Return of the Pilseners

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by fx20736, Mar 10, 2013.

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  1. fx20736

    fx20736 Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2009 New York

    I have a rule; no Pilseners after Sept 30th or before April 1st.

    Pilseners and baseball. Pilseners as the archetype of the debased American Adjunct Lager. Pilseners as a totem to my Paternal Grandfather and warm Summer, Midwestern evenings. and Baseball.

    so, Baseball is around the corner which means soon I will be adding some Pilseners to the beer fridge, but since I haven't drank one in 6 months I am debating what to buy 1st.

    I am really trying to buy American beer now as I have discovered several American breweries that do a fine job replicating European styles and the beer is fresher and usually cheaper. So, of the American made Pilseners I have reviewed,I am looking for discussion on the relative merits of four to help me decide which to buy. Note I have tried others and do not like Victory's Prima Pils. So, of these 4 readily available beers which would you buy and why?

    Sam Adams Noble Pils
    Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager
    Brooklyn Pilsener
    Troegs Sunshine Pils

    thanks. Your feedback is appreciated.
     
    #1 fx20736, Mar 10, 2013
  2. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Well, SN Summerfest and Sunshine Pils are both seasonal releases and have yet to be released (? - at least, I haven't seen them yet).

    So I'd buy the freshest example you can find of the other two. (That's how I buy most of my beer- I go with a general idea of what style I'm shopping for - pils, IPA, porter - and then look for the freshest out of the handful of brands I prefer.)

    And also check the dates on cans of Sly Fox Pikeland Pils - that's my favorite but, unfortunately, their date coding mechanism leaves much to be desired and many cans are missed/illegible.

    But your "acceptable" period of pilsner drinking is 6 months long - time enough to drink all of them, isn't it?
     
    #2 jesskidden, Mar 10, 2013
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  3. bleakies

    bleakies Maven (1,355) Apr 11, 2011 Massachusetts

    I haven't tried the Brooklyn.

    Of the other two, it's a tossup between the Sam and the Troegs for me. The Sierra Nevada is good but I prefer my pils to put up a bit more of a fight, and I found Summerfest to be too smooth for that. Of the remaining two, I'd say the Sam has the more pronounced Noble hop bite to it, with the Sunshine Pils occupying a midpoint between Sam and Sierra Nevada.

    In conclusion, Jever.
     
    #3 bleakies, Mar 10, 2013
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  4. fx20736

    fx20736 Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2009 New York

    I've never had a Sly Fox brew so I'll have to check into that. Being a Pennsylvania brewery it should be available at Beers of the World.

    High Pilsener ( and Hefe) Season for me is probably Mid June - Mid Sept. I may have a few in April/ May but mostly those months are English Bitters with some IPAs mixed in for me.

    Freshness and distance to brewery are just starting to become prime factors in my beer buying decisions and it is Honker's Ale that has revolutionized my thinking on this. Once I realized that a Bitter made 85 miles from my house is every bit as enjoyable and is cheaper and fresher than London Pride, the beer dearest to my heart I began to look at American beer in a whole new way.

    I made this post because, unlike a lot of BA's, I like to find a beer I like and stick with it. Novelty is not important to me. My personality craves order, planning and routine.

    probably makes me for a dull fellow! :slight_frown:
     
    #4 fx20736, Mar 10, 2013
  5. jdillon334

    jdillon334 Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2010 North Carolina

    Heavy Seas Small Craft
     
    #5 jdillon334, Mar 10, 2013
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  6. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,884) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I know you specified American only, but Weihenstephaner has a superior malt profile, is available year-round AND is bound to be cheaper. Something to keep in mind.

    Domestically I look forward to Sunshine Pils every year- they get the hop character just right. For now, I'd go with jesskidden and say get the Sly Fox Pikeland, though. Noble Pils is also a fine choice for when the others aren't available.
     
    #6 TongoRad, Mar 10, 2013
  7. RutgersBeerGuy

    RutgersBeerGuy Savant (1,059) Jan 16, 2007 New Jersey

    Stoudts Pils, also from PA, is a tasty one and year-round. They're usually pretty good with their date stamps too.
     
    #7 RutgersBeerGuy, Mar 10, 2013
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  8. fx20736

    fx20736 Initiate (0) Mar 7, 2009 New York

    I've had Stoudt's and thought it was pretty good but not great.
     
    #8 fx20736, Mar 10, 2013
  9. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I've had that before I started reviewing. I'm pretty sure it was in my Beer Club days.(also had the Sunshine and liked it) And yeah, I can still remember digging it more than most of the US Pils I drank up until then.
     
    #9 Bitterbill, Mar 10, 2013
  10. fox227

    fox227 Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2010 California

    No Prima Pils in your area?
     
    #10 fox227, Mar 10, 2013
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  11. SupremePie

    SupremePie Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2012 Vermont

    Mammas lil yella?
     
    #11 SupremePie, Mar 10, 2013
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  12. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Duh! That's one that I'd be digging on if I was in Victory's distro area.
     
    #12 Bitterbill, Mar 10, 2013
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  13. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

     
    #13 jesskidden, Mar 10, 2013
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  14. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I'm a fan of it but I seem to be in the minority. Same goes for New Belgium Blue Paddle.
     
    #14 Bitterbill, Mar 10, 2013
  15. HardyA

    HardyA Initiate (0) Jan 26, 2013 Michigan

    Of those you listed, I enjoy Brooklyn's Pilsner.

    My favorite pilsner is Short's Pontius Road
     
    #15 HardyA, Mar 10, 2013
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  16. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I missed his not liking Prima Pils. Dang it.
     
    #16 Bitterbill, Mar 10, 2013
  17. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,057) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    +1 on the Short's Pontius Road Pilsener. It's too bad more people can't enjoy it outside of Michigan. Come to Michigan and enjoy its year-round availability.
     
    #17 PapaGoose03, Mar 10, 2013
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  18. victory4me

    victory4me Initiate (0) Oct 16, 2004 Pennsylvania

    I second Pikeland Pils, which is definitely available at BOTW, just be especially careful with dates there.

    Since you also like hefeweizens, their Royal Weiss is my absolute favorite among American interpretations.

    Stoudts Pils is also very good if available in Western NY.
     
    #18 victory4me, Mar 10, 2013
  19. fox227

    fox227 Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2010 California

    This was the first thread after I woke up in the morning, and before any coffee. I swear I don't skim threads just to ***** a reply! I missed your saying that you don't like Prima Pils (but why not?) :slight_smile:
     
    #19 fox227, Mar 10, 2013
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  20. MarshMan71

    MarshMan71 Initiate (0) Jul 17, 2012 Illinois

    Funny to run across this thread this morning Just added a few Pils to the fridge myself and cracked the first couple last night O'so Memory Lane and Lagunitas Pils ... Have to say wasn't impressed with either. Still better than any BMC
     
    #20 MarshMan71, Mar 10, 2013
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