Regal Pilsner - Breckenridge Brewery

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Polished 24-karat gold with lemony highlights and a smaller aged ivory crown than was expected. In spite of an increasingly high-altitude pour, just one finger of foam was created. Lace is decent in the end, but isn't remarkable by any means.

The aroma is golden malty and earthy-herbal. Breckenridge decided against using Saaz, but instead went with American Sterling and Magnum because they wanted the beer to be floral rather than spicy. Probably not the best choice since pilsners and Saaz hops go together like peanut butter and jelly. Is there any other style and hop that are more closely associated?

Given the ABV, Regal Pilsner is more 1.5x pilsner than double pilsner. Since the beer has only been in the bottle for two months, bitterness is still considerable. Unfortuntely, hop flavor, both in terms of quality and quantity, is lacking.

Sorry, but without the spicy sassiness of Saaz hops, this just doesn't taste like a pilsner. More accurately, it does, but is doesn't taste like a well-brewed pils. More like a strong golden ale that uses non-C-hops. Warming takes the edge off the borderline buzzsaw alpha acidity, as the white bready pale malts come to the fore.

Mouthfeel might be the beer's finest feature, even though it isn't quite enjoyable enough to earn the next highest score. It hangs on pretty well throughout each mouthful, but the bubbles are too sparkly and don't seem to be losing steam as the ounces flow by.

There are a few Breckenridge brews that have gotten my attention over the years. Lucky U IPA and 471 ESB (a Scottish ale) come to mind. Sorry to say, Regal Pilsner doesn't have what it takes to be considered among this brewery's best. On a positive note, it has more character than much of what they brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2010 12:01:06 | More by BuckeyeNation

womencantsail

California

3.63/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Richard for sharing this one on a few occasions now.

A: The pour is a clear copper color with an initially fluffy white head that dissipates fairly quickly.

S: The nose is sort of odd to me. There are some good floral hop aromas, but a very strong metallic tinge to it as well. Some light grass and malt notes, too.

T: Luckily, an improvement in terms of the flavor. The hops are quite floral and pungent. A slight spice character to this one along with some fairly sweet malt, sugar, and apple juice.

M: The body is on the full side for a pilsner with a moderate carbonation.

D: The flavor of this was nice, but the nose was just not enjoyable. Not sure what happened there, but such is life.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 03:25:58 | More by womencantsail

brentk56

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear golden color with a respectable head that leaves a shard or two behind

Smell: Surprisingly fruity, with pineapple and citrus tones, though there is a grassy character underneath

Taste: Sweet and somewhat biscuity, up front, with a fruity character building in the middle; a grassy bitterness develops underneath that adds a nice counterpoint

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Way off the mark for an Imperial Pils both in the sweetness and in the hop profile but still rather enjoyable to drink

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 20:47:54 | More by brentk56

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

I can sense kingliness whilst in this beer's presence. Not sure why, though... It pours a clear golden straw topped by a finger of white foam. The nose is kinda plain, comprising sweet flowers and grass, with a touch of white bread. The taste brings in more of the same, along with a vague sweetness and some menthol. Things don't quite sit on my tongue all that well, frankly, what with this strange twang tossed in there at what I hope to be the last minute. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly drying finish. Overall, a pils that's a touch too thick and heavy, one with an odd flavor, and one that certainly ain't worth the cost, frankly. Not a fan.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 04:11:50 | More by TMoney2591

Mora2000

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this one on tap at the Fort Worth Flying Saucer Fall beerfest.

The beer pours a golden color with a white head. The aroma is some grassy hops along with a lot of bready malt. Not nearly as hoppy smelling as a lot of the imperial pilseners that I have tried. The flavor is more of the same, with a lot of malt and a little bit of grassy and spicy hop character. The alcohol is present, but not too strong. Medium body and medium carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2010 17:55:51 | More by Mora2000

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This poured out as a nice looking clear yellowish gold color with a soapy looking white head on top. The smell of the beer wasn't too grassy which I liked. There was a good amount of earth malts and some nice grainy aromas too. The taste of the beer is pretty good, It's got a nice crisp bitter flavor with a light sweetness up front. The mouthfeel is a light and very drinkable. Overall this brew is pretty good, I could see someone drinking quite a few of these in a short period of time.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 17:08:58 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.03/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked this up at Goebbel's in Wichita

