Torch Pilsner - Foothills Brewing Company

drabmuh

Maryland

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A draft pilsner? Yes please. I love a good pilsner and this one was decent. Beer is yellow and clear with moderate to low carbonation and a diffuse head of small bubbles that leaves some lacing on the glass.

Beer's aroma is simple and subtle, it's all pilsner malt all the time.

Beer is light to medium in body, lead off mild sweetness, mild bitterness from hops at the end, between is just sweet and wet, not overly sweet, it's a nice round subtle flavor, highly drinkable. Yum.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2011 16:06:31 | More by drabmuh

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into a sampler tumbler. Poured golden yellow with a minimal white head. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, wheat, and slight bitter hops. The flavor was of bitter malt, wheat, skunk, slight bitter hops, and subtle banana on the followthrough. It had a light feel on the palate with high carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. The skunk aspect was a little surprising, but didn't kill the brew at all. All of the flavors worked really well together on this one, but it just wasn't awe-inspiring. Aroma was a little weak in intensity for my liking, but still decent. This is a must try at least once.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2011 13:07:49 | More by thagr81us

devilben02

North Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Looks the part of a typical pilsener with a rich golden color and a thin creamy white head. The aroma has a dull, earthy bitterness that is pleasant but a bit muted. The flavor is more potent, with the same noble hop character coming through on top of a decent malt base. The texture is a bit thicker than a typical pilsener, being more resinous than crisp. Overall, this is a fine beer, but it doesn't really impress.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2010 03:30:55 | More by devilben02

kinged8th

South Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Growler station was limited for my tastes and I was looking for an IPA. Settled for a pilsner instead. Pours a clear, golden yellow with little head as expected. Grassy and grainy with a slight hint of noble hops as a pils should be. Drinks really well and is a solid offering from Foothills.

Serving type: growler

11-14-2010 15:39:47 | More by kinged8th

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a clear yellow color with visible carbonation bubbles and a white head without too much lacing as it goes down. Nose is some light grass and bread with a few hops. Light European hop character and grass in the taste. Light and crisp bit nothing too interesting.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2010 13:13:00 | More by Thorpe429

number1bum

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drank many of these at the Carolina Ale House in Raleigh. Pretty pedestrian draft selection but this was a pretty solid choice. Mostly clear golden color, clean, grassy, lightly sweet aroma. Clean, crisp, nice grassy hop flavor with a pale malt sweetness and a hint of lemon and a modest spicy, bitter hoppiness in the finish. Not on the level of the very good pilseners I am used to living in PA, but a solid brew.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2010 20:09:06 | More by number1bum

John1985

Tennessee

4.22/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pale yellow with an inch head w/ lacing down the glass. Mild malty aroma, Assertive lemony malt flavor with a burst of hops to balance. Light bodied, crisp and very drinkable. I had two pints and wanted more. This would be a great hot weather beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2010 23:14:57 | More by John1985

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a 2-finger head (like, fat fingers), blinding white, fluffy and long-lasting. Liquid is pretty much as a pils ought to be, sunny yellow-gold with excellent clarity.

Aroma is good, clearly very much to style, although it doesn't give it all up in the smell. Hints of sulfur, fresh-baked white bread, straw, light fruity hops.

Flavor-wise, this pushes all the right buttons, especially on a hot day when you're craving something on the lager side of the tracks. Earthy mineral/sulfur lays in the background and right into the finish, with bits of lemon, grapefruit, grass, white bread, biscuit and a hint of honey mingling nicely.

Well-carbonated texture gives a tickle to the tongue, although a nice creaminess peeks through. Just the slightest bit of pucker on the finish, which is interesting, and a grapefruit pith kind of thing remains the dominant taste in the finish.

An absolutely great and authentic pils. Foothills gets better and better as the days go on, and when they can brew a traditional, lower alcohol brew like this and have it impress almost as much as their much more limited bourbon-barrel experiments, you know they're doing it right.

Serving type: growler

08-29-2010 22:19:08 | More by Metalmonk

Gavage

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: golden yellow in color with a two finger head that produces some nice lace on the glass.

Smell: grass and some malt sweetness is very mild and hard to pull from the glass.

Taste: nice malt character with some crackers, grass, hint of lemon, and a soft saaz-like hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp throughout. Clean aftertaste.

