Pilsner Urquell - Plzensky Prazdroj, a. s.

dougbassett

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

One of the "1001 Beers You Must Taste Before You Die" -- #23 of the ones I've reviewed here.

This is a favorite beer of mine, though I've never had it on tap and I suspect I might bump my score up a bit if I ever get the chance (this is the sort of beer that's really meant to be drunk fresh out of a keg). While not the best Pilsner out there, it's probably my personal reference point for the style -- when I'm trying another Pilsner and I want to decide what I think of it, I usually compare it mentally to this. I would also give somebody who never had a Pilsner and wanted to know what that was like a bottle of this, it's the best introduction to the style I know.

Interesting notes include the color, which is surprisingly golden, the very light nose of hops and yeast which is mapped in the flavors, and the lasting lightly bitter/hoppy finish.

It's not a beer that you need to spend a lot of time talking about, and I think nowadays it's even a little underrated as a result. It is what it is, but "what it is" is pretty good, I think.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 18:36:27 | More by dougbassett

IdeaSpeeder

Ontario (Canada)

3.64/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Serving Type - 500ml can, poured into a pilsner glass

Appearance - Pours a pale straw colour, but somehow darker than most pilsners. Sot of 'golden' coloured. A thin white head dissipates quickly. The filtered brew showcases the carbonation.

Smell - Some grains and bready smells. Not much of anything else that I can pick up.

Taste - Sweeter than I was anticipating. Grains, grass, dough - standard fare for a pilsner. Towards the finish I'm picking up an incredibly light citrus taste.

Mouthfeel - Medium carbonation, average to low for the style. Body isn't to heavy and isn't to light. Just right. Finishes crisp and satisfying.

Overal - 3.5/5.

Serving type: can

05-07-2013 03:21:52 | More by IdeaSpeeder

HabiMendes

Rhode Island

4.23/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured in the appropriate glass, this Pilsner shows its exuberant, absolutely clear golden appearance. Exactly what I expect from such style. The aroma and taste bring grain and biscuit tones, well-paired with the Saaz hops (which brings grassy and citric notes). We have a background sweetness alluded by the low-temperature malting. Finally, the light, medium-carbonated body leaves us with a brief aftertaste (as it should be in the style) displaying the Saaz exuberance.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 02:34:26 | More by HabiMendes

thestarkness01

Alabama

3.11/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

It had been years since I had an Urquell in Prague, and I'm not sure I've ever had one stateside. I wonder if this batch was old, because the feel and smell were a bit skunky. In the end, though, it was a good reminder of what an average pilsner is like, and I might try it again as a reliable "session" beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 23:47:13 | More by thestarkness01

rdilauro

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

I havent had a Pilsner Urquell for years. It is still a real solid beer for me. So easy to drink, so pleasant to taste.
It pours like many of your light European beers. There is a distinct nose to it. It remains me of the many times I tried to make a homebrew pilsner.
The first sip was enjoyable as with each sip afterwards

Whenever, I just want to have a few over to drink some beers during the summer, this one likely beer on that is included.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 12:08:14 | More by rdilauro

TheSixthRing

California

3.38/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Best by date of April 4th, 2013.

Appearance - Pours a Clear, bright golden orange with a white finger width head. Sub-par retention. Spotty lacing.

Smell - Moderate skunk notes, backed by lesser tones of sweetness. Once the skunk lessens, a relatively nice aroma emerges. Notes of bread, caramel and honey sweetness come out.

Taste - Skunky flavor, too, but then subsides after 10 minutes or so, allowing the lesser notes of grain, touches of caramel and honey sweetness to shine through. Finishes with moderate grassy bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Medium body with a nice, crisp bite and and smooth, dry finish.

Overall - A fair pilsner. I've had better, and I've definitely had worse. Would've scored higher, but the skunk takes some time to kill. Once it does, the finer qualities of the beer are revealed, and it becomes fairly enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 02:22:38 | More by TheSixthRing

sagabrews

Hungary

3.74/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Blonde resin, honey, straw. I poured from a can (to avoid being skunked) into a pilsner glass. Two inches of head formed and quickly dissipated with soapy lacing on the sides. Quite nice.

S: Somewhat hoppy. Faint floral, grassy smell although I wouldn't guarantee that my olfactory senses were at its best this night. Stuffy nose. Had to stop sniffing so deeply for fear of being mistaken for a hound dog. ;)

T: Initial impressions weren't too bad. Definitely better than your average beer, far superior to a lot of the Hungarian beers around, which taste like water. Tinge of bitter spice from hops.

