Pilsner Urquell - Plzensky Prazdroj, a. s.

Dogbrick

Ohio

1.05/5  rDev -70.7%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Quote from my fiancee: "Does 'crappy' have one or 2 p's?" That says it all. I think I had a bottle that was exposed to the light too long because the skunk smell was literally unbearable. Whatever positives in the flavor were drowned out by the horrid stench. I will have to try this one again sometime...

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2002 07:38:40 | More by Dogbrick

Trentonator

Kansas

1.1/5  rDev -69.3%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

OK, so maybe I got a skunked version of this beer, but drinking this was truly a nauseating experience. It had really bad skunky aroma, the taste was bitter and the mouthfeel made me want to puke. I would re-review this if I got a decent example, but I am not sure I ever want to lay eyes on another one of these nasty brews again. If the beer was spoiled in transit, then maybe the brewers want to rethink their bottling/distributorship/label dating. This was an awful, awful beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2004 12:29:49 | More by Trentonator

raffy4

Ontario (Canada)

1.3/5  rDev -63.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

I had a 500ml can of this the other night. This was the most disgusting beer I had ever drank in my life. The taste was absolutely horrible, taste something like vinegar.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone and do not plan on drinking this beer ever again. I don't know how anyone could possibly give this beer a good review.

Serving type: can

03-07-2010 00:59:36 | More by raffy4

WillieMoe

Massachusetts

1.33/5  rDev -62.8%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Right from the bottle, this offering gave off a skunky aroma, which made me hesitate a bit on going in for a taste. When finally taking the plunge, the taste was not as skunky as the smell. After a few sips, it just tasted a bit like your average watered down pilsner. This was the first time I had this beer, so it's possible this could have been a bad batch, but from this one offering I was less than pleased.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2007 15:40:02 | More by WillieMoe

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

1.33/5  rDev -62.8%
look: 1 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

First had: ? (a random bar somewhere)

I'm just not a pils fan, and this is no champion among them. Pours a clear, yellow color, carbonated, with a quickly-dissipating white head. Weak grains and some grassy funk in the aroma. Weak, sweet, malts, grainy, with bitter hops that create a metallic sensation. Light bodied and not at all pleasurable to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2011 17:42:18 | More by Rifugium

Mitchster

Michigan

1.45/5  rDev -59.5%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Brilliantly clear, dark golden with brass accents, forming a poofy white head with surprisingly decent retention and very nice lacing. Carbonation is moderately strong, forming some streamers. Aroma is skunky with notes of freshly cut hay, sweet grainy malts and floral hops. Mouthfeel is soft, although decidingly NOT smooth, with a medium body and an astringent, tannic finish. Taste begins with skunky thiols, followed by a rather intense dry bitterness which continues through, and surpasses the finish, leaving the mouth with a very dry, tacky, aftertaste. There is a touch of sweet malt and corn in the middle, obscured for the most part by the skunk. The finish has very strong notes of lemon rind. I've certainly had much better pilseners, and perhaps this is good when it's not skunked, but I've had this on many, many occasions and it's always been skunked. I've even had a friend from the Czech republic bring me a bottle back home and it was just as nasty as the stuff I get locally. The fact that the beer is in green bottles is a testament that the brewery just doesn't care about it's beer. Big black mark to you, Urquell.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2003 00:26:09 | More by Mitchster

JokeInsurance

Virginia

1.73/5  rDev -51.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Appearance: A yellow-goldish appearance with a real foamy head that stays after initial drinking. Lacing was very evident.

Smell: Faint smell of hops, barley and some copper.

Taste: Carbonation at the beginning and copper at the end.

Mouthfeel: The carbonation that I was tasting reminded me of distinctively of seltzer water.

Drinkability: It was too carbonated. Did not fare well going down - it was a bit rough.

