Tjekket Pilsner - Mikkeller ApS

Olek4374

Alberta (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Single bottle picked up from Sherbrooke Liquor Store in Edmonton.

It pours a murky yellow-brown colour similar to that of iced tea with about 1.5 fingers' worth of head. Personally I hate these iced tea looking beers - it's like an unpleasant combo of yellow and brown.The head smells hoppy - not like IPA hoppy, but an appropriate level for a pilsner.

The taste brings much of the same hoppiness with a trace of lingering bitterness on the tongue which sort of makes me just crave another sip. The aftertaste is clean; there are no cringe-worthy remnants from this beer that make finishing it a chore. The beer is heavily carbonated, although it feels pleasant in my mouth. The body is nicely balanced - it's a little thick on the tongue going in, but a lot smoother going down.

Overall, a great European Pilsner. It's just a pity that it's so hard to find.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2013 07:14:21 | More by Olek4374

lsummers

California

3.26/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Initially I thought this pilsner was going to be great. Poured a fantastic hazy gold and smelled of slight lemons, grassy notes and clove. Definitely subtle though.

Taste wasn't as good. Tasted mostly of cereal with a touch of grassy hops and some peppery clove flavors.

Mouthfeel was sharp and fizzy. Felt very carbonated but didn't quite have the head to match.

Overall a great pils to try and compare if you like the style but otherwise I might not pick this one up again.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 06:24:55 | More by lsummers

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

2.65/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Hazy orange/gold with a lot of sediment floating around. Nice looking pils, but apparently you really can't judge a book by its cover.

S - Citrus fruits, a bit hoppy and bready. Floral notes.

T - The citrusy notes come through but so does an unpleasant grassy flavor. Even worse, this one has a smoky/rubber aftertaste that is extremely unpleasant. The band-aid flavor people keep mentioning is not a joke. Very disappointed.

M - Light body with average carbonation. Typical pilsner.

This was my second Mikkeller beer and a huge disappointment after the first. As someone that really appreciates a good pilsner, this one just doesn't fall in that category. It has no problem pleasing any of the other senses, but if it doesn't taste right it isn't worth drinking...

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 20:17:56 | More by RoninTK3

ngeunit1

California

4/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Hazy golden-orange with a finger of frothy white head. Fades normal.

S - Pilsner malts, citrus and noble hops, biscuit, lager yeast, bit of lemon zest.

T - Pilsner and some biscuity and sweet grainy malts, citrus and noble hops, some bitterness, some lemon zest, some lager yeast.

M - Medium-light bodied with moderate carbonation. Smooth with a dry, lightly bitter finish.

D - Nice hoppy pilsner. Good overall balance.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 05:32:00 | More by ngeunit1

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle. Hard to come by in this land of beer a-plenty. Thanks to Jim at Sherbrooke for releasing this one to me from the clutches of Beer Club.

This beer pours a cloudy, bright medium golden straw hue, with two fingers of fuzzy, foamy white head, which settles at an agreeable pace, leaving broad sectional swaths of lace around the glass.

It smells of spicy, grassy hops at first, giving way to a nice round bready maltiness. The taste is more blended, but more or less equally represented - zingy grassy, leafy hops, sturdy, semi-sweet pale grainy malt, and a decent tart lemon fruitiness.

The carbonation is sprightly, and quite refreshing, the body on the lee side of medium weight, and a tad too edgy, in an acidic manner, to be deemed dead smooth. It finishes mostly dry, the grain ceding way to the hop and lemon carry-overs.

A decent stab as this venerable Bohemian staple - good sassy hop flavours, but, and I'm kicking myself for saying this - they kind of eventually overwhelm the malt, wherein I would have liked to see some more crisp crackery notes. Ah well, I still recommend givin' 'er a go.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 23:41:45 | More by biboergosum

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Jim at Sherbrooke for the sample. From a 330 ml brown bottle. Obvious sediment swirling around in the bottle the moment it is picked up to pour. Pours out a cloudy straw hue, with a tall loose-bubbled frothy white head which settles to a chunky cap. Looks a lot more like a Wit or Hefe.

