Pilsner Urquell Review

Brewery: Plzensky Prazdroj, A.S. | Beer: Pilsner Urquell
Style: Czech Pilsener | ABV: 4.4% | IBUs: 40
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into Pilsener glass

Urquell means "original source" in German, and Pilsner Urquell is indeed the original Pilsener style beer; the one that the most popular beers in the world are either directly or indirectly copying. It has been brewed since 1842 in Pilseň, Bohemia, though today is a product of SABMiller.

Hailing from the Czech Republic, this beer sets the archetype for the Czech Pilsener style. Noble Saaz hops give the beer it's traditional lemony hop bite, the soft water of the area contributes a slew of unique characteristics, the backbone is built from home-malted Pilsener malt from the Bohemia and Moravia, and it all comes alive thanks to a yeast strain smuggled out of Bavaria over 150 years ago. Clearly, this is no bottle of fizzy, yellow blandness.

For more information on the ingredients and brewing techniques behind Pilsner Urquell, check out this fantastic article on BrewingTechniques.

Well, we've tried the imitators, now let's try the real deal. Na zdraví!

Appearance: A crystal-clear golden body capped by a generous cap of white head that leaves decent lacing on the way down.

Aroma: Lemony and herbal noble hops over a pils malt body. Appetizing, but just a little thin.

Taste: The intensity is ratcheted back up in the flavor. Grassy, lemony, and mildly bitter hops over a lightly honeyish pils malt backbone. The hops are a little weak at first, but build decent residual intensity as time passes. Pils malt and lemony bitterness in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: A medium-light body with good carbonation and a drying finish.

Drinkability: Nicely refreshing and exceedingly easy to drink, this is a great session choice.

Verdict: Overall, Pilsner Urquell is a crisp, sharp, and clean brew, just what you'd expect from solid a Czech style Pilsener. The beer that made the Pilsener style famous still does it proud over 150 years later.

Grade: A-

Osakr Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils Review

Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery | Beer: Mama's Little Yella Pils
Style: Czech Pilsener | ABV: 5.3% | IBUs: ~35
Serving Method: 12 oz. can poured into Pilsener glass

Mama's Litte Yella Pils is a Czech-style Pilsener and Oskar Blues position it as "the perfect antidote for the watered-down, cornfed versions of pilsner clogging America’s shelves." I'm shocked they got the name approved (especially here in Texas), though their tagline "take two and call us in the morning" didn't make the cut.

As for ingredients, the backbone is built from pale malt and "German specialty malts," while bitterness is provided by Saaz and "21st century Bavarian" hops varieties. An American all-malt Pils in a can? How long has it been since that happened?

Speaking to RealBeer about Mama's, brewery founder Dale Katechis noted "There are very few all-malt pilsners made in the US anymore—and the concept of ‘America-made pilsner’ has taken a beating over the past few generations. Especially when it comes to pilsners in cans." He went on to add: "You can’t hide flaws in a pilsner. With this beer our brewers get to showcase their expertise at making an unforgiving, classic style of beer.”

It's sad to say, but Mama's Little Yella Pils is the last regular release from Oskar Blues I have left to review. Each of the previous four beers have received a grade in the "A" range, making Oskar Blues one of the top breweries on PintLog. So, going in there's a lot of expectations placed on this little yellow can.

Appearance: A clear, pale golden-straw body. On top, a bubbly white head that fades quickly and leaves very patchy lacing.

Aroma: Lemony and grassy Saaz hops over relatively rich grainy malt. Hints of white grape.

Taste: Up front, a crisp, lemony bitterness takes charge. Underneath, the backbone is close to the traditional Pilsener body, but with a bit more rich sweetness than usual. The aftertaste is short-lived.

Mouthfeel: A medium-light body with moderate carbonation. Dries a bit in the finish.

Drinkability: As you'd expect from this style, this is highly drinkable.

Verdict: In Mama's Little Yella Pils, Oskar Blues have created a straightforward, tasty, and very drinkable Pilsener - in fact it's one of the best Pilseners I've tried yet. If you're looking for a highly refreshing Pilsener sold in a can, this is certainly the beer for you.