Mouthfeel: Spicy and the effect is almost that it feels somewhat carbonated. At least that's how it feels on my tongue - Can't explain except to say this beer's more complex and worth it.

O: Would definitely drink this again. Safe go-to beer. Not craft, nor stellar, but nonetheless satisfying.

Serving type: can

03-27-2013 21:41:38 | More by sagabrews

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.99/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

500ml can from Mainbrew. Best by August 2013, which makes this about 3.5 months old. Not too bad.

A beautiful folden yellow with a large, dense, fluffy white head with excellent retention and nice lacing. The nose is excellent. Bright, herbal, lemony Saaz hops, earthy and lemony with a touch of buttery softness to complement the earthy bite. Soft pilsner malt is present, doughy and refreshing. The palate opens with a surprising butteriness, more than I remembered, and more than I'm used to, complementing the doughy, bready malt flavors. Surprisingly earthy, herbal and bitter, there's a blend of lemon and mineral (from the hop) flavors. Mildly dusty, mildly cobweb-like, there's also a mild honey flavor. Drying on the finish with the DMS lending a softness, this beer has lingering earthy bitterness and a nice, snappy hop flavor. Medium-light in body, with the decocted-mash mouthfeel that the best pilsners have, this beer is crisply carbonated and quite refreshing. The DMS , which in all fairness is an integral part of the flavor profile, is taking a little getting used to, but apart from that, this beer is stellar.

Serving type: can

03-25-2013 04:06:37 | More by DefenCorps

Hendry

Vermont

4.1/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

When I was a Freshman in college back in the last Century (1981), Pilsner Urquell was one of the few high quality imports that you had to look for to find (it wasn't in supermarket 12 packs until many moons passed). Better than Heineken,the OLD Beck's, the skunky Molson, PU was considered a treat, and I remember getting a case of it trying to show others in the dorm what taste was about.

Lots of Hops snobs may diss this bready,slightly skunky pilsner that is mass produced in green bottles, but it is an old school beer still worthy of respect for the style, a pilsner: in fact the only GENUINE Pilsner as they claim.

This beer does pair well with many types of food, and if you ever get a chance to drink it on tap, that is the way to go. I had this on tap in Vienna,Austria with a platter of wild boar and the flavors mixed quite well. NOTE: review based on fresh PU on tap, not the green bottles.If I had to rate the bottled version, overall the rating would be 3.9.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2013 04:01:52 | More by Hendry

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear deep gold with a thin white head. Sweet grains on the nose with not much else.

Medium bodied with bright carbonation. Whisp of sweet grains turns to dry hop bitterness. Bright flavors good balance of sweetness and bitterness but there is a distinctive skunk flavor. The new packaging should prevent this right ? Herbal and earthy hop on the end. This beer tastes like I'd enjoy it if it didn't have a skunk flavor to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 20:50:29 | More by jtierney89

Rm90

5/5  rDev +39.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Has a great pour and great color. It's the perfect pilsner. Comes with a strong taste of hops and alcohol that many beers do not. Beat served between cold and room temp. Even better on tap especially if able to have in the Czech republic where it's made. You won't find a better pilsner around.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 04:44:59 | More by Rm90

acevenom

Louisiana

4.75/5  rDev +32.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pokal glass. Pours clear golden with a large white head. There are some visible bubbles rising in the glass. Some lacing is left on the side of the glass as the head dissipates. The aroma is of grainy and sweet malt and grassy hops. The flavors follow the nose. There's mildly sweet and grainy malt balanced by the grassy noble hop flavors. There's some back end hop bitterness, but this is mild. The body is light with moderate carbonaton. The finish is crisp and dry. The beer is very drinkable and very refreshing. This is an excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 18:54:23 | More by acevenom

scottfrie

California

3.23/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

12oz bottle into pilsner glass.

A: Pours a clear pale golden color with a thick but short lived bright white head that slowly faded into nothingness. Some patches of stick lace were left down the glass.
S: Light sweet notes of light malt and honey-like sugars and grains. Crisp and clean smelling.
T: Dry roasted grains, a kiss of honeyesque sweet malt, and a balancing earthy hops in the finish. The finish is peppery and earthy with slightly bitter hops, and the aftertaste is has a touch of minerally yeast.
M: Light crisp body, clean and smooth mouthfeel with scrubbing carbonation and a drying finish. Easy to drink.
O: I hear this beer isn't like it used to be but it’s obviously still very drinkable. I’d put it as average for the style though as I've had many that are better.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 02:17:45 | More by scottfrie

dar482

New York

3.98/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

It comes in a clear light gold color.

The aroma has a slight fresh hop aroma.

