Gordon Biersch Pilsner - Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

BucannonXC5

California

3.5/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a keg into a pilsner glass at Gordon Biersch in San Diego. About an inch of head. Plenty of lacing. Some film on the sides of the glass that stayed throughout. Color was honey.

Smelled malty, mainly grass and grains.

Initial taste was malts with heavy carbonation. Kind of a bland kick with a slight alcohol bite.

Medium body with lively carbonation. Still the bland kick.

Not the bad of a beer overall, at least compared to what else Gordon Biersch has to offer. Let’s face it, you’re going there for the food anyway.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2011 05:00:42 | More by BucannonXC5

fsimcox

California

3.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a transparent, straw-yellow color with a bubbly white foamy head that dissipates quickly leaving a thin white layer. No lacing.

Smells of hops, lemon peel, and some hints of grass. Weak smell overall.

Tastes of sweet biscuit, malt, and some bitter hops in the finish, but not much. A bit of sweet biscuit in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is clean, crisp, a little thin, and some carbonation in the end.

Not a bad Pils. But not up there with the good ones.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2011 16:49:40 | More by fsimcox

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on 2010-05-24 at the brew pub in Kansas City, MO (from tasting notes)

A - Clear straw with a pillowy white head that settles out quickly. Mild lacing.

S - Not much. Some grain and perhaps a little grass.

T - Reminds me of a Pilsner Urquel with a balance of sweetness, noble hops and some grassiness.

M - Medium body and carbonation with a clean feel.

D - Pretty easy to drink but the flavor wasn't interesting enough to bring me back for another.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2010 13:19:46 | More by Tucquan

lacqueredmouse

Australia

2.93/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a clear deep golden colour, with a full and meringuey head of foam. Rocky bubbling leaves some sticky lacing. Lots of large-bubbled carbonation. It looks the part.

Nose is unfortunately really very weak. Bit of grainy malt, and maybe something green and a little fresher, with a bit of sharp seltzer water. Eh. Not great. Very lean on flavour.

Taste is clear and clean, but also extremely light, like the nose. Some graininess and a sharpness on the back which is probably the most pleasant aspect. Some slightly harsh huskiness come out later. Mouthfeel is sparkling, but the carbonation feels slightly bloating.

It's not bad, but it's only average. Drinkable enough, and more flavoursome than a generic pale lager, but not nearly as good as some of the best pilseners.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2010 17:17:54 | More by lacqueredmouse

jneiswender

Massachusetts

2.3/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Had this beer on draft at the restaurant in the San Diego brewpub.

A-bright white head, old gold body and very clear.

S-clean and some faint fruit smell

T-clean, light grain flavor and some hop flavor at the end

M-light

D-overall a really weak beer. Not very flavorful and somewhat one dimensional.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2010 01:10:42 | More by jneiswender

armock

New York

2.2/5  rDev -32.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Had on tap at the Gorden Biersch bar at LAX at 9:30 am before flying home.

A - Poured a straw color with a white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Isn't very good its of grain and dirty socks

T - It doesn't taste any better than it smells even slightly sour

M - This beer has a light body with higher carbonation to it

D - This is the worst beer that I've had from Gordon Biersch and I won't be getting this one anytime soon again stay away

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2009 22:43:12 | More by armock

Boto

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Draught in Washington DC location: This one pours a clear golden color. There was a big white head on it that left a lot of lacing. The aroma is decent, but milder. It is earthy, with some malts and a hint of hops. The taste is good also. A touch malty and earthy, but needs more hops.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 900 F St NW, Washington

08-16-2009 18:24:22 | More by Boto

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at the Gordon Biersch Washington DC Airport restaurant brewery. First beer during our layover on the way to San Diego for a two-week "beercation!"

A - Clear golden body with sparse carbonation and thin white bubbly head that all but disappeared and left virtually no lacing around the glass.

S - Typical pils nose, albeit a bit muted overall. Slight grainy and biscuity malts are apparent, as well as mild citrus notes. There is a touch of buttery diacetyl in the midst of subtle grassy notes and a hint of alcohol.

T - Grassy hop bite paired with a grainy malt character and subtle citrus notes. Sweet malts prevail throughout suggesting caramel. There is just enough crisp hop bitterness in the finish to satisfy.

M - Light to medium bodied with a slight syrupy texture, but thin and watery overall. Carbonation is pretty soft for the style, although there is a fairly crisp hop bite in the finish.

