Peter's Brand Pilsner Beer - Union Export Brewery

MadeInOregon

California

3.45/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Have seen this at Trader Joe's for a long time and finally decided to give it a go...

APPEARANCE: Crystal-clear light bronze to a faint gold color. Small, puffy white head recedes to nothing with absolutely no lacing. Not terrible, not great.

SMELL: Lowest point of this beer. Aroma is an unpleasant grassy hay and urine smell mixed with a faint amount of corn, alcohol, and hops. The smell is actually quite faint overall but what is there is not very nice and is unfortunately similar to many macro adjunct lagers (even though this is not an adjunct).

TASTE: Metallic, grainy (wheat), malt, with a nice amount of hops rearing its head but never gaining much strength. Finishes slightly spicy with an aftertaste consisting of a weird mix of bubblegum, candied fruit, wheat and mild hops. Main flavor coming through with each sip is metal + malt + mild hops. Overall, this is a sweet beer.

FEEL: Thin, but smooth. Certainly thicker than an American macro. This beer has a surprisingly good balance of density and effervescence. It ends with a slightly dry, sticky quality but remains very easy-drinking and thirst-quenching.

CONCLUSION: Definitely worth the uber low $5.49 for a 6-pack of 500ml cans! There are a few odd flavors and the smell is borderline gross in my opinion, but this really is not a bad beer at all. In fact, I'd say it's better than most beers in the low-priced lager genre--especially of the American variety.

Serving type: can

05-26-2012 00:40:31 | More by MadeInOregon

BeerAficionadoMCMXC

California

2.93/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer's color is the color of your piss after a long night of drinking. IT looks a little dark for a pilsner. The smell isn't too pungent which is a bad thing. THe taste is slightly atringent but it follows with that European crispness. The mouth is a little heavy. but overall it's a decent beer. I'd say this is my beach beer.

Serving type: can

05-21-2013 06:46:40 | More by BeerAficionadoMCMXC

Ted

Texas

3/5  rDev +5.6%

02-18-2013 01:18:55 | More by Ted

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -3.2%

02-10-2013 20:27:38 | More by RblWthACoz

LXIXME

New Mexico

2.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A medium sized white head quickly falls into a thin lacing above a clear bright golden colored pils.

Sour to light skunky grain malt with some light hops characteristics sneaking in the aroma of this beer.

Light sour to skunky grain malt with some bittering hops aiding in the taste.

A light dry aftertaste with just a bit of the sourness hanging around on this light bodied beer.

Not much to brang about here, standard light sour to skunky pilsener, next.

Serving type: can

12-27-2012 22:15:04 | More by LXIXME

barongearmu

Florida

2.5/5  rDev -12%

11-17-2012 17:47:31 | More by barongearmu

fishguyac

Washington

2.5/5  rDev -12%

11-07-2012 06:13:50 | More by fishguyac

beertunes

Washington

2.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Another TJs bargain grab. Poured into 9oz pilsener glass. Poured a typical clean, clear light gold color with about 1/2 inch of white head that had moderate retention and no lacing.

The aroma was kinda bland, some grains, a bit of sweetness, soft hops and just a general "beer" scent. The flavors were all the same benign, bland features that the aroma had, nothing really stood out.

The body was crisp and a bit fuller than most of the style. The beer was mostly clean across the tongue, but did have a slightly sweet finish. Drinkability was a bit better than average for the style, the beer went down quickly and easily enough. Overall, a good brew, one that's probably a bit better than average. If you're looking for a good bargain "chore beer", this would be a good choice.

Serving type: can

10-03-2012 23:32:13 | More by beertunes

TheSarge

Illinois

2.7/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Got this at Trader Joe's. Poured into a half liter dimple mug, and the brew makes a three finger thick bright white head, and the body is dark gold with perfect clarity.

The aroma is grain and husk, tobacco, lemon, and slight metallic.

Taste wise, it's of corn husk, tobacco, and maybe some butterscotch.

Feels light in body, cleansing to the palate, and very quaffable. Too much adjunct taste here for me to stick with a German Style Pilsner. I'd just claim this a typical Euro Lager.

Serving type: can

08-15-2012 00:58:16 | More by TheSarge

RodneyCarrington

3/5  rDev +5.6%

06-27-2012 11:28:21 | More by RodneyCarrington

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Another cheap Trader Joe's purchase. Can popped with no fizz and it only poured a 1.5" white head with medium lifespan. The body is a clear straw yellow and all the carbonation exhausted into the small head. It smells of malt, grass, and actually butterscotch. The taste though is much weaker than the smell and instead of the butterscotch you mainly get bitter grass.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 09:30:45 | More by MoreThanWine

UCLABrewN84

California

2.65/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Canned on 11/25/11.

Pours a clear light orange with a 1 inch foamy bone colored head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Thin foamy rings of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain and some odd artificial fruity aromas. Taste is of grain and metal up front with some of the artificial fruity flavors on the finish. There is a mild bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty poor beer that doesn't offer much but was cheap enough at around $0.75 for a large can.

Serving type: can

05-02-2012 03:14:33 | More by UCLABrewN84

DoubleJ

California

1.73/5  rDev -39.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

"A Dutch style pilsener", but brewed in Germany. Comes in a plain 330 ml can, and cost a mere $0.79. bottom of the can, There is a best by date stamped on the bottom of the can, at 09.09.12. As usual, it's on to the beer:

More ups than downs with the appearance. The color is a lighter hue of gold, clean bodied, bursting with carbonation bubbles in the body. And the thick creamy head and its good retention make it convincing to grant a "4" score. But don't get too excited, it has the aroma of "the usual" macro pilsner. Steeley, DMS, sweet grain and a cooked cereal nose don't make a good omen.

