Golden Pheasant - Pivovar Zlaty Bazant a.s.

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.95/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another unimpressive LCBO import. Lighty saaz hopped. Malty sweet, dry and sour finish, creamy. Fizzy carbonation. Floral perfumy. Typical Ontario fare. Very Foamy head on yellow that dissipitates too slowly, not bad drinkable for a pilsner. Mild 4.4%

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2004 02:41:43 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.23/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Shiny golden amber topped by a substantive head of off-white foam. The surface is gently divoted and falls in sections, leaving arching strands of sudsy lace behind. Not a bad look.

The nose is decent and is helped by the fact that there's no trace of skunkiness or nastiness of any kind. Thanks to the brown bottle for the former and thanks to some degree of brewing skill for the latter. It's soft, floral, citrusy (lemon peel) and is really rather nice.

The flavor follows the aroma in that it's friendly, soft and approachable. I don't like it quite as well though since it's a little too laid back. The word 'insipid' comes to mind, but that's not quite fair. Golden Pheasant is grain-like, slightly sweet and slightly bitter. Nothing really stands out.

The finish is short and relatively clean, the body is light-medium and the carbonation is on the subdued side. Like the flavor profile, it's all very middle of the road. This beer needs a 'peg' (as they say in the news business). Rather than something to hang a story on, it needs something to hang a personality on, something to give it purpose, a reason for being.

Golden Pheasant is pleasant enough. If you're looking for an easy drinking, balanced, 'don't want to think too much about it' kind of pilsener brewed in the Slovak Republic (and who isn't?), this just might be your beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2005 17:18:24 | More by BuckeyeNation

UCLABrewN84

California

3.5/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear deep golden yellow with a 1 inch foamy white head that settles to a small cap. Thick legs of lace form down the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grains, grass, and some herbal scents. Taste is of grains and grassy flavors with a mild herbal hop quality on the finish. A very mild hop bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a pretty good carbonation level with a nice crip, clean mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good pilsener but nothing too exciting.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2011 03:36:58 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured a golden yellow beer with a nice white bubbly head with average retention. Aroma is quite weak but some malt can be detected. Taste is quite crisp with some malt that can be detected and some bitterness at the end. Overall, I would classified this as a better then average pilsner without any watery taste and no skunk taste from the bottle which are two major accomplishments for this type of beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2004 18:59:25 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Guess it's ok stuck in the Czech Pilsner sytle...I would have said Euro Pilsner because of the earthy character with a noticable, but mild skunk aroma. Disguised neatly as herbal and must-ey hops, the beer comes across characterful but dirty. A common light yellow and neatly clear hue with adequate carbonation and a lacking head retention. Moderate malt sweetness with a grain quality (expected). Hoppy for sure, but more earthy flavors than balancing bitterness. Feels typically grain-ey, carbonated, and clean, but just slight of refreshing and crisp...just a little to muddy with the hops. Never really got over the pungent aroma and flavor.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2006 02:51:50 | More by BEERchitect

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Budweiser pokal.

Nice, a Slovak quasi-tallboy. Doesn't get much better than that, right? Oh, wait, it does: Johnny Cash's "Hurt" now fills the air about me. Right on. This bad boy pours a clear pale straw topped by over a finger of quick-to-death white foam. The nose comprises wheat, puffed rice, and a field full o' fragrant flowers. The taste rocks all o' these elements, adding a slight corn-syrup-esque sweetness in the back. The body is pretty light, with a light carbonation and a crisp, dry finish. Overall, a solid pils; I may not be that big a fan o' this style, but this is pretty good.

Serving type: can

08-04-2010 04:25:25 | More by TMoney2591

metter98

New York

3.4/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is crystal clear dark yellow in color and does not have any visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high head that died down a bit but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: Aromas of sweet grainy malts are present in the nose along with some hints of grapes, although no hops are noticeable.
T: Like the smell, the initial taste is a bit sweet but this isn’t cloying because there is also alight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer isn’t that bad, but it isn’t as malty compared to other pilseners.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 01:46:27 | More by metter98

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

1.95/5  rDev -42.3%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Who doesn't love pheasants? Beautiful birds! Used to roam wild and free in my home town. Glorious plumage, gentle creatures. And who wouldn't enjoy a beer made from them?
Wait...it's not?...okay, ...that's cool...anyway...

very clear, pale golden/amber appearance, nice, fluffy, snow-white head...

Aroma: skunkaroo! Sour lemon. Bad. Foul. Putrid. Ick.

Taste: Must I?
strong, fullish, fierce, grainy, and very bare thereafter....not much to brag about, Slovakia...blah, bleh, blech...Oooo, ish, ugh...not pleasure-enducing by any stretch.
Light bodied, dry finish, grainy all the way, with an unpleasant flavor, that never satisfies...
Does anyone like this stuff? Why? And why did I waste $2 on it that could've gone to online downloads of Falco's Greatest Hits? ("One Night In Bangkok makes a Hard man humble"...or is it, hustle? that's why I need it!)