Pours honey colored with 2+ fingers of pearl colored head. Good lacing & average head retention

S: Bready & grassy with hints lemons, all seem to fade as this warms

T: Bready, toffee like sweetness & slight pear fruittyness, some crackery notes as well up front. Soapy & grassy notes as this warms, along with some more crackery notes & a bit of green apple. Finishes semi-crisp with some leafy hops & a bit of butterscotch

MF: Fairly chewy, firm carbonation, so-so balance, some grainy notes

Overall this is run of mill for the style, not impressed. Would love to try a fresher sample, I believe the hops are tired in this bottle

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 04:53:10 | More by russpowell

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a bottle at Abe's Cold Beer. Poured a brilliant gold with a short head a sudzy lacing. The aroma is a touch catty as it warms, but otherwise there's an enticing fruity, floral mix under big woodsy spice. The flavor has a crisp and toasty malt background under big kick of those spicy hops and before a big (but not a huge) biting bitterness. It reminds me of a more reasonable version of the old Sam Adams Imperial Pils. Check it out if you're a fan of the style and big Euro hops.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2010 02:38:08 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pale golden body with a light off white head billowing nicely above the rim of my glass, with fine even lacing. Aromatics contain pale cereal malts where are the hops, well they are here but not like other imperial pils. A bit of citrus grassiness, but the malts shine out a bit brighter here in the hop profile. Flavor has mineral water harshness with a touch of cereal grains light citric hops, really coatas the palate with a nice rolling biscuit malt sweetness with minimal alcohol showing up on the palate. Just enough herbal/citric/hops to balance really one of the better offerings I've had from Breckenridge. Mouthfeel has a nice full on creamy/airy carbonation going down smooth with each sip leaving behind a faint hop bitterness with streaks of hop oils evident. Drinkability is solid, I was surprised at how well this bigger pils drank and the lack of extreme alcohol and hop bitterness compared to what I have come to expect with this style. I really liked the bottle on this one as well super creative well executed I hope this one makes it back in 2011. If you couldn't tell this review is from notes when it was last released.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 15:30:33 | More by WVbeergeek

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served at the Breckenridge "World Headquarters" in a tulip glass. The beer has a hazy, golden color. The head is minimal and short lasting. No lace on the glass.

Clean, fresh pale malt aroma with a pinch of hop in background.

More "round" than crisp, particularly for a pilsner. The malt is rich as is the body, which belies the style. Still, it holds its own with spicy BBQ food. The hop is stronger than the smell suggests, making this a well-balanced profile. Very clean.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 16:28:04 | More by smcolw

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

First had: bottle from Pinocchio's beer garden, Media, PA

Poured from a bottle into an Umphrey's McGee pint glass. Clear golden honey color with a thin, wispy layer of white head that leaves some streaky lacing before disappearing almost completely. Aroma is light, of pale malts, grains, and grass. Taste is similar: bready, light malt sweetness, grains, grass, a touch of citrus zest, with a decent balance of malts and hops. Smooth, light mouthfeel, and easily drinkable. It's not often I find a pils that I like.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2011 23:56:25 | More by Rifugium

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

2.6/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a solid gold color with good head retention and lacing. I get next to nothing on the nose, just some very light honey and light orange. On the palate, this is flat out bizarre. This pils is quite sweet, with some sweet orange, ranier cherry and honey. Add to that the considerable alcohol on the finish, and you have the recipe for a disaster. Mouthfeel is a bit thin, which makes the noticeable sweetness and alcohol all the more apparent. Uggghhh.

Thanks, but I believe I'll pass on this one. This is not what I want from my pilsners.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2011 21:06:54 | More by johnmichaelsen

DoubleJ

California

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Is it smart to drink a pint of beer after being at a beer festival for 4 hours? I'm still wondering, as this pilsner was consumed at an Irish Pub in Denver after GABF. On to the beer:

The beer is lighter golden in color with a head that sports middle of the pack retention and spots of lace around the glass. Its nose is respectable too, with notes of lemon and grassy aroma, and a touch of biscuit. Then I was in for a little surprise with the nose...well, relative to what I was anticipating. Not knowing what the ABV was, it tasted like a good pilsner without a kick of alcohol. Biscuity and lemongrass flavors, and some notes of simple crisp hops make this pilsner worth a go. And that's before we had in a body which is a lighter medium with agreeable carbonation and one that's easy to drink despite the alcohol. I don't normally understand the concept of taking pilsners to a higher alcohol, but I think Breckenridge has done well here.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2012 04:51:50 | More by DoubleJ

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

2.88/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a very light layer of white head. Color is a very clear golden yellow.