D - Overall, this wasn't a bad pils. While not too terribly exciting to look at, this was a pretty flavorful pils overall. This is the first of many beers to be reviewed over the next two weeks, as we traverse all over the great state of California.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 900 F St NW, Washington

07-13-2009 17:34:07 | More by ffejherb

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.55/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Had on tap at the Miami brewpub. The trainer was serving me and said its more of a Czech pilsner. Of course reasonable people may disagree. Neutral aroma. A bit more cloudy yellow than a plane lager, and had some white head, left some lace. Some saaz hops, and an off-bitterness.On the thinner side.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

02-20-2009 20:21:56 | More by northyorksammy

magictrokini

California

1.78/5  rDev -45.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

I did not like this pilsener. It looked really good, clear gold pour witha frothy white head and solid lacing. It smelled awful, like b.o. The taste was not much better. Very sour, again like a dirty sweat sock. Someone said metallic-tasting, which is close. I just could not get over the smell.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

12-08-2008 23:55:54 | More by magictrokini

EagleTalon

Arkansas

3.68/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasting notes from visit to Colorado Springs 4/25/2008:

Look: Thin head, golden, crystal clear

Smell: vinous, noble hops, pilsner malt

Taste: weird waxy flavor gives way to dry malt/hop tang. Is it wood-aged?

Feel: good

Drink: good

General Impression: good beer with a distinct infusion that makes it interesting

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

06-08-2008 17:13:40 | More by EagleTalon

bradybeer

California

4.2/5  rDev +28%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Dark straw yellow in my glass-nice rocky white head-medium carbonation. Good floral hop aroma with a slight hop bitterness in the finish. Body is light to medium, with a nice mouthfeel from medium carbonation. Drinkability is high for me-this is my go to beer at GB-it is refreshing amd a downright good beer

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 33 East San Fernando Street, San Jose

04-10-2008 01:40:57 | More by bradybeer

clayrock81

Virginia

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

Note: This is currently the spring seasonal (I am assuming spring and not winter since it is springtime) but I was told that this GB was phasing out one of their regular beers and was going to put this pils in regular rotation.

A solid golden body that was semi-see thru with a staunch one-finger head. Had somewhat of a roasty smell, with a hint of roasted malt (go figure) mixing in with some zesty hops and a bit of lemon citrus. This citrus is mixed in with the hops for a decent taste, although the hops and lemon seem to nullify each other. Still produces a smooth body with a somewhat dry finish on the backbite, although there seems to be a bit of graininess on the backbite also. I am not a huge pils fan but this is an alright pils that I could have occasionally while sitting outside on GB's patio in warm weather.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 4561 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach

03-29-2008 15:44:40 | More by clayrock81

JDV

Texas

2.05/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Light yellow pour with a little white head that didn't last. Kind of reminds me of a Carlsberg, and had no Pilsnery bite to it. It was too yeasty, bready and doughy for me, and not the crisp pilsner I hoped for. My least favorite of their beers possibly, but I think I've already said that about their blonde bock... On tap at the SF Gordon Biersch.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 4561 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach

01-31-2008 21:32:45 | More by JDV

Durge

Connecticut

3.05/5  rDev -7%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Purchased a big 22 ounce glass at the Gordon Biersch "pub" at Dulles Airport and was surprised that it was showing very little head and almost no sign of lacing. A thin yellow-gold with a subtle nose of orange biscuit. A crisp taste of fairly classic peppery grain/wheat, but kind of watery. The initial carbonation that gives it a little bite seems to die pretty quickly, but it's still fairly drinakble. Nothing exciting here. Would rather gamble on another unknown than take another one of these (especially at $6+ a pop!) but it shouldn't hurt anyone's feelings. My experience at the brepub in San Jose is a little better than this but I don't think I have ever sampled the pils before so this will have to do.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 4561 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach

07-21-2007 02:15:40 | More by Durge

Westsidethreat

California

2.68/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Dull golden rod color, very clean and still. Head started ok but fell to a wispy off white memory.

S: Copper coins, light white grape, corn pops

T: Begins like a bitter fruit perhaps, cranberry or unripe citrus but without the sweetness. Metallic tastes hit as the bitter fruit really begin to blossom...sort of an astringent bitterness without a lot of the attractive qualities. Finishes grainy and undefined.

M: Thin body with a medium prickly mouthfeel.

