Best canned pilsner in MN?

Summit’s Keller Pils is my easy go-to.
Bent Paddle has (or had? I haven’t seen it for a while) a good one in Venture Pils. Utepils has a good one. Keller Kazbek from Fair State is only in Crowlers to my knowledge, so I guess it doesn’t count.

And... I am an obvious shill for BlackStack, so their Fugazi (Italian-style Pils) and their collaboration with Bricksworth (“Side of Ranch”) are both worth a try, but both also being a bit further away from the expected German Pils style.

 

I picked up a 12 pack of Venture Pils last week (cans stamped 164-21, so that's the Julian calendar best by date?) and it is very good, a bit more hoppy than I remembered. Summit Keller Pils is always solid and highly recommended. Choice Pils from Castle Danger is also very good, but I think it's a seasonal and I haven't seen it for a while.
Along the lines of Fugazi and Side of Ranch - Hello Milwaukee from Indeed is a nice option.
I've seen Purgatory Pils from Unmapped brewing here and there, it's a standard pils and worth a try if you haven't had it.

 

Oh, and to answer the question posed in the thread title: I think Summit Keller Pils is the best canned pilsner in MN. It's an object fact in my mind but I would be interested in other opinions (and new leads on outstanding canned pilsners in MN).

 

I always come back to Bauhaus Wonderstuff.

 

Assuming you're looking for a Czech- or German-style pilsner and not an "American-style" pilsner, my favorites are:

Fair State Pils
Utepils (both their pils and keller pils are now canned)
Falling Knife Freischütz

Special mention to Waldmann Pilsener, which is only available in crowlers.

 

My order:

#1 Waldmann's Pilsner (A crowler is a can, right?)
#2 Summit Dakota Soul
#3 Bauhaus Wonderstuff
#4 Summit Keller Pils
#5 Utepils Pils

 

I like Fair State Pils a lot.

 

Little surprised you don't have Schell's Keller Pils on this list.

 

I'm curious what others think about Schell's Keller Pils. I used to have that in my fridge all the time but it seemed to get more and more hoppy with each new batch. It wasn't what I was looking for in a Keller Pils any longer.

 

Summit Keller Pils and Fair State Keller Kazbek are my 2 favorites.

When Keller Kazbek is actually available, and actually in cans.

 

Castle Danger Choice Pils

 

I agree that it became hoppier and also less “Pils-like.” I would say that it’s just the character of that hop varietal that I don’t care for, as it’s very good overall aside from the assertive hop character and profile. Either way, of the August Schell range of lagers it’s my least favorite.

 

I am with you Chaz. Do not like the hop varietal used by Schell's

 

Count me as another who doesn't care much for Schell's Keller Pils--too much like a pale ale with the hop variety used. They can go back to using more 'traditional' hops for it since they're now making an IPA.

 

I did rate it fairly high (3.9), so I liked the beer itself. In fact, I rated it higher than some on my list.

But to me, it was pushing more toward an IPL than I would like in a Keller Pils. So, in a list of "best pils", it would not be (and is not) on my top 5 recommended list.

@gudbrande

 

I was pleased to find Utepils Keller Pils in 4 pack cans a couple of weeks ago. I was not pleased to find (after buying two packs) that it was canned in sometime around September (can't remember the date). It's normally a great pils, but this had settled out and was not crisp like it usually is. Check the dates if you see it on the rail.

 

Off-topic, but that IPA is an embarrassing train wreck of a beer.

C’mon. It doesn’t have to be a juice bomb, but it ain’t 1990, either.

 

I was excited that Schells was going to make a keller pils but when I tried it I was disappointed. I ended up trying it again to make sure and yep I wont buy it again.

 

I completely agree with Chaz here. The hop used lends more of an IPL typle impression than Pils. I'm more of a traditionalist with Pils anyhow. I much prefer the Summit recipe better. (Both are well made beers).