Aroma: Bready, pale malts. Grassy, noble hops. This reminds me a lot like the Odell double pilsner.

Taste: Ugh. It is like Odell, but way more bready and malty. It has the grassy hops with a bit of floralness. It is way to malty.

Mouthfeel: Creamy with a bit of creaminess. Lighter bodied, but still tastes big with some alcohol showing. Medium carbonation. Ends really dry and bland.

Overall, just no. This just isn't good. Too bready and too malty. This one just doesn't work and I don't want a lot of it.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 21:02:36 | More by mothman

Tone

Missouri

3.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, gold color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Good retention and good lacing. Smells of alcohol, sweet malt, slight pale malt, yeast, and slight hop. Fits the style of an American Double / Imperial Pilsner. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, alcohol, citrus hops, and slight pale malt. Overall, well blended, good appearance, and good mouth feel.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2011 19:40:19 | More by Tone

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.08/5  rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

$2.99, single from the Village Pump.

Golden-orange with a dense, fluffy, off-white head, this beer is a touch hazy. Retention is decent, and lacing is quite nice. The nose is surprisingly solid. Grainy and cereal-forward, there's a fairly pungent hop resin character present. The hop character isn't your typical spicy Saaz, instead, it is moderately floral and with some grass as well. Quite green, I dig the hop character. There's some malt as well, more a simple sweetness to go with the grainy character that's present up front.

The palate opens with a blend of the grainy and cereal malt character with the resiny and pungent hops. Moderately floral, though not necessarily "bright" (to me, the floral character from, say, Centennials are bright, while the Americanized old world hops are more pungent and snappy), the hops are quite enjoyable. The mid-palate has a moderate malt sweetness, with some honey and graham crackers. The sweetness increases as this beer warms up, making it less pleasant. Mildly metallic and mineral-like on the finish, the combination of pungent hop resins, grainy malt sweetness and the mineral character isn't entirely pleasant. An occasional wisp of alcohol is also noticeable. Medium in body with moderate carbonation, this beer is decent. I doubt I'll go out of my way to drink it again, but if proffered a fresh pour, I will imbibe.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 04:50:18 | More by DefenCorps

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pilsner glass. 7.0% ABV, no date.

A - Regal pours a golden honey maple color with fantastic clarity. A carbonation bubble trickles up here and there to the low skim of white foam. The initial two-finger head was poorly retained and left little lace.

S - The skunky Euro lager aroma which rushes out after the cap cracks open fades considerably. What's left is a sweet pilsner malt base with a fragrant hop overlay. A pinch of citrus with predominantly earthy notes following through. The sweetness seems like it'll be fairly big in the flavor.

T - I'm happy to be wrong about with my prediction of big sweetness in here. The pilsner malts provide more of a balance to the hop profile of light citrus and herbal notes. A little bit of mango follows through the finish.

M - Medium-bodied and smooth, this pilsner's furthest departure from the classic "single" style is a lack of crisp, refreshing drinkability. While it's not bad, this one is a little dry finishing with a balanced hop bitterness that eventually succumbed to a lasting sweetness after the swallow.

D - Again, it's a departure from the drinkability of a classic pilsner, something I understand because it's not the same style. This is a tad cloying through it's not offensive in any way. The hops have good flavor and balance. The alcohol isn't noticeable at all.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 13:28:14 | More by BeerFMAndy

champ103

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at the Gingerman in Houston, TX.

A: Pours a bright and clear yellow/orange color. Good clarity and color. Though a small white head forms and recedes to nothing. Light lace.
S: Dry biscuit malt up front. Spicy yeast and some fruity esters as well. Grassy and floral. A snap of hop bitterness. Very nice.
T: It falls apart here. Almost like it is a different beer. I get a lot of boiled sweets. Like hard candy. Lots of soapy hops as well. I am not enjoying this.
M/D: A medium body and carbonation. This could be a bit more crisp and clean. Not hard to drink. Though not something I am coming back to soon.