The taste has some light breadiness to it. The middle has really lovely fresh saaz hops flavor. There's a decent amount of complexity for a light pilsner beer.

The mouth feel is light with a lovely refreshing flavor. The drinkabilty is really good with not much of a back end.

One of my favorite European pilsners. Love it with food and recommend it highly for its drinkability and refreshing qualities.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 20:38:34 | More by dar482

silverking

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

It pours a clear amber with a nice white fluffy head. the head fades fast but leaves a thin layer an top of the beer, some nice lacing occurs at this point. it smells very much like bread dough. Hops also make a small appearance. The taste is bready with a definite bite from the hops. Not what I was expecting in a pilsner. The hops steal the finish with a sharp bitterness. The mouthfeel is crisp with a healthy dose of carbonation. Try it if you haven't already.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 22:51:20 | More by silverking

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.83/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle, bottle says best by May 28, 2013.

A - Pours clean golden in color, with no head, no bubbles. Looks kind of bland and boring, but not unappealing. Tiny finger or so worth of eggshell white sizzling head.

S - Pale roasted malts with a touch of light pine hop smell perhaps. Smells slightly refreshing, although no real particular action happening.

T - Smooth and crisp, like a lemon lime soda. Reminds me of a Rolling Rock almost. Pale malts blended with that vague note of lemon hop bite.

M - Smooth clean and crisp, like a lemon lime soda. Nice feel, little bit of a stickiness lingering. Kind of a dry finish.

In all, nothing spectacular, but in the realm of shitty pilsners it is worth having for sure. Better than many of its contemporaries, I would have it again.

Pilsner Urquell ---3/5

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 23:38:37 | More by mfnmbvp

Braseltonage

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Look, I won't go into much detail as I had little time to take notes. But, after having this many times back home with mixed results I'm basing this review on enjoying draft Urquell in Prague.
It's just better. Maybe solely because of no green bottle, but I don't know. The gorgeous craggy head lasts forever and it's about as smooth and fresh as you can get but still with a rally nice saaz bite even compared to a lot of the other local pils.
Or maybe I'm just getting sucked into the ambiance, but having a beer in (or at least near) it's point of origin just makes sense.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2013 08:37:25 | More by Braseltonage

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

After procuring a 6 pack of Pilsner Urquell in the new "cold shipped" packaging, I have to say it's actually done a good job of preventing skunkiness. The skunk on the aroma has been replaced with mild diacetyl, crackery malt, and zesty hops - not fantastic, but miles better than the lightstruck aroma that plagued my other (single) bottle. The drinkability factor is still there, though admittedly my bottle seems to be low on hops. I'm upping scores all around; without a doubt this is the best macro lager in the business.

---

12 fl oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours a perfectly clear golden straw color. The head is a fluffy two finger white color with surprising retention (for a macro lager). Good lacing, too.

S: AARGH LIGHTSTRUCK!!! Beneath the unfortunate skunk in the aroma, there lies simple pale malts and zesty noble hoppiness.

T: Thank smeg the flavor is a massive improvement. Initially, some fruity esters greet the palate, before the zesty, refreshing finish...AND IT'S GONE! Holy shit, did I finish the beer that quickly? It's hardly BCBS, but as far as simple macro-brewed lagers go, this one's the best in the business.

M: The palate feel seems perfectly tailored to provide crisp refreshment. There's this real sense of subtle delicacy that separates this not only from the BMC stalwarts, but numerous craft lagers as well. The bitter aftertaste is fantastic for what this beer is trying to accomplish.

O: A damn shame about the skunky nose - luckily the rest of the beer easily compensates by offering everything you could want in a proper pilsner. Could be a go to for me in cans/on tap.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 20:15:30 | More by ThisWangsChung

Gaharudan

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Just picked up a case of Urquell (date on the bottle was August 2012, i'ts now Jan. 2013) It was a delightful pick me up after drinking U.S Macrobrews. I poured two bottles into a tall Aruban Balashi 22 oz mug, to suck down. I really wanted Staropramen, after trying it the other day, but our distribution was lacking. I have a feeling the hippies working behind the counter called all their buddies when the decent stuff arrives on tuesdays. Anyways, this is definately a favorite of mine---a bit too sweet, but a welcome change from the stuff i've been indulging. I don't know if the Diacetyl levels are prevalent here, but a bit too carbonated for this session. I picked up a sixer in Cali 10 years ago, and don't remember all the carbonation. Maybe this case has been aged tooo long. It does have that apple cider thing going on a bit, but still better than the yuengllings, genny's and lionheads i've been sessioning. I'll probably have a couple more and then i will sample the Hofbräuhaus München---hopefully this will be a bit fresher and not as sweet, cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 21:15:09 | More by Gaharudan