Soft grains with musty, dry, leafy hops on the nose, a hint of tangerine peel. Some grassy notes.

Biscuity grains up front in the flavour, dry mild leafy and herbal hops mid-range to the finish, with a fairly clean aftertaste.

Medium-bodied mouthfeel, somewhat slippery texture with a brisk level of carbonation that helps boost a fuller sensation.

I'm under the historical assumption that the whole point of producing the original Pilsener was to make a clear, transparent lager. Well, I suppose this is going more along the lines of the flavour profile, which it touches on the key points for the most part, however doesn't really stand out from amongst the plethora of other examples of the style. Well, it stands out for being cloudy.... This one goes on the tall "take it or leave it" pile of Mikkeller's offerings, I don't feel I'll be missing out if I never have another one.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 06:27:50 | More by IronDjinn

seand

California

3.75/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy straw yellow amber, with a medium amount of bubbly white head. A thin layer retains, with a bit more around the edge of the glass, which is enough to leave pretty good lacing.

S: Light malty sweetness, yeast, and some floral notes. Mild and pleasant, but there is a bit of complexity there.

T: Grainy sweetness with a bit of yeast. A bit watery mid-palate, and a little hoppy towards the finish.

M: Light to medium body, medium carbonation.

Overall, this is ok, not fantastic. If it were cheap and easily available it would make a decent session/"just a beer" beer, but it's not one I could rave about.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 05:21:50 | More by seand

PerHops

California

3.43/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This one pours a very hazy, very pale golden color. Very active on the pour and leaves a soapy head that looks thin at first, but eventually develops more body. The smell is more complex than most pilsners I've tried. Some citrus and a little pine. Taste follows the nose, but finishes bisquity with a mellow if lingering bitterness. Not what I would expect out of a pils, but it makes sense that Mikkeller would make a pilsner like this. Not unbelievable, but good and outside the box. I would try again.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 02:41:44 | More by PerHops

BurpingtonDC

Maryland

2.25/5  rDev -34.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Sheesh! Ok This was poured into a pint glass...

A - Cloudy, murky, non-specific coloration; like a glass of beer comprised of a thousand different pilsner dregs poured into one glass at the end of a rough evening.

S - Slight hoppy scent from the Saaz, but not much of anything else.

T - Dishwater

M - moderate carbonation and a typical light pilsner body.

O - I was really disappointed by this Pilsner. Quite possibly one of the worst I've ever had. Totally unfulfilling. Sorry.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 20:13:31 | More by BurpingtonDC

metter98

New York

3.53/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is yellow in color and has a slight amount of haze and a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high bright white head that quickly died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are light aromas of floral hops in the nose along with notes of bready and grainy malts.
T: The taste has flavors of bready and grainy malts along with some hints of peppery spices; these are accompanied by a moderate amount of bitterness from start to finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. The finish leaves a bit of dryness in your mouth.
O: The beer is easy to drink but seems lack enough of a malty presence compared to other beers in the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 21:44:50 | More by metter98

kojevergas

California

2.78/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

33cl brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a pint glass in high altitude Denver, Colorado. Reviewed live. Mikkeller is me favourite brewery in the world.

A: Five finger head of nice soft cream lacing, good thickness, and great retention. Colour is a nontransparent cloudy yellow.

Sm: Light cream, and... that's all me broken nose can pick up. All apologies, lads.

T: Flat cream, bland hops, a weak barley foundation, and not much else. A simple disappointment from Mikkeller. Decently built and balanced, but not up to Mikkeller standards.

Mf: Smooth and wet. A bit too much so on each count. Sort of complements the flavour, but not really.