Expecting something crisp and clean? Well, you're not to find it here. This is a strangely fruity pilsner, and despite the bubbles riding through the body, offers almost no crispness. Boring grain, metal, lingering steeley cooked grains, no thanks. Ah, no thank you.

I think it's best to say no to Peter's Brand. This is another reported case of a drain pour.

Serving type: can

05-01-2012 23:19:26 | More by DoubleJ

FriedGold2112

3.5/5  rDev +23.2%

04-24-2012 05:16:02 | More by FriedGold2112

avisong

Virginia

2/5  rDev -29.6%

04-19-2012 02:39:25 | More by avisong

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured this 22 oz can into a pint glass. Poured a clear golden color, produced an average white head, average retention and average amount of lacing left on the glass. The aroma of this German Pilsener consisted of husky malted grain- fits the smell profile of a euro-lager. Light in body, this Pilsener features light pils malt, slightly bitter and finish's dry. Overall it was a decent Pilsener- nothing to seek out but I'm not disappointed that I gave it a try. Prost!

Serving type: can

03-11-2012 01:52:22 | More by GossageBrewery

djcira

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +5.6%

02-19-2012 15:30:17 | More by djcira

MrSarge

Michigan

3/5  rDev +5.6%

01-21-2012 22:59:55 | More by MrSarge

AleWatcher

Illinois

2.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I'm pretty sure this is my last beer from my Trader Joe's mix a six... Glad to be done with em!

This is the best of the bunch. Hands down. The beer is entirely unimpressive, but it is at least an average attempt at a pils.

There is nothing offensive about the nose or flavor, which gives it a leg up on some other canned lagers available at TJ's!

Crisp dry finish is quite refreshing, and this is quite drinkable.
It looks pretty nice to boot- large three finger head left lots of lace and had great retention.

The ONLY complaint I have (aside from this being another boring flavorless attempt at an overproduced style) is the little musky note towards the finish. It doesn't sit very well with me. The light sweet grainy malt are ok, and the seeming lack of hops is forgivable, but why the musky cologne-like vibe?
Oh well.

Overall-- not bad for the price-- but there are MUCH better beers out there

Serving type: can

12-01-2011 03:58:09 | More by AleWatcher

barnzy78

Illinois

3/5  rDev +5.6%

11-29-2011 04:40:50 | More by barnzy78

jmarsh123

Indiana

2.95/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a very clear light straw color. Has a good 1 finger foamy white head.

Smells like beer. Some sweet cracker malt. Low hop profile.

Not much flavor. Some sweetness from the malt with a little bit of a noble hop presence. Pretty easy drinking but no discernable bright flavors.

Mouthfeel is a bit light and carbonation levels are good.

Better than drinking BMC, but nothing really good either.

Serving type: can

11-06-2011 23:10:16 | More by jmarsh123

McStagger

California

3.18/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another TJ specialty.

A: Pours a dark straw color. Clarity is excellent. Three fingers of white head. Medium dissipation, Pretty decent lacing. Carbonation is moderate, with large bubbles dancing to the surface at a fairly decent pace.

S: Tart, citric hoppiness, grassiness, graininess (barley and adjunct). Just kinda beerish.

T: Crisp, clean, refreshing. Nice dry finish. Starts off with very little malty sweetness. The mid palate is slightly doughy and bready, with a finish of moderate citric hops and a tad bit of the spicy hops. Some alcohol notes came through. No aftertaste. Very dry.

M: Goes down smoothly. Not overly carbonated, but nothing too viscous either. The carbonation seems pretty spot on.

O: Simple and easy. Definitely lawn mowing beer.

Serving type: can

10-13-2011 08:03:01 | More by McStagger

djeucalyptus

Oregon

2.88/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

pours a decent, clear, slightly golden straw hue with a two-plus-finger shaving cream-like head that has surprisingly decent retention and leaves acceptable lace.

aroma is earthy, grassy, a bit vegetal. a bit of cooked cabbage, some fresh brussel sprouts and some grain. would be good if it were a cabbage roll, but alas, it ain't. I feel I'm open with many pils/lager/cheap cans, but this one just smells tepid. a hint of hops mix with some chem-metalic notes.

taste is a bit better, though not a huge improvement. grainy, bready, doughy with some herbal grassy hop notes that don't help to brighten it all that much.

mouth is fair. moderate body for the style, ample carbonation, a lingering slightly astringent bitterness is just shy of being pleasant.

all in all, this one is distinctly forgettable. not the worst, but not the best. distinctly canned euro lager, but not the better side of the spectrum. I'm all for giving canned euro stuff high scores, but this one just falls flat.

Serving type: can

09-04-2011 05:23:59 | More by djeucalyptus

Haybeerman

Colorado

3.4/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Bright, clear gold color. Poured a 3 finger foamy white head that dissipated to an even skim. Decanted continually; very active. Laced in wide broken rings.

S: Light crackery malt. Green apple and grass. Faint skunky aroma.

T: Light, slightly sweet malt. Transitions quickly to a light, lingering hop character. Crisp and slightly dry.

M: Light body. Ample carbonation. Active on the palate; very crisp. Light lingering bitter that turns dry.

O: Some malt and hop character in a light, drinkable beer. But for the slight skunky smell, far better than many are giving it credit for.

Serving type: can

08-18-2011 19:10:09 | More by Haybeerman

slammo

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I wanted to get excited about this one based on price and packaging in the can. It turns out to be a decent if not memorable euro import the likes of so many others.

Appearance is adequate yet unassuming. The smell is also average mowed grass with nothing exceptional to note.

Taste is refreshing with a nice balance of malt and hop. Believe me, it is a huge improvement over any American macro brew and I don't want to knock it too much. There are better beers out there and there are worse. It sure beats a Bud IMO.

Serving type: can

07-04-2011 18:13:02 | More by slammo