Drinkability: easy quaffing pils that is a bit light on the flavor profile but still tasty. Definitely worth a try if you see it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2010 23:20:00 | More by Gavage

argock

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a clear pint glass at Mellow Mushroom (Charlottesville, VA).

A: Honey-gold with short cap of tightly bubbled off-white head which left some lace trails.

S: Toasted and sweet cereal grains first followed by noble and herbal hops, much stronger in this department than most pilseners. Mineral and soft metallic aromas as well.

T: Unique flavor with mostly toasted grains up front but countered with a big herbal and mineral hops blast that is very long and drawn out. This beer has one of the longest flavor waves and aftertastes around. The only issue is that it is very strong and lacks any of the usual subtlety of a German pils.

M: Finishes very dry with biting, mineral, pill-like and herbal hops aftertaste.

D: I enjoyed this, but there are a lot better pilseners out there to be sure. Glad I tried it nonetheless and it is another solid Foothills product.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2010 03:07:31 | More by argock

CharlestonBXFan

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Keg from the guys at Charletson Beer Exchange. V Good but not quite gr8 beer. Learned not to read other reviewers b4 making up own mind! Having tasted lots of Pils in Russia where Urquell (SP?) was pushed on people and was of LOW quality, this was a pleasant upgrade from that more skunky variety. Had never thought about whether beer leaves suds down the side of glass....

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2010 22:38:08 | More by CharlestonBXFan

Seanibus

California

3.23/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours clear golden with a fluffy head and nice carbonation streamers. The aroma is sweet pilsner malt with a sting of noble hops. The flavor is malty and honeylike, with a pleasant hop flavor and bitterness. The finish is fairly crisp. The downside is the sourness that develops late, with a peanuty flavor and mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2010 22:09:07 | More by Seanibus

beer2day

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Hazy golden pour with 1-finger head. Very faint retention. Laces attractively.

Slight flowery aroma in the nose. Weaker bread and bananas follow.

Clean crisp hit. Grows slowly tart and finishes with a nice sour pils taste. Then gets just a tad too sour.

Nice malt body, appropriate for the style.

Overall sour finish brings down the drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2010 17:11:49 | More by beer2day

nickd717

California

3.45/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft at the brewpub.

A - Very clear and light golden-yellow color with a small white head.

S - Aroma is grain, pilsner malt, and grassy hops.

T - Bready pale/pils malt and grain as well as some mild grassy hops. Well-balanced flavor, but a tiny bit weak. Decent for a pils, but not too exciting.

M - Palate light and crisp with some prickly carbonation.

D - Very high. This one doesn't last very long.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2009 21:01:10 | More by nickd717

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap @ Foothills on 9/4/09. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a hazy gold, with a thin soapy looking head of brite-white colored foam. Retains with some thin bunching around the edges, and smallish wisps in the center, leaving back a light smattering of lacing. The aroma is sweet with toasted grains and a bit of fruity citrus. Light grassy hops fill things out. Just not getting a lot of deepness from this.

The taste is tight, bready, Pils malt, with a flush of citrus in the back. Some equally rigid, lightly spicy and drying bitterness gives this balance and crispness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a firm brisknes to the feel, which lends this a satisfying quenching sense.

This started out a little rough, but the clean taste and crisp nature of this ended up making for a solid Pils drinking experience. At least enough to nicely compliment my accompanying 1/2 lb pub melt. Yum!

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2009 12:20:28 | More by Kegatron

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draft at Woody's @ City Market, Raleigh, NC

Served up a nice golden color, deeper than expected, clear with a very nice white head that was well retained that faded into a small thin cap.

Aroma was good, slightly sweet, light and grainy, pretty much what I expected from the style, but better than most in the style.

The taste was very good, more robust than expected. This is not your typical Czech; the taste has an initial sweet taste, but fades and is nicely balanced.

The beer is light, and has a nice dry aftertaste, very nice active carbonation and extremely easy to drink. For this style, this may be one of the best and IMO has been very much under-appreciated by the reviewer of this beer thus far (as do most lighter colored beers and some for good reason). Overall, an excellent beer by an excellent brewer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2009 22:24:05 | More by PhillyStyle

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed on 06/21/2009. On draft. This beer pours a clear light yellow with a thick white head. The aroma is of wheat and light fruits. The flavor is sweet initially with a light wheat and bready finish. This was very refreshing and I thought it was a good pilsener!

