Your Favorite Pilsners

Pilsner Urquell & Flensburger Pils

 

You're right. Still a "traditional" version, compared to modern versions like DFH.

 

Definitely try Victory Prima Pils. It's the prime example of an American pils [and arguably is the "india pale lager" (IPL) before anyone even thought of that name]

For a pils brewed in NJ (where the OP is from), I really like Beach Haus, but like many pilsners the flavors are subtle and balanced, so don't expect to be blown away. I think many people forget that beers can still be good and have interesting flavors without thrashing your tastebuds around.

EDIT: I agree with Steveh...

 

Pivo

 

I'll add another vote for North Coast's Scrimshaw. It's my go-to during the summer.
New Belgium's Shift is also a solid beer.

 

FW Pivo Pils was very tasty on tap. Haven't had in a bottle though.
DFH Piercing Pils was very tasty, but pricepoint is a bit high for light summer beer.
I'm still a big advocate of a promoting Sam Adams Noble Pils. Just a nice balance of tasting those wonderful European variety hops yet its so refreshing and not too overly hopped like some other well know American recreations. Also its cheap and that gives bonus points.
Budweiser Budvar is really good but very hard to find.
Most all of these are Czech style I believe.

The one German Pils I thought was strong was Starr Hill's out of Virginia. I liked that one a lot.

 

Not sure how anal people get, but Shift is listed as an American Pale Lager, not a Czech or German Pils.

 

Stoudts pils, Berkishire Czech pils, Left hand Polestar pils and wright pils from great lakes

 

I love Pilsners. All the ones I like have been mentioned many times already.

 

While very true, is he saying that in comparison to other lagers? If you think about it, the others on the list are far from hoppy compared to Pilsners.

 

Neumarkter Lammsbräu

 

I've seen that in my area, but haven't tried it. To what other Pilsners would you compare it?

 

Lagunitas
St Archer
Bohemia

 

So far just Mama's Little Yella Pils from Oskar Blues and Wright Bros Pils from Great Lakes. But, being a 4th generation Slovak, I'm already in love with the style.

 

Well, the quote was written quite a while ago, but I think the point stands- pilsners are hop-driven beers. Just because there are hoppier beers these days doesn't negate that aspect; they're still on that end of the see-saw.

He does continue, though: " The pilsners of Germany are also hoppy, but a little more evenhanded about it; and to tell the truth I prefer them."

Anyway, I wasn't trying to make the case for that lack of malt character that you were unimpressed with, but to simply back up WhatANicePub's statement with where I also see pilsners on the spectrum.

 

Sam Adams Noble Pils
Troegs Sunshine Pils
Staropramen

 

Very true. Personally I don't consider pilsners "hop forward" though. They're hoppier than most German styles, so in this sense they're "hoppy." A pils is hoppier than a Helles, and far less hoppy than an American IPA. But I consider the best qualities of a pilsner more akin to a Helles than an IPA.

Hops are an important part of a world class pilsner, but they're not the highlight. If anything, a pilsner is one of the more balanced styles in the world of beer. Perhaps leaning towards hoppier, but not a "hoppy" style. I hope this makes sense, because I'm not entirely sure it does!

 

I'm curious what @Flibber thinks. Personally, I LOVE this pils. Had the pleasure of chugging one of these on draft a few weeks back for the first time (I've had it in the bottle previously). If I had to compare to other pilsners, I'd say maybe Einbecker's or Wurzburger. My knee jerk reaction was Weihenstephan, but I think Weihenstephan's offering is a bit hoppier, especially in the finish. I'd love to sample these all side-by-side to see how my memory holds up (and to drink multiple pilsners).

 

Flensburger Pilsener

 

I generally think of Dortmunders as being right in the center, balance-wise (then again, never having been there, I could have been led astray by the good folks at the BJCP ). Helles is malty, but some do have a not so insignificant amount of hops for balance, but the malt is the exceptional aspect. Pilsners, although some can be more balanced, will favor the bitterness and noble hop aroma. Quite a few, in my experience, have been unmistakably hoppy- from the dry/bitter Dinkel-Acker and Bitburger of the 80s/90s, to Starobrno on the Czech side. I guess it depends on where you look, but even a more 'balanced' pilsner like Weihenstephaner gives me a pleasing shot of grassy hops when I pour it- enough so, that it supports what Miller said in that quote, that the hops are making a clear statement, with the malt in a supporting role.