Kaiser Pils - Pennsylvania Brewing Company

markleyc06

4.69/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

About the beer:

A- beautiful golden clear straw color.

S- Grassy, malty, and that typical spicy hallertau sharpness.

T- Bitter up-front with lots of malt character followed by a lingering bitterness that leaves your palate refreshed and wanting more.

M-Good body for a session strength beer with ample carbonation to round things out.

Overall- A classic and fantastic example of "GERMAN PILSNER". This truly is one of the best and most flavorful pilsners out there....especially in the pittsburgh area. It is extremely discouraging seeing people who give this beer a bad review and clearly don't understand what this style is supposed to be. Look at the medals its won at GABF...those judges know their styles! Overall if you're in the pittsburgh area Penn Brewery is an absolute must if you like traditional german style beer. These guys master their craft and do it day in day out.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 18:48:41 | More by markleyc06

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz.

Pours a light yellow gold with white suds for a head.

Smells of grassy malts with some notable hop bitterness.

Grassy malts, a bit of bready character, and a dry hop bite.

Crisp light body with a sting of carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

Another solid pilsner offering from Penn, I like this one better than their standard pils. Another good one to pair with food or session. Doesn't try to do much else than that, but does what it does just fine. Definitely worth trying with food or as a thirst quencher.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 22:24:36 | More by Cylinsier

buschbeer

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle
Served in a perfect pint glass

A - It is pale yellow and hazy. It was topped with about one and a half inches of off white head.

S - A pleasant lemon scent fills my nostrils. I also get some grass.

T - The lemon grass comes through in the taste as well, but is overshadowed by a skunk flavor.

M - Thin to moderate

O - It is not a bad beer aside from the skunk taste. I enjoyed the lemon aroma.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 20:07:55 | More by buschbeer

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on 2012-11-23 in Pittsburgh at the brewery

A - Clear gold with a 1.5-finger white head and mild lacing.

S - Lemon, grass, saltine cracker

T - Good, bold flavors of lemon, hallertau grassy spice, pale malt, touch of lightly-toasted white bread. Finishes dry and with some lasting bitterness.

M - Light body and medium carbonation. Crisp and refreshing.

O - Really enjoyed this with my meal at the brewery. It also held up well earlier in the day in a Pilsner-palozza, coming in 3rd behind Victory Prima Pils and Troegs Sunshine Pils in an all-Pennsylvania shoot out.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2012 20:10:24 | More by Tucquan

TownDunkel

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pennsylvania Brewing Company... one of the first of their beers I had the pleasure of joining. Got to love free beer!

Appearance - A calm yellow with slight carbonation. It is clear and about right for the style

Smell - The scent is a bit weak for me but has the definite hop scent.

Taste - A bitter hops and malt that then kicks up with extra bitter goodness in the second round. The flavors have almost a chocolate to dark fruit flavors.

Mouthfeel - A little more carbonation would help with the nice long lasting flavor.

Overall - This is a good beer, but boy you have to be in the mood for the bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 02:44:11 | More by TownDunkel

Alchemist

Ohio

4.68/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Of all of the Penn beers, this is the one that I get the most bready malt flavor from that I associate with good German-style lagers. I know that I am in the minority on this one, but I think the hops are just right for this style of beer. I think that some other very highly rated German style pilsners are over the top on hops for the style,i.e. Prima Pils. I like Penn beers and this one has always been a favorite of mine.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2012 20:47:44 | More by Alchemist

Falzi87

Massachusetts

1.5/5  rDev -60.6%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Got this beer out of my beer of the month delivery. Anyone getting a buttered popcorn from the movies type taste? I do like buttered popcorn from the movies...just not in my beer.

Average beer at best. Shocked to come on here and see it has decent grades. This beer should really be called Kaiser Piss. Next time I'm in the mood for a nice cold bottle of piss, I'll be sure to pick this up.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 01:40:08 | More by Falzi87

WoodBrew

Illinois

2.88/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a golden color with a slight off white head that is about a finger thick. The smell is of floral hops with sweet malt and some bread malt also. The taste is of a sweet malt backbone with a little bit of sweet bread, the hops are present throughout and are floral in nature. The mouthfeel is of moderate carbonation. You could drink alot of this beer there is nothing to turn you off from it. For a pilsner it has some flavor and some complexity which you dont always get with this class.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 02:24:35 | More by WoodBrew

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a plastic cup at the Trib Total Media Hall of Fame Club at PNC Park during the first of a three-game vs. Cincy. Lovely sudsy head. Spray painted lacing inis my cup. Deep golden body. Looks fantastic on a hot day. 4.0

Crisp minty German hop aroma and a beefy pale malt backbone. 3.5

Bitter and fruity. Nice tart tangerine citrus in the hops. Woody character to the malts. Little yellow grapefruit and background apple tart. Crackery dry malt. Nice hoppy finish. 4.0

High carbonation provides bristles in a solid body. Refreshing on a hot day. 4.5

Another exceptional German product from this PA brewery. Let's go Bucs! 4.0

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2012 17:13:34 | More by thecheapies

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

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

12 oz bottle into hardywood tulip glass.