D: I really don't like this beer. It lacks the subtle sweetness that most other pilsners have. Pass. I won't finish this, move onto something else.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 4561 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach

01-11-2007 06:00:04 | More by Westsidethreat

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.95/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this at the CO Springs airport, this was a bit pricey, $6 for a .5L, try it elsewhere if you can

Poured gold & efferevescent wit a tight 1" white head. Good lacing & pretty fair head retention

S: Floral hops, maltyness & a hint of grainyness

T: Sweet malt quickly gives way to floral hops & grainyness. Slight grassyness emerges as it warms, along with a kittle soapyness. Finishes crisp, hoppy & a little sweet

MF: Medium bodied, maybe a little too overcarbonated, but not prickly, the balance is a bit all over the place. Couldn't pin down if this was a hoppy pils or a malty pils!

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1 West Flatiron Circle, Broomfield

09-29-2006 04:09:29 | More by russpowell

Vancer

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Final taste at GB in Miami : Crystal clear pour, although darker-than-macro gold , with a nice thick, dense pure white head with superb staying power. Even some lacing.

Aroma: the kick from a Saaz hop aroma, but a soft, sweet bready malt underneath adds nice balance.

A bit more sweet and rich than the norm pilsner affairs, an almost wheatish body before the hops come front and center. Crisp, bitter, dry finish. Pretty darn good. The mouthfeel is full bodied and soft for a pilsner, although the carbonation keeps it crisp throughout.

Yep, a better -than-average refreshing pilsner with a bit of bready creaminess tossed in for good measure.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

01-23-2006 16:00:07 | More by Vancer

Hunter

Arizona

2.05/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

I haven't cared much for the offerings of this quasi-upscale corporate brewhouse, and have avoided it for some time after an initial visit. But I decided to give the beer another try.

Pilsner pours a slightly deeper gold than your American pilsner, with thin threads of bubbles and a fluffy white head with no staying power.

Aroma is thankfully absent of adjunct. Light grassy hops and malt in the nose, it smells clean and crisp.

Gods, does the promise go downhill on the tasting. Brash, metallic flavor overrides everything. Bitter aftertaste and thin mouthfeel give way to a brassy finish.

Leave this for the yuppies who think they're drinking a sophisticated microbrew.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

04-01-2005 01:49:57 | More by Hunter

WetCoaster

California

4.1/5  rDev +25%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Crystal clear darker-than-macro gold with very active, large carbonation. Thick, rocky pure white head with superb retention and collar throughout. Some lacing.

Smell: the obvious powerful Saaz-ish hop aroma, but a soft, sweet bready malt underneath adds nice balance.

Taste/Mouthfeel: A bit more sweet and rich than the norm, with almost wheatish body before the hops come front and center. Crisp, bitter, dry finish. Quite nice, really. The mouthfeel is fullish and soft for a pilsner, although the carbonation keeps it crisp throughout.

Drinkability: Quite; a typical refreshing pilsner with a bit of bready creaminess thrown in for good measure.

I know this brewery has a rep for brewing tepid Yuppiebrau, but this is a fine effort. A good pilsner by any standard, and a good buy.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

09-28-2004 03:41:44 | More by WetCoaster

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.43/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Sampled on tap at the brewery in San Jose.
Crisp and hoppy. A nice gold color topped by a dense white head. There is perhaps a faint bit of haze. The aroma is of continental hops, as it should be. The beer is finished by a light bitterness. Fortunately it has been served warm enough to get the subtle malt expression. A bit more hops would make this beer wonderful.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

11-07-2003 20:11:59 | More by Gueuzedude

jcalabre

California

3/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I originally sampled this beer on 18 November 2002. I am writing this review from my notes.
This is an OK pilsener. Better than most, but nothing I'd go out of my way to have. Nice nose, flavor & appearance, but there are SOOOO many better beers out there

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

08-08-2003 03:26:39 | More by jcalabre

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is a great benchmark for other pilsners to live up to. The hardest thing is choosing between this and the GB Marzen, unless they have a decent seasonal in rotation.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

06-20-2002 08:07:08 | More by Dogbrick

StevieW

Florida

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

Another draft in San Francisco location. Pale yellow-orangish color, better head than expected. More hops than I thought I was going to get. Pretty good refreshing, crisp finish. Also had a touch of flat, staleness to it, but not as bad as the Marzen. I know the Marzen is stored longer, and a different style, but there was something wrong with it. A good beer to guzzle with food.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

06-04-2002 15:37:20 | More by StevieW

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

2.83/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Gold color, minimal head. Muted aroma, light biscuit nothingness.

Light body, touches of diacetyl, super mild hopping. Carbonation through the roof.

At almost $8 a 6 pack, I don't know why anyone would buy this, many better options. The beer isn't terrible, but it is expensive for what it is.

Serving type: bottle
@ Gordon Biersch, 1201 Brickell Avenue #250, Miami

07-20-2011 23:41:01 | More by Beerandraiderfan