captaincoffee

California

3.73/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I just returned from Prague and have newfound respect for this beer. I recall long ago in my youth, I was told Pilsner Urquell is the standard for the style. However, after trying it in bottles several times in the US, I was never impressed. However, fresh draft Pilsner Urquell in the Czech Republic changed my opinion of this beer. Much more pronounced (although still subtle) hop bitterness, fresh noble hop fragrance, and an overall feeling of understanding of why this defined the style. Tasting it this way, I can honestly say I would drink this beer very, very often if I could get it as fresh back home.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2013 13:34:55 | More by captaincoffee

tkarsies

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served pretty cold in standard pint glass. This is the new packaging 6-pack. Totally covers the bottles. Says shipped cold from Czech Republic. Still same green bottle. Have been eager to try this since I heard of the new packaging. Says best by June 2013.

Looks like what a pilsener should look like. Clear gold with lots of bubbles and a white head.

Grassy hop smell with a bit of hops. No skunk like bottled Urquell usually has.

Nice taste. Classic pilsener taste; bready/malty with prominent hop bite at the end. Good balance. Eat your heart out, Budweiser and other US pils...This is what you wish you could be like. No skunk in the flavor either. Tastes much like the draft version I have had.

Moderate carbonation. Mouthfeel is adequate.

Despite having this when it is cold and snowy, I am really pleased with this. I assume the difference is in the handling. Not skunked, not oxidized. Tastes very much like draft Urquell. I have avoided the bottled version in the past, but if this is what it is now like, I will be trying this again. A solid, thirst-quenching pils the way the style should be.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 21:13:44 | More by tkarsies

marcobrau

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I still say that there's nothing like the "original" pilsner -- as the marketers would say -- and that is Pilsner Urquell.

Sure the hop aroma has faded a bit over the years, but the fluffy head hasn't. The hop flavor, the peppery spiciness isn't quite there anymore, but the peppery hop flavor is still food. Urquell is still a bitter lager and that's why its still my favorite Czech beer. Now, don't get wrong, I like some of the more balanced Czech pilsners like Budvar (er, Czechvar) or Staropramen, but I've always appreciated that bitter bite in a Pilsner Urquell. The trick is to find a retailer that takes good care of their bottles. This beer needs to be consumed as fresh as possible. Those hops fade fast. Not really a pretty beer (the head always falls quickly), but decent pils that is very low alcohol for those that have to get to work early in the morning.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 04:17:56 | More by marcobrau

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Having made a "pilgrimage" to Plzen 12 years ago, long before I discovered the joys of "c" hops, this can is definitely a trip down memory lane. Seems odd not to rate the archetype of the style with 5's across the board, but truth is there are other hoppier and crisper pilsners that I now prefer. Odd...

Pours a surprisingly oily, brassy golden colour with a massive white head that dissipates quickly. Bready aroma is not as Saaz-centric as I remember from draught in the Czech Republic. Although I only received the can as a gift yesterday, unfortunately no telling how old it is... The taste is more pleasing, with a flavourful grain foundation and decently crisp hop ending. The finish lingers longer than I remember and emphasizes noble hops.

Still a benchmark beer for the style, but wouldn't always be my first choice.

Serving type: can

12-22-2012 18:58:01 | More by hopsolutely

JEdmund

Kansas

4.1/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a six-pack of the new "express shipped cold" and I gotta say, it's definitely an improvement on the old bottled variety.

A: perfect clarity, vigorous carbonation, good head formation and light lacing left

S: grass and hay! But in a good way. Good noble hop smell and clean cracker malt faintly there as well. And...NO SKUNK! Nice.

T: very easy to drink, balanced, and enjoyable. Clean malts provide just a smidge of bready flavor and then the grassy hops come in and provide the majority of the flavor, plus a clean bite to finish it off. And again, NO SKUNK!

M: light and bubbly, and just a tad creamy

O: I'm really happy I pulled the trigger on buying this. I really debated, knowing I could get Sam Adams' Noble Pils instead. But this turned out to be a success. Fantastic pilsner. Many kudos to the brewery for taking measures to ensure their beer is shipped in optimal conditions. It has paid off. Will be buying this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 21:45:50 | More by JEdmund

dbraz45

Arizona

4.4/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A delicious Pilsner. The appearance is golden with a thick white head. The aroma is bready and hoppy. The taste is very similar to the aroma. This is a crisp, clean, and refreshing beer. The malt character is balanced out nicely by a slight hop bitterness on the back end. This is definitely one to try and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 22:41:27 | More by dbraz45