A: very clear, very bright gold body. carbonation is streaming. head is bright white with good retention and fantastic lacing. very good looking brew.

S: spicy and earthy. green tea. herbal. chalky.

T: plenty of hallertau hop flavor on the body makes this very refreshing. maybe a little metallic towards the finish? tin-y even. the finish lingers with bitterness, but not heavy.

M: plenty of carbonation on a light bodied brew.

D: this and their st. nick's bock are my 2 favorites thus far in brews i have tried from Penn Brewing Co. these guys can definitely brew a good lager and i certainly recommend this brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 01:17:57 | More by Jimmys

Gavage

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: pours a clear golden yellow color with a big fluffy two finger head.

Smell: grassy tones dominate the nose.

Taste: nice balance of malt and grassiness. Bitterness is quite noticeable. Some light fruit tones arrive late.

Mouthfeel: light-medium bodied beer. Very crisp throughout with a dryness arriving at the finish. Nicely refreshing.

Overall: a very tasty pils that would quench anyone's thirst.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 23:51:26 | More by Gavage

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear looking golden color with a thin white head, fades quickly, leaves some patchy lacing on the glass though.

Smell has a good deal of hops on the nose, citrusy with a good amount of grassy notes.

Taste starts out with a hint of sweet malt but that is soon overshadowed by the grassy hop presence, the bitterness is just the right amount for the style since it doesn't overwhelm, finishes clean and dry.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 01:09:22 | More by deltatauhobbit

Ryan011235

Ohio

2.55/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured into an A-B flute on 3/6/12

The color is a dainty, golden rod and straw; looks watered down, but is pretty much clear. Three finger head of fluffy foam collapses slowly scattered trails of raised lace that really starts to collect halfway down the glass. Thin retention.

Noble hops are all over the aroma - grassy and herbal/floral with spicy and soapy undertones. Hints of lemon peel zestiness. The malts offer a slightly grainy, biscuit note. Clean enough.

Kaiser Pils tastes ok, if a little one dimensional. Moderate hops kick and an accompanying spicy twinge are mainly relegated to the front with toasted grain in the center. From there it flavor falls off quickly to a slow, tapered decay.

The feel is the weakest aspect, being too light and watery; at times it seems lifeless. Same thing with the carbonation; half-hearted and lacking brilliance. The finish has a stale lingering and vapid feel. I'm not too impressed.

Though I remember this fondly from on tap a few years ago, this just isn't living up to my admittedly unlikely-to-be-attained recollections. Ah well.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 05:33:36 | More by Ryan011235

keeganfrank

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bright yellow beer with a thin, sudsy head. A few bits of lacing are left behind as the glass is drained. Aroma is a little faint and consists of grass and citrus. Has a tart, earthy flavor with notes of lemon rind and sweet dough. Very dry, and a little rough around the edges.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 20:05:44 | More by keeganfrank

frenchblood21

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance- Very pale yellow color. Looks like sparkling lemonade. Small paper white head that goes away quickly.

Smell- Hops, orange and fresh cut grass, in that order.

Taste- Very hoppy, lemon and grapefruit and straw

Mouthfeel- Buttery is the best way to describe this beer. Coats the whole mouth and throat when swallowed. Great texture

Overall- Not a game changer, but what pils really is. A slightly above average beer from a good brewery. If you find it on tap its worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 00:28:55 | More by frenchblood21

hustlesworth

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- ultra clear pale golden with a loose soapy white head and spotty lacing.

S- bright and hoppy, hallertau grassy floral and lemony aroma. a bit of cracker like pale malt tartness.

T- a wonderfully hoppy and zesty pils, clean malt flavor and bitterness with notes of lemon, apple, grape skin, prosecco, and white bread.

MF- crisp and dry, but not sahara dry. bitterness lingers in the throat and on the cheeks. light body with lively carbonation.

D- this one is a well rounded true to style hoppy pils. i could easily drink it on the reg.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 04:17:16 | More by hustlesworth

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pilsner glass.

4.5 A: Clear pale yellow color. Two fingers of frothy white head. Good retention and a tall ring of lacing is left.

4.0 S: Huge aroma for the style. Plentiful grassy and earthy hop aromas. Neutral malt sweetness accompanied by graininess and a light biscuity component.