These questions and more will be answered ...never...or, ...will they?

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2005 12:00:09 | More by feloniousmonk

drabmuh

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Golden Pheasant is a Slovakia Pilsner and an overall good example of a Pilsner. It is easy to drink. My Golden Pheasant was serves in a tall slender Golden Pheasant mug (don't you love proper glassware) filled to the 500 ml mark. It is aggressively carbonated but did not form a persistant head. Easy to drink, interesting malt character for a pilsner. You can taste some hop flavors too. Overall, an excellent, drinkable, wet beer. I order it frequently and enjoy it everytime. Better on draught than in bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2009 16:38:23 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

3.33/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a clear, bubbly, golden yellow color with a small, fizzy, white head. No lace.

S - Aroma was funky and of grains/corn. A slight floral nose, too.

T - It tasted fairly sweet with a nice grain/barley/corn flavor. It had a subtle bitter hop bite.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A light bodied beer that goes does smooth.

D - This is a decent pils. Nothing overwhelmingly special but not bad either.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 20:42:49 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.13/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 16.9oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep gold color, with a thin white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is typical of a Pilsener with lager yeast, funky light malts and some hops.

T: The taste starts out with a little malt sweetness and some lager yeast breadiness that is quickly followed by a mild but complementary hops presence, creating a pretty decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, light-to-medium body, medium-to-heavy carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: A little tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style, it's not too bad of a beer and it's worth drinking for a while if your choices are limited, but there are others in the style that I would pick first.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2009 22:56:24 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer was given to me from a guy I work with. Strangely enough I haven't had this one before. The beer poured out s a lightly hazy looking yellow color. The head was white, it had a decent retention to it. The smell of the beer is earthy, and gives off that grassy pilsner aroma. The taste of the beer is sharp, it has a nice hoppy bitterness with a sweet malt finish. The mouthfeel of the beer was clean and crisp. Overall its a pretty good pilsner. I actually enjoy this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 00:39:25 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.93/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours golden/bronze with effervescence & 2 fingers eggshell white head. Above average lacing & head retention

S: Some grassy & perfumy notes

T: Perfumy & grassy notes up front. Some honey malt, soapy notes along with lemony hops as this warms. Finshes a little dry, with straw & lemon notes

MF: Medium bodied, soft & spritzy with good balance, a little more wouldn't hurt

Drinks easy, but a little too subdued to be more than a BBQ beer, although I do like it better than pilsner urquell

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2007 20:33:25 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.75/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 mL bottle,

A: Pours a clear golden colour, with a small white head, spotty lacing, average retention.

S: Lots of sweet sourdough bread with some spicy, grassy noble hopping.

T: Direct grassy hop character with a very bready center, the carbonation does play a bit of a role. A good flavour.

M: Crisp, biting carbonation, light-bodied, easy drinking.

D: A solid pilsner here, just be careful not to get it skunked. When it's at its peak it's a nice little beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 03:34:11 | More by Halcyondays

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a clear medium golden colour, with light frothy white head, and good retention. It smells mildly of white cracker grain malt. The taste is slightly sweet grainy malt. light floral hops, and a tad bitter. There is a soft carbonation, good weight in the body, and an off-dry bready finish. A decent example of a veritable Czech pilsener from their former countrymen.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2009 20:06:24 | More by biboergosum

jwc215

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into pilsener glass.

Poured golden yellow with slow but steady carbonation. A two-finger head slowly descended and left a decent amount of lacing along the glass.

The smell was thin, but very clean - a touch of grass and some floral hops.

The taste was of sweet malt, which gave it a nice body, and grass backed by bitter, floral hops. Very well-balanced between malt and hops.

It's smooth and refreshing. A touch more body than many others of the style. It goes down easily and flavors hold on for a little while.

It's a solid choice when looking for this style and above average for European pilseners. For the past few years, I've been getting this occasionally when I'm in the mood for a Czech-style pilsener, and it's never been a disappointment - never been harsh, metallic or skunked.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2006 21:05:12 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pourd a .5L can into my mug. Appeared gold, not entirely clear, with a short head. The bitterness is right in line with the style with a rounded, herbal hop finish. The aroma and flavor are a touch cider-like at first, but the spicy, dry lemony hops quickly take over. Not a bad lager to session.

Serving type: can

02-12-2011 21:23:20 | More by tempest

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very minor foggy tone to a straw color. Crème head. Minor cereal nose with a stronger metallic tone. Flavor is tart in a way I don't consider positive. Metallic edge is there, but not the biggest character of the ride. Feel is typical. Overall this is average stuff. There is nothing interesting about it and the metallic and dirty edge just kind of kills it from ever being interesting.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2008 04:20:42 | More by RblWthACoz

jdhilt

New Hampshire

2.6/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a four finger white head that fades slowly and leaves some lace. Clear amber color. Light-medium carbonation and light-medium bodied. Grassy nose. Flavor is grassy, some hops with a lingering hoppy aftertaste. Typical Euro pils. $2.15 for a 330ml bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2008 22:26:56 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Moderately lined crispness within a light to medium body, a smoothness come from this. Spicy hop is noticeable upfront, hay and grassy flavours from the grain and hops set in with a mild spicy flavour from the hops that cuts through some of the malt. Then comes a slight citric hop that drops a zesty flavour in the middle to finish. Malt is very grainy in a semi clean way and linger far and broad into the after taste.