Dr: Easily drinkable, priced extremely high, and only of limited quality. I'll never have it again, methinks.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 08:21:53 | More by kojevergas

WesWes

New York

3.53/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a pale straw color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a light, pilsner malt scent along with a standard Czech hop aroma. The taste is decent as well. Again, it has a pilsner malt and Czech hop character. It goes down easy with a mild bitterness and a clean finish. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a very drinkable beer. It lacks a true pilsner mouthfeel. It's hoppy, but nothing too great. I enjoyed this beer, but there are plenty of better examples out there.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 01:49:50 | More by WesWes

inthebeeraisle

Oregon

3.2/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a pilsner style glass. Happy to try a new Mikkeller beer. Certainly the first Mikkeller lager I've had.

A: Definately more cloudy then I'd except. A straw color. Lots of head, not so much bubbles.

S: The smell was a bit strong on the alcohol for such a tame beer. A slight hop aroma is present to.

T: Pretty tasty. Different. Alomst has hints of lemongrass to go with a distinctive pilsner hop flavor.

M: A rich mouthfeel that keeps your palate coated.

O: My least favorite Mikkeller beer so far.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 02:12:07 | More by inthebeeraisle

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.17/5  rDev -37.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

So this has got to be my least favorite Mikkeller brew I've had thus far. I opened the bottle and poured it out. Everything looked great. Then I took a whiff of it and had to do another to make sure. To me this beer smelled exactly like a Medicine Cabinet. The flavor of the beer was like drinking liquified band-aids. I was severely disappointed in this beer. I love Mikkeller and everything they do. Except for this one. This was a waste of a few bucks in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 04:10:56 | More by Knapp85

Trilogy31

California

3.4/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip, color is a dark hazy gold. Nice head that slowly dissipates and leaves a ton of lacing. Very straight forward on the nose and taste. Easy going notes of bread and slightly salty biscuits, followed by a light hoppiness and a bit of smoke at the end. Does seem to off a bit of an off metallic taste to it as well. Nice smooth finish and mouthfeel. Nice for the style and a step up from a typical session pils yet the $4.99 a bottle will not have me revisiting it.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2011 02:56:34 | More by Trilogy31

Richardberg

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - poured into a tulip. Light yellow-orange. Not much head, but leaves great lacing for a light beer.

S - classic bready pils smell, just enough hops to keep things interesting

T - crisp, straightforward pils. Not much else to say.

M - light body, plenty of carbonated zing.

D - very drinkable, enjoyable, well made lager, if unexceptional.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 03:00:50 | More by Richardberg

plfahey

Minnesota

2.85/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

11.2 oz. bottle poured into a tulip glass

Appearance-Medium to deep gold in color. Somewhat hazy, especially for a pilsner. Moderate frothy white head with medium size bubbles and decent retention.

Aroma-Zesty, spicy Saaz hops are up front in the nose, with some light grainy malt undertones.

Flavor- Initial flavor is clean, zesty saaz hops backed up by a malt character much larger then the aroma would suggest, with almost a bit of toast character. However, these flavors are quickly overpowered by phenolic characters, particularly smoky phenolics, and a hint of plasticy phenolics.

Mouthfeel-Medium body, high carbonation, not a bad start, but the phenolic characters in the finish leave the mouth feeling chalky dry.

Not a terrible beer, but the phenolic characters are out of place and overpower what could have otherwise been a very nice Czech pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2010 04:39:43 | More by plfahey

megahurts4

Louisiana

3.95/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mikkeller Czech-style Pilsner (Tjekket Pilsner)

Appearance: Straw yellow, huge pillowing head, and some lacing.

Smell: Grains, malts, and subtle hops.

Taste: Grains, malts, and some hops.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light, smooth, and rich.

Overall:
This is a great pilsner. One of the best pilsners I've had. The flavors are very well balanced and finishes with a subtle bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 05:17:34 | More by megahurts4

Bendurgin

Maine

4.18/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Popped this one open and we've got a gusher. I quickly poured it into my pint glass with a bit pouring over the side. The pour is a hazy straw color with a gigantic fluffy white head on top. Great head retention and sticky lacing. I smell some fruitiness in this, like sweet strawberries. Pilsner malts and grains make this a rockin' beer to put your nose into! Good flavor on this and not very complex. Pilsner malts and hop bittering to finish. Nice light body and the abv is tough to beat for drinkability. Really into this one, I want more.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2010 04:29:57 | More by Bendurgin

Mora2000

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to my brother for sending this bottle my way.