4.0 T: A hefty bitterness for the style, but well within the desirable range. Noble hop earthiness and grassiness. Biscuity malts with balancing sweetness.

4.0 M: Light, crisp body. Good moderate carbonation. Super smooth. Appropriate for style.

4.0 D: Good beer. I'm glad to see that not everything in the Penn lineup has taken a dive in quality.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 04:20:25 | More by DavoleBomb

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thick, lasting head despite the bar pour. Leaves plenty of blanketing and chunky lace. Straw color with a very mild chill haze.

Has a bit of a stale brewery aroma.

Starts with a grainy pale malt flavor that is quickly overtaken by a "green" hop bite of paprika. Long lasting hop-pellet aftertaste. Creamy body for the style but the higher carbonation counters this nicely. Perhaps too bitter for the style; it comes across harshly. Still, I very much like this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2011 16:32:19 | More by smcolw

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.38/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I got this beer from cosmo4u. Thanks Chad!

12oz bottle served in a pilsner glass.

L - semi-hazed bright yellow color with a white head that left some trails of lacing as the beer went down.

S - bitter Euro-hop aroma.

T - bitter blast of Hallertau hops from start to finish.

F - light/medium bodied with a crisp feel.

O - a very good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2011 23:57:32 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

russwbeck

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A golden yellow pour with a small, wispy, white head and nice lacing. The smell was very light and slightly hoppy, more grassy hops than piney ones. I must say that my ability to accurately describe the smell was hindered a bit by the fact that I was sitting around a nice campfire when it was consumed, I’d say it was a win/win regardless. My taste buds, however, were in perfect working order. Following the smell, the taste was light, refreshing, and hoppy, very much like a pilsner should taste. It was very nicely carbonated and crisp, you could hardly taste any alcohol. Wonderful drinking beer, whether you’re at a campfire, a ballgame, on the lake, wherever, you can’t go wrong here!

Serving type: growler

07-25-2011 01:03:51 | More by russwbeck

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Tedwarhc for this bottle. Served in a COAST tall pint.

Pours a moderate golden-yellow color with a two-finger white head that is quite fluffy. Good retention and lacing. The nose is a bit odd in that there's some strong grain and a bit of tannin, but also smells a bit skunked, even though it's in a brown bottle. The flavor is better, but doesn't quite hit the level I'm looking for in a German Pilsener. Mostly grain in the front followed by a pronounced bitterness on the back-end. A bit too grainy and slightly skunkish. Light body and high carbonation with a good bitter finish. Drinks well enough, but doesn't rival the best versions of the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2011 23:44:56 | More by Thorpe429

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Has a very hazy colored pure yellow with a half inch of foam that turns to a very impressive ring with sticky lace.

S - Smells of pilsner malt, slight grassy malt, and a bit of grain.

T - Pretty sweet actually, at first but then turns to a mild bit of grain and a pretty impressive hop bitterness.

M - Light to medium pretty drinkable.

Overall I think this is the best thing they have but I just grabbed this for the tick. Still a very solid brew but couldn't see much session ability.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 04:34:58 | More by DrDemento456

metter98

New York

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is clear straw yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high bright white head that died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of bready and grainy malts in the nose along with some notes of floral and grassy hops.
T: Flavors of bready malts stand out in the overall taste; hints of sweetness are present in the initial taste while the finish has notes of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very easy to drink and is rather sessionable, especially on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 02:51:17 | More by metter98

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I enjoyed multiple servings of this at PA Flavor

A very clear golden straw color with visible carbonation and thick snowy creamy looking cap w/ tight bead. The head retention is good and lace sticks well. The aroma contains a good amount of noble hop aroma -very floral and herbal scented with mild pils malt accent and mild fruit from the yeast. The feel is good with some spice notes and mild sweetness with a high carbonation and rather dry finish.

The taste is excellent - loaded with hop flavor and only a mild level of astringency is noted, plenty of herb notes in the taste with fresh quality and gentle spice with the light toasted elements of the pils malt backing up the light acidic quality of the hops. The carbonation keeps the flavor fresh and the yeast is very clean overall with slight accent in the dry finish. I am very impressed with this pils, one of the best PA has to offer in a state where the bar for pilsners is very high already.

Serving type: on-tap

04-11-2011 22:13:44 | More by Slatetank

rousee

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

These guys arent available in MA -or at least I think they're not. Picked up these in NYC. They are definitely contract brewed and it sure inspired a lot of commentary here when I asked the pa locals about it. I know no other than these from this brewery so that is my only opinion of them.

Nice gold color, frothy white soap like head. Excellent fresh german/czech hops on the nose. The breadiness that I like is front and center. Quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 01:41:38 | More by rousee