Pilsner Urquell - Plzensky Prazdroj, a. s.

kdoc8

Oregon

3.68/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this on tap at the Bier Stein in Eugene, OR. It was actually a presentation night on Czech Pilsners, and Pilsner Urquell was featured because it is the highest rated pilsner by the BTI right now, with a rating of 93. I was excited to try it and surprised it was rated much lower than I thought it would be on BA.

A few fun facts from Czech Pilsner night:
- Pilsner Urquell is currently rated the best lager in the world by BTI
- beer consumption in the CR is highest in the world
- Ireland is not even close
- In 1842 the first yeast strain used to make Pilsner Urquell was isolated and they've been cloning from that original strain ever since
- Pilsner Urquell was the first light beer
- water quality in the town of Plzen where the brewery is located is key to the Pilsner Urquell recipe because of its softness
- Patton liberated Plzen before Prague in WWII; the men who liberated Plzen came back for a reunion at the brewery and it was the biggest party the place ever had
- The Plzen brewery is now owned by the South African Brewery (SAB) which is the second largest beer-maker in the world
- Urquell means "original source" in Czech

Some health facts:
- the demographic that drinks 1-2 beers a day is healthier than both the non-drinkers and alcoholics
- beer has folic acid and B vitamins
- beer makes breasts grow

Ok - so after all the hype, I'm ready to try the beer. It's served with very little head and in a pint glass. The color is golden/red and it has some effervesence. I don't detect much of a smell at all. There's a little lacing on the glass. Now for the taste - yeasty and not really complex. It's got more flavor than some more common pilsners, but I'm not that excited about it. Maybe some weak fruits are roaming around there, but it's mostly the taste of yeast. Very refreshing though.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2007 18:50:14 | More by kdoc8

billbeers

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -16.2%

05-22-2013 17:30:33 | More by billbeers

InfernoBoss

California

2.75/5  rDev -23.2%

05-22-2013 06:15:27 | More by InfernoBoss

GinsuDave

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

05-21-2013 23:22:23 | More by GinsuDave

pin

Australia

1.5/5  rDev -58.1%

05-21-2013 18:00:37 | More by pin

canders0927

Texas

2.5/5  rDev -30.2%

05-21-2013 15:44:16 | More by canders0927

KingBiscuit

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

05-21-2013 01:58:01 | More by KingBiscuit

rabiddawg

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +11.7%

05-19-2013 17:58:45 | More by rabiddawg

CB2maltygoodness

District of Columbia

2.75/5  rDev -23.2%

05-19-2013 05:59:03 | More by CB2maltygoodness

Razr86

New York

4/5  rDev +11.7%

05-19-2013 04:56:33 | More by Razr86

Isotope

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-19-2013 03:03:09 | More by Isotope

jbarletto

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -16.2%

05-18-2013 22:00:41 | More by jbarletto

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +18.7%

05-17-2013 12:55:30 | More by randylangford

enelson

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-16-2013 12:37:35 | More by enelson

Chrily

Norway

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%

05-16-2013 12:36:09 | More by Chrily

JoyHelfrich

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%

05-15-2013 05:15:20 | More by JoyHelfrich

aty11b

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

05-14-2013 01:18:59 | More by aty11b

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -16.2%

05-12-2013 17:14:31 | More by mikeburd1128

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

eulerthegrape

California

3/5  rDev -16.2%

05-10-2013 15:54:43 | More by eulerthegrape

JakeDebus

Maryland

3/5  rDev -16.2%

05-10-2013 14:57:07 | More by JakeDebus

DbbC

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%

05-10-2013 03:14:51 | More by DbbC

rph97

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

05-10-2013 02:05:08 | More by rph97

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%

05-09-2013 19:39:11 | More by ncstateplaya

Bill235

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

05-09-2013 19:28:52 | More by Bill235