Serving type: Bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2010 13:35:54 | More by JokeInsurance

tigg924

Massachusetts

1.75/5  rDev -51.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Appearance: high carbonation, clear, medium head, gold

Smell: sulphur and wheat

Taste: better than the smell, but not great. Very light wheat

Mouthfeel: light and semi-sweet

Drinkability: This hides the alcohol well. I think the smell really threw me for a loop. I think there are way better beers around and this is one I will not come back to.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2009 16:32:23 | More by tigg924

jjanega08

Minnesota

1.78/5  rDev -50.3%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.5

A= The pour is a nice deep golden color with a crispy white head on it that holds some decent retention and lacing.

S= Damn it skunk! It smells like skunk and rotten wood. I really wish they would do something to prevent this. I can smell the pungent skunk from a few feet away. Sort of mustardy too.

T= The taste isn't as skunky as the smell for some reason yet it is still bad. The taste is overly sweet and skunky. Luckily the sweetness takes a little of the skunk away or I would be lost. This is just too bad.

M= Clean crisp and refreshing.

D= I really wish I could have found a bottle of this that isn't skunked. I'm reviewing it because I paid for it. They should take more care into keeping this problem away.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2010 01:11:56 | More by jjanega08

Scrylol

Alberta (Canada)

1.88/5  rDev -47.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a one finger white head. Lots of lacing. Golden body.

Grainy and metallic smell to it. Also plenty of skunk, despite it being in a can.

Lots of grain and skunk on the tongue. Low hop bitterness through all those grain notes, and no malt presence. Skunky, bitter aftertaste.

Watery, but decent carbonation.

Heard decent things about this pilsner, but what I got was a mess. Even though it was in a can with a best by date of April 2013, there was a lot of skunk notes in it. Lots of grain notes too, similar to an adjunct. Not a good pilsner.

Serving type: can

12-13-2012 04:35:12 | More by Scrylol

WMBierguy

Maryland

1.93/5  rDev -46.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Yuck. Of the European Green Bottle imports (Heine, Grolsch, St. Pauli, Beck's, etc.) this is my least favorite. Extremely bitter, tasted like a super Grolsch. The flavor and smell is so sharp that its almost overwhelming. This beer isn't all that common, and certainly not worth the effort. If you are a big fan of the Euro Green Bottles, then you might as well try it. If not, then stay away. Its not worth the fairly expensive price.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2003 18:51:22 | More by WMBierguy

arizcards

Arizona

1.95/5  rDev -45.5%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Had heard a lot about this ledgendary pilsner so decided to pick up a six pack upon spying it at the local Albertsons.

The appearance was average, the pour resulted in little to no head. Upon opening the first bottle I knew I had thrown away $7 as the infamous "Pepe Le Pew" smell launched into my unfortunate nostrils. The reputation of this being a pilsner with some hop action led me to try this but unfortunately I could not get enjoy any of that as the skunkiness continued to overwhelm my senses. The mouthfeel was average and the overall drinkability was just not there. If I am ever to try this again it will be in the Czech Republic straight from the brewery-no middle men shall ruin my palate for this brew again!

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2003 23:36:29 | More by arizcards

ChrisBowers

Virginia

2.03/5  rDev -43.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I don't know what the big deal about this beer is. Its slightly above Miller Light, but why bother? Pours a fizzy yellow with a wet hay/corn smell to it. Not much to the taste... fizzy tasteless pilsner. Zero character. Why pay $5 for this at the bar?

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2004 01:30:25 | More by ChrisBowers

madjr80

Massachusetts

2.08/5  rDev -41.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

I really wanted to like this beer. I love the way it looks when I pour it into the glass. It smells like many of the other Euro beers that we can find over here. For some reason it tastes old when I get it. I really like Czech pilsners, but i can't learn to like this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2007 04:13:26 | More by madjr80

RyanBelle

Ontario (Canada)

2.13/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A - Yellow-goldish appearance on initial pour, medium amounts of foamy lacing appearing on the Pilsner-style glass after consumption, Very dense foamy head that settles at about the 3/4 finger mark. High carbonation.

S - Floral notes throughout, with very subtle grassy notes slowly following the initial floral notes.