Grade: A

Note: While this review is being published in September, the tasting notes contained within were taken when the beer was fresh this past April.

Saint Arnold Summer Pils Review

Brewery: Saint Arnold Brewing Co. | Beer: Summer Pils
Style: Czech Pilsener ABV: 4.9% IBUs: 41
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into Pilsener glass

This review is a part of an article on summer seasonals as part of the monthly beer blogging project The Session.

Well, it's officially hot here in Houston, and has been for quite some time now. With such a stifling climate, it's no surprise that our local brewers over at Saint Arnold brew up an immensely popular summer seasonal.

Summer Pils, released back in 1997, was Saint Arnold's first ever lager. The recipe has varied a little over the years, with the final formulation settled upon in 2006. Tie-dye is featured prominently on the label, and has become somewhat of a calling card from the brewery, even showing up on their 1957 Bentley (which can be yours for the price of just 200,000 Saint Arnold six-pack holders).

I had a bit of a task in deciding what style of Pilsener to list this beer under, as the malt backbone is provided by German Pils malt, but the hops are Czech Saaz and Hallertauer. I ended up settling on Czech style, mostly due to Saint Arnold describing Summer Pils as "a true bohemian-style" Pilsener. Here's how they describe the flavor:

Crisp and refreshing, this beer is perfect for a hot summer day. Saint Arnold Summer Pils has a delicate, sweet malt taste complemented by an abundant hop aroma and flavor.

Well, it's not getting any cooler just sitting here, so let's crack a bottle and try to beat the heat.

Appearance: A clear, pale straw body with a thin white head that disappears rapidly and leaves no lacing.

Aroma: Classic Pils in the nose. Grassy, lemony noble hops over a pale, slightly grainy malt base.

Taste: Up front, the same grassy, lemony noble hop profile found in the aroma. Saint Arnold claim 41 IBUs, but I never would have guessed that high. Underneath, the German Pils malt backbone provides a little body and sweetness, but ultimately knows its place. This really showcases the noble hops well. The aftertaste is grainy and lightly bitter.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with crisp carbonation. Clean and dry finish.

Drinkability: Excellent, as you'd expect from a Pilsener.

Verdict: Saint Arnold have brewed up a great Summer seasonal for Texas. It's kind of a mix of the German and Czech Pilsener style, and the result is an tasty, highly drinkable hybrid.

Grade: A-

Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager Review

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. | Beer: Summerfest Lager
Style: Czech Pilsener ABV: 5.0% IBUs: 32
Serving Method: 12 oz. bottle poured into Pilsener glass

This review is a part of an article on summer seasonals as part of the monthly beer blogging project The Session.

Sierra Nevada only brew one lager-style beer, and that's their summer seasonal, Summerfest. To go through all the work necessary to brew and condition lagers and then crank just one beer that is available just three months a year may seem a little crazy, but I prefer to think it of it as a testament to how uncompromising Sierra Nevada are.

Unlike some of their seasonal releases, the brewers at Sierra Nevada strive for each release of Summerfest to be perfectly consistent. As for construction, bitterness is provided by Saaz and Perle hops while the backbone is constructed with two-row pale and Munich malt varieties. Summerfest is subjected to an "extra-long" lagering period, which the brewery credit with the smoothness of the flavor profile. Here's how they pitch the beer:

Lighter in body than our ales but just as complex in character, Summerfest quenches your thirst with big aroma and a tangy hop bite.

Sounds like just the thing to help fight the summer heat here in Houston, so let's get the liquid refreshment flowing.

Appearance: A clear, golden-straw colored body with a generous and bubbly white head on top that leaves good lacing. This certainly looks the part.

Aroma: Grassy, herbal, and lemony Saaz hops over pale malt. Quite crisp.

Taste: Much the same story here. Classic Saaz hop character over a pale malt body with some wheat-like flavors added to the mix. The aftertaste is not long lived, and tastes of pale malt.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied with moderate carbonation. Crisp and clean with a dry finish.

Drinkability: Quite the quencher, this would be excellent on a summer's day.

Verdict: Summerfest is just a solid, tasty American version of the classic Czech Pilsener. I'd love to slip one of these to one of my macro drinking buddies and see what they thought of it.

Grade: A-