A simple lager, tasty without any complexities. Pairs well with any kind of smoked sausage, I had mine with some smoked sausage and slaw.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2002 22:51:31 | More by Jason

Bighuge

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Straw appearance. Foamy white head with good retention. Carbonation is evident. Aroma is a subtle mix of malt and hops with the malt winning the battle. If you're looking for a European Pilsner without the big bitter factor, this is it. It's a very pleasant tasting beer. Nice malt base. Very subtle hop nuances. A slight citric twang and maybe a little metallic. Thinnish body and fairly low carbonation. Very easy to kick this one back. Gotta love the name too.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2002 19:37:26 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.35/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Not bad for a pilsner. Pours a little better than your average, but I guess I'm a little soured by the American bastardization of pilsner. Smells zesty, kinda impressive.

Taste is a little flat after the hop zest aroma got my hopes up. Might enjoy this more next time if its sampled in the summer. I could see this enjoyable in a more appopriate season. Its got the lemon tang and whatnot.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 23:08:48 | More by Beerandraiderfan

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.2/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, golden colour, not terribly bright, but with an excellent frothy, gurgling and lacing head of white foam. Lacing is spectacular. Looks like a really excellent lager. Exactly what you want from the style.

Some light grassiness on the nose, with a hint of honeyed grain. Not particularly strong, and there's certainly none of the sharp clean Saazy freshness that you'd expect from the better Czech style pilseners. Comes out appearing rather weak.

Taste is a clean grainy freshness, with just a hint of bitterness on the very back. It's very light on, and not particularly sharp though. Overall, there's not much to say about it. It hasn't got a lot of character, but it tastes pretty clean and fresh. Mouthfeel crisp. Not too bad.

It's not a bad lager overall. It doesn't have the character of a good pilsener, which is a shame, but it does end up a fresh, clean and easy-drinking beer all the same. I'm not wowed, but I'm not repulsed either.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2009 10:54:05 | More by lacqueredmouse

DoubleJ

California

3.9/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Welcome to the Golden Invtiational, a meet where four golden lagers brewed in Bavaria, Bohemia, Central America, and the South Pacific go against each other to see which of these gold brews makes the rules. Golden Pheasant represents Bohemia, and is the first review in this series of four. Without further adieu, let's get on to the beer:

Poured into a stange glass, it's a nice lighter golden color with a fluffy head. But before that, when the bottle was opened, skunk filled the area around it. However, the skunk scent fades away and spicy hops and some malt pull through. There plenty of flavor in this brew. It's hoppy, has a lingering malt flavor, and a featherly melon sweetness. Despite the amount of flavor, it's delicate, soft, and smooth. Pretty damn good if you ask me.

A superb first act here in the Golden Invitational, and a score that will take some work to overtake. Bavaria's offering will be next at the dish.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2007 16:55:18 | More by DoubleJ

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

2.78/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

My second time to try this beer. The first enounter was due to a Slovak's friend's kind recommendation, brought back from his home country. Yet this bottle obtained in London has English translations of Zlaty Bazant on the label: Golden Pheasant. Well, does it mean it's now widely available and popular? At least this is the only Slovak beer I've managed to find in London so far...
BB 21/06/06, served lightly chilled in a weizen glass.

A: pale golden in colour, the restrained beer head builds up fast yet retreats equally w/o hesitation; the sporadic carbonation contains huge bubbles occasionally ascending with growing speed from the bottom of the glass.
S: a dried-grassy note skirted with an eggy note that is quite common to mass-produced lager these days... (or is it?) The malt content is medium, not full, but sufficient to keep a balance with the grassy note. Also noticeable are a honeyish malty aroma and sweet-ish grains, while a swirl could bring up a more fragrant and lemony fruitiness. Not bad.
T: slightly metallic in texture upfront, coupled with a very soft-bodied maltiness pouring onto the palate... wrapping very faint flavours in the middle, nothing more considerable than toast-like bitter-sweet bready malts and a very mild edge of lemonade... slowly and quietly, a dryish-bitter aftertaste comes of age, marking welcomed presence of bunches of hops, and resulting in a mildly hoppy yet quite chewy finish.
M&D: smooth and semi-clean (not crisp), on the texture, pleasant enough for quaffing in quantity. Yet the flavour profile is slightly too boring, as the hoppy entry only brings aboard its body rather than sufficient flavours, hence a beer feeling better in the end than its overall taste... An O.K. Pilsner-style lager I have to say--NEEDS MORE FLAVOURS!!

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2006 18:10:52 | More by wl0307