T - Very malty with a slightly bitter taste for the type of beer it is, sometimes present in beers with a higher ABV%. A "dry" beer with a malty aftertaste.

M - Velvety; pleasant, albeit has "dry" aftertaste.

D - Goes down a tad rough at first but it redeems itself later the more you drink of it, and more floral notes shine through.

Serving type: can

08-20-2009 04:12:39 | More by RyanBelle

bobhits

Kentucky

2.13/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a golden color, mild carbonation and not much lacing here. The body is well carbonated.

Skunked hops, earthy notes, and just plain off putting. I know pilsners are a bit off in this regard but this one is exceptionally awful.

A complex flavor of earthy hops, tomato perhaps, skunked hops, light grains, a touch of bready yeast character. There’s something here to build on, certainly decent.

The funky nature of this beer is a bit off putting but at 4.40% this one drinks rather well, it is well carbonated, and frankly easy to drink.

I have to say this is a good test of someone’s joy of American sold Euro lagers. If you like this those will be a joy. If you find the skunked flavors and odd malt finish not to your liking you can save a lot of time and effort. I’ll say this is a solid example of a style I just don’t like when put in a green bottle and shipped across the Atlantic.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 15:52:21 | More by bobhits

palffyfan

Massachusetts

2.15/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Appearance - Rich golden hue, no head at all, with a great deal of carbonation.

Smell - Nothing special, smelled like Bud.

Taste - Lots of hop bitterness with a mild hop aftertaste. Kind of burns the tongue a little bit and the bitterness remains upto 30 seconds after sips.

Drinkability - If you're a fan of bitter beers, this drink is for you. Just a clean, crisp, bitter taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2006 06:36:31 | More by palffyfan

jujubeast6000

Texas

2.15/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Reviewed 9/14/2008 (bottle):

Pours a golden honey colored body, with a big frothy snow white head. Has a very grainy smell, and also malts. Has a malty, slightly toasted taste, grains, and maybe some hay. Somewhat fizzy. Eh, pilsener's not really my style of choice.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2009 19:46:43 | More by jujubeast6000

chocosushi

Oklahoma

2.15/5  rDev -39.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

12oz->Unibroue Tulip
A ~ Pours copper with a great amount of pillowy head. Decends over the course of five minutes leaving globs of lacing. Large bubbles of carb. Looks like a pils.

S ~ Pale Malt, Green Grass, & Skunk.

T ~ A wierd melange of sourdough, cheerios, stale hops, & hay. Touches of peas, buttered corn, pepper, & dirty sap throughout. Blegh.

M ~ How could a 4.4% wreck my palette? Rather thin with an awkward bittering finish that is dry, but with an unrelenting
peppery cloy.

D ~ This is what I hear recommended to me time & time again when it comes to Pilsners, & this does not taste like a pilsner! This fell very short right after the first taste. One & done, Did not even get halfway through.
Would never buy again, unless I bought from the source.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 00:53:54 | More by chocosushi

Reidrover

Oregon

2.17/5  rDev -39.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

Bought in the1 pint, 6.3 oz bottle ( green).."Plzensky Prazdro Od 1842"..ok
This beer actually looks pretty nice for a pilsner it pours a nice clear golden colour with a large white frothy head that does shrink rapidlly but persists for a long while..
The smel is pretty average for the style..some sweet malty aromas..even a little wheat like scent..lemony.

Now for the tase..oh dear this is NOT very pleasant at all ..I appear to have fallen victim of the Green bottle syndrome" this is skunked, I am sure as no one could rave about a taste like this..unpleasant dirty water like taste a horrid bitterness..not good.
Its average on the tongue though my taste buds are still reeling from the assault.
Sorry this is not at all drinkable..a curse on green bottles!!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2003 19:58:45 | More by Reidrover

axeman9182

New Jersey

2.2/5  rDev -38.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle, ordered at the Cloverleaf Tavern in Caldwell a few weeks back (the review is culled from tasting notes taken the night of) to help complete their MBA program. This one was served in a chilled pint glass.