The beer pours a golden-orange color with a white head. The aroma is pilsener malt with some grassy and earthy hops. The flavor is more of the pilsener malt with some dirt mixed in. There is something a little off-putting about the flavor, I just can't figure out exactly what it is. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Glad I got to try it, but not one of my favorite Mikkeller beers.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2010 23:42:10 | More by Mora2000

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

3.88/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

11.2oz, into pint glass, listed as 4.6% ABV, not 4.8%. Supposedly this is the house beer for Sushi Restaurant Bento, Helgolandsgade 16, kld., Vesterbro, Denmark.

A- Pale yellow, 4-finger sticky head, really not what I was expecting but not unwelcome. Head like a DIPA, craters, peaks and valleys. Whoa.

S- Almost smells like a wit. Hmm. Lots of bready malt, a wisp of fruit.

T- Mild bittering hops, great pale malt. Not too complex, but what's there is great. Sometimes simple is better. Great clean malt presentation. Def. has some flavor notes that remind me of Draft Bear, but much tamer.

M- High carbonation, light body, almost fizzy, goes down well.

D- High, but the price will get ya. $4 a bottle for a pilsener? I like it, I won't be buying this frequently though.

Mikkeller, start contract brewing in the US for some of these beers! We want 6-packs!

Note: other reviewers mention band-aids and smoke. Neither in this bottle. Strange.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2010 01:54:05 | More by ShogoKawada

speter

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a cloudy dark gold with a huge, persistent, rock-hard head. Leaves impressive lacing.

S: This has a bit more in the nose than your typical pilsener. There's a fair bit of grass with a lemony note from the hops.

T: This is one bitter pilsener! The bite hits right up front, and in the center and finish, I'm almost detecting a smoky quality. The finish is bitter, and that lingers through the aftertaste. While I like it quite a bit, the flavor is more towards the German pils range in terms of hoppiness. It also seems as if this fermented somewhat warm, as there are definite esters and even some buttery diacetyl.

M: I would never believe this is 4.6% (or so says the label). This is rather full-bodied and very strong in the carbonation department.

D: Very drinkable. This review is somewhat of a difficult one, but to the notion of style. Strictly speaking, this isn't a very good Czech-style Pilsener. It is, however, a great tasting beer that has wandered off the beaten path.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2010 23:48:53 | More by speter

drpimento

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -13%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Hm. Poured with a smallish white head and a little lace. Color is a hazy/cloudy amber. Aroma is malt beery grain grass yeast minerals. Flavor is like aroma but with one flavor that I can't place really standing out - not really a beer flavor, something odd.... Body and carbonation are ok. Finish is like flavor and medium in length. Proly wouldn't get again, except to see if that odd flavor is still there and to figure out what it is.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2010 19:41:20 | More by drpimento

Arenbeer

Connecticut

3.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Thanks alot to abrand for letting me try this brew!

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A- Pours a clear yellow with a huge cloudy fluffy white head that's about 2 1/2 fingers.

S- Sweeter malts with a decent hop presence and a strange yeasty smell.

T- Almost roasted malts with some bitter hops and some citrus, almost orange flavor.

M- Medium body with a decent amount of carbonation and a pretty good bitter dry finish.

SkÅL!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 22:38:42 | More by Arenbeer

bark

Sweden

2.83/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The colour is pale gold; the liquid is a bit cloudy. The high white head leaves massive amounts of lacing.

The smell is buttery with hints of yeast and dry minerals. Hints of rubber.

The taste is a bit yeasty with some diacetyl. The bitterness is unexpectedly light. Some dry ester-y fruity notes. The short aftertaste got a strange off taste of phenols (paint).

The carbonation is medium to strong. The liquid is smooth.

A bit too unclean for me. Not a very good interpretation of a Czech Pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 19:36:11 | More by bark