brewing of the Czech Pale Lager (e.g., double decocted, Budvar yeast) which is absent from their description of the Bohemian Style Lager. It would be somewhat expected to notice the difference in alcohol between these two products. Would someone notice the difference (presuming there is one) in the mashing regime? And the difference (presuming there is one) in the yeast strain chosen?

Na Zdravi

P.S. When I visited the Von Trapp brewery last summer the head brewer invited me down to the brewhouse and I detailed this in a past thread:

“The visit to Von Trapp was nice that I had no plans to tour the brewery but I struck up a conversation with a brewer (Tom Everett) and he invited me to join him as he was mashing a batch of Trosten. That beer utilizes a single decoction which was taking place as we chatted for 15 – 20 minutes on a variety of beer and brewing topics.”

 

In my prior reply I neglected to discuss the aspect of the Czech Pale Lager using "floor-malted barley". Presuming that Von Trapp is using Weyermann Floor-Malted Bohemian Pilsner Malt to brew this brand (and not for the Bohemian style Pilsner) you will likely notice this difference. I have used the Weyermann Floor-Malted Bohemian Pilsner Malt in the past to brew my homebrewed Bohemian Pilsners and that malt provides a flavor that I perceive as being "earthy" and not particularly appealing for my palate.

Na Zdravi

 

Oh, heck yes I will with this one.

Lager - Summit Brewing - St. Paul, MN - 4.6%
The flavor is so damn good and powerful. Quite complex and delicious.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/467/740138/
3.93/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a 12oz can. Enjoy by: 08/24/25
This beer is quite clear looking and golden in color. There's a massive stream of carbonation bubbles rising in the glass to produce a 2 finger white head. The head retention is quite good. There's a bit of sticky lacing on the glass.
The aroma of this beer is grain based. I am just getting a ton of cereal grains in the aroma. I also get a honey like sweetness in here.
The flavor is malty. This beer hits you in the face with cereal grain flavor. There's a slight floral flavor in this beer and a hint of sweetness.
The body is light, but clean. The feeling is refreshing. The flavors are kind of sticky feeling, and just coat my throat like some IPAs do.
This is a damn tasty beer and well made. This would be amazing on a hot summer day. I am so impressed.

 

Fidens Brewing (Albany, NY) - Means and Methods

 

• [Wine]maker: Nick Gislason
• Grain Platform: Bere Barley
• Yeast: Saccharomyces Pastorianus [Lager]
• Equipment/Process: Steam-Fired, 5-Vessel Decoction Brewhouse

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Setting: Liberty Stat Park? Maybe?

 

Having my first Grodziskie from Terra Nova in Asheville. This is quite nice, light touch of smoke, black pepper bitterness.
Cheers!
Tom

 

Enjoying Amber Czech Lager from Heist in Charlotte. Getting toasted bread, nuts, and some pear and apple. Finishes with a touch of appropriate sweetness.
Cheers!
Tom

 

I was let down by this. Similar experience to yours. The look and aroma had my hopes up only to be let down with the flavor and mouthfeel. I got a slight sour twang as well and found the beer a bit too watery. Same BBD.

 

Last night had a draft of Russian River's Velvet Glow. Helles Lager with a nice dry finish.