Pilsner Urquell pours a crystal clear, radiant gold. It's easy to see how enamored one could be with the look of a beer like this after knowing nothing but dark beers. There's maybe half a finger of white head that manages to leave faint spots of lacing on its way down the glass. There's a certain grainy, bready aroma from the malts, and a definite floral, European hop note as well. Unfortunately, I didn't win the green bottle lottery, as there's also a fairly present skunky aroma. While the skunking was moderate in the nose, it's a bit more prevalent in the taste. It really becomes the defining presence in every sip. I can still taste those same malty and hoppy notes, and I believe there's at least a serviceable pils hidden in there, but this is what happens when you decide to sell your product in less than ideal packaging (green bottles). At least the mouthfeel is unaffected, and is pleasantly light and spry (all the better to finish this beer quickly). Carbonation is a bit dull, failing to help elevate the noble hop flavors. I generally try to be understanding when it comes to blaming brewers for problems with a beer, but if you're going to choose to ship your beers internationally in bottles that don't effectively protect from light exposure, then there's no one else to blame for skunky beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 19:39:32 | More by axeman9182

Shiloh

Ontario (Canada)

2.23/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

The appearence of this brew is its strong point...it is a very deep golden hue with a very light head that disapates to a thin collar which then disappears completly. The hops are prevelent and remain so giving a lingering after taste not to my liking.

Serving type: can

11-10-2002 17:59:29 | More by Shiloh

FCGrabo

Illinois

2.25/5  rDev -37.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

I slowly poured the beer into the pilsner glass and watched as the head came up to a nice 1-inch firmness. The color of the beer surprised me with its rich golden yellow color. Micro-bubbles percolated from below. There was hardly any aroma to be had but I couldn't wait to dive into this rich looking pool of beer. Curious. The carbonation bubbles dwindled off to a few trickles like street traffic at 3 a.m.

The first sip attacked my taste buds with meaning. Full flavor, a nice middle and a crisp ending similar to the crack of a bullwhip. This is definitely a European beer. The flavor is what I'd imagine Old World beer would taste like. The taste is a bit sharper than what I remember Bitburger to be, but this is good drinking nonetheless. The hoppiness of this brew is obviously its trademark. It's not too much to put you off, but it does make its presence clear right from the beginning.

By the second bottle, the tastes settled down and played nice. A bit of sweetness stepped forward. The hoppiness went from a whipcrack to rough butt pinch. My mouth wanted another sip strictly due to the flavor. The hops demanded that I reply, "Thank you, sir. May I have another?"

The taste of this beer is most probably at extreme end of the hoppiness scale that my taste buds could tolerate. Hoppier than a lager, but much less so than an IPA. Not one sip caused me to wrinkle my brow with distaste, but each sip did take whack at my uvula on the way down. In my opinion, this would be a good beer right after a meal of meat. A thick juicy steak and some P.U. would probably hit it off pretty well together.

If you're shopping for a good tasting beer, pass this one by. Some guys are hopheads who love the punishment of these hoppy beers. Others, like me, want some good taste without paying another price for the same beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2009 06:40:14 | More by FCGrabo

bierguru

Florida

2.35/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

A -
thick white head stays fairly well mild carbonation and the body is clear straw color

S -
some spicey tones and some sour tones

T-
huge peppery spice small hop taste i tasted no malt or floral anything

M -
very light almost water and a lot of carbonation peppery-ness dries the mouth out

D -
very peppery and to me it almost sour had to force myself to finish it

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 03:34:24 | More by bierguru

masey222

Michigan

2.35/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Very golden brassy color and has a fizzy carbonation so didn't really develop or hold a head and no real lace...
smell is nothing really special but had a sharpness that is reminiscent of a skunky like flower...
the taste is a lot like other Czech beers in the floral beers...
the texture is a-lot like other pilsners nothing outstanding...
Overall it wasn't that exciting to drink but was interesting never the less.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 03:00:27 | More by masey222