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2009 17:50:46 | More by LilBeerDoctor

Durge

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A clear golden amber color with a thin white head and nice lacing. The aroma is weak swampy wheat and citrus. The flavor brings a nice balance of bitter herbal citrus hop and bready caramel malt. Very tasty and well carbonated. Crisp and very drinkable, a distinctive pilsner. Quite hoppy, fair bodied for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2009 06:35:38 | More by Durge

LauraAlberts

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: Clear Gold/Yellowish with mild lacing and half inch of head that quickly dissipates.

Smell: Sweet aroma mixed with a carbonated aroma

Taste: Mild carbonations mixed with a bitter/sweet malty character. Great flavor for a Czech Pils - a mild grapefruit hint at the finish that just refreshes the palate.

Mouthfeel: Slightly dry then soothing and calming mouthfeel.

Drinkability: My beer of choice when working in the heat. This one will cool you down - perfect for the boat. Another great beer from the guys in Winston-Salem!

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2009 19:53:07 | More by LauraAlberts

Bung

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A pretty dark gold pour for a pilsener, off white head. Malt, yeast, light citrus and pineapple aromas. Malt, lightly Biscuity with some citrus fruit flavors. Lively mouthfeel, just enough so. Clean malt and hop finish. The Victory Prima Pils is still my favorite from an American brewer, but this was pretty darn good as well.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2009 19:07:57 | More by Bung

cvstrickland

North Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

The shaker pint draft is bright golden and clear with a small white head. I am puzzled by the dearth of retention and near-total lack of lacing.

The smell is grainy with a touch of herbal spice and a mild twang of mysterious citrus that freshens the aroma profile.

The taste is dry, dry, dryly malty with a touch of spice and a mild grainy tang. Crisp and refreshing, the drink begs a follwup sip again and again.

Light-medium in body with perfect carbonation. Quaffable.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2009 00:28:14 | More by cvstrickland

ncbeermonger

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Vintage 301 in Greensboro NC

This Pilsner pours very well, head is good, and and has a great color

The smell is good, what a pilsner should smell like

This beer is a traditional pilsner, not this watered down stuff we see around the south east.

It finishes well, and doesn't leave an aftertaste

This beer has a drinkability like very few pilsners! This is a great beer, when you can find it you should have one!

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2008 06:53:32 | More by ncbeermonger

kkipple

South Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Barley's in Greenville. From notes:

A. Clear gold, bubbly and pretty. White head that is small, but lingers. What's not to like?

S. Sweet "German" noble hop bitterness, grassy. Nice smelling and simple, perhaps a bit big for the style. Clean, like all Foothills offerings.

T. Very "pils" like. Sweet pale malt, grassy, noble bitter hops, tiny bit of corn flavor, a touch of lemon. Basic, again.

M. Crisp and well carbonated, thin as you'd expect, refreshing, easy and great on a hot day.

I'd have another. Foothills adds another solid, if a bit unexciting, brew to their stellar lineup.

Serving type: on-tap

12-24-2008 21:54:39 | More by kkipple

PatrickJR

North Carolina

2.93/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had this on tap in a pint glass at Coopers in Greensboro.

A - Looks like most pilsners. Bright yellow, nice 2 finger head with moderate retention and some lace.

S - Not much here. Bready malt, slight biscuit aromas, and if I strain, an actual hop presence.

T - More like a macro lager or all malt lager. Grainy, one dimensional malt comes with a smidge of cheesy/skunky hops. Metallic aftertaste.

M - Light and crisp, on par with a good pils.

D - This wasn't a horrible brew to drink, but if I wanted something more I'd pick a German pils or an APWA; if I wanted something less I'd opt for a Brooklyn Lager or even PBR. Not particularly suited to etiher crowd.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2008 08:50:38 | More by PatrickJR

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Foothills. Came out a pale gold color, with minimal to absent head. Very little lacing along edge.

Smelled somewhat woodsy and charred. Also some faint citrus.

Well-carbonated. Crisp and clean. Not complex at all. I'm tasting some bread, a little lemon zest. Not a whole lot is being pulled out of this one.

Aside from the simplicity of this brew, it is quite drinkable. Drinks very smooth and clean. Not a choice I'd pick for flavor, but for refreshment.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2008 18:12:47 | More by Onenote81