This started out good. I really enjoyed the nose. Though it did not hold up after that. Overall another sub standard beer from Breckenridge. Not to mention I think this is a bastard style.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2011 01:56:39 | More by champ103

alexgash

Connecticut

3.63/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle.

Clear golden apricot body. Finger of gauzy, light beige head. Some lacing. Nose of honey, biscuits, pepper, honeysuckle, and sea air.

Soft, sweet malts up front. Honeyish, with a nice biscuit backing. Herbal, peppery hops come in mid-palate. Bitterness gradually increases toward the finish. Notes of candy-ish fruit and powdered sugar. Dryish finish, with lingering noble-resin bitterness. Not bad. Medium-bodied with a slick feel. Lightly carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2010 01:30:30 | More by alexgash

Mebuzzard

Colorado

2.83/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Rackhouse had this one; the Breck tap handle said 'pilsner' and listed as double pilsner. It was neither one.
A light rust color pour with minimal head. Not off to a great start, thinking they've used the wrong malt. Aroma says the wrong hops, too. Malty, but light. Hops provide a bit of pine and earth, certainly nothing crisp and sharp.
Taste picks up the crispness a bit, but the malt overpowers it and not in a great way. Not sure what this is. More like an American Amber or Brown, but lighter. It's no pilsner...certainly not Imperial.

With all that said, it's not a bad beer. Drinkable, but with the choices given, certainly not one to select again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2010 01:11:08 | More by Mebuzzard

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Breckenridge brewpub in Denver, CO on 8/12/10.

A - Clear sun-baked golden liquid with subtle amber tones and a thin bright white cap on top that deposited some rocky crags of lace around the edges of the glass.

S - Initial aroma is quite fruity and not overly alcoholic compared to other Imperial Pilsners I've had in the past. Nose is vinous with a white grape aroma and some fleshy fruit sweetness. While there is a dash of fresh grass clippings, the aroma is primarily sweet and fruity with faint alcohol notes only becoming noticeable after the liquid warmed up a bit.

T - The flavor tends to mimic the aroma with a juicy fruit character suggesting not only grapes but also crisp apple. A backing of sweet malt and grassy hop bitterness ties it all together. Even though this drinks like a pils on 'roids, the alcohol remains restrained throughout, taking a good while to really push through. Finishes with a fruity hop bite on the tongue.

M - Medium bodied with an oily texture and a quick burst of carbonation on the tongue. Finishes bitter but with plenty of residual sweetness and a hint of dryness on the palate.

D - I found this to be one of the more drinkable Imperial Pilsners I've come across in my travels. This one swaps flavor for warm alcohol notes, making it one of my favorite examples of the styles I've sampled thus far.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2010 17:43:15 | More by ffejherb

merlin48

Kentucky

3.83/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle pours a mostly clear golden amber body with a small offwhite head. Speckles of spotty lace are left on the glass.

Aroma has floral and citrusy hops with a faint burst of ethanol and a hint of caramel.

Mouthfeel has a medium body and carbonation with some alcohol noted.

Tastes pretty nice and well balanced. Caramel sweet bready malts integrate well with herbal and grassy hops. A hint of citrus(lemon) underneath.

Good drinkability. Well balanced, overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 21:57:24 | More by merlin48

Bierman9

New Hampshire

3.8/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I bought two 12oz bottles of this last week at The Drinkery ($2.50 each). Has a nice, painted-on label, but I have to laugh at the "malt liquor" notation. Starting the day off with these while watching some college football before heading out with "the Birds" for some partying.

Color is a medium/light golden, with a very light bit of haze. Head is thin, wispy and white, with a little lace here and there. Nose is a bit light, but there is some toasty malt and a hint of spicy hopping. Body is medium all the way, and it has light carbo, making for a smooth tongue-feel.

Flavor has a touch of light sweetness, almost honey-like. It has a little crackery malt as well. Hopping is interesting, at it has both some bitter, pithy qualities as well as some grassy, spicy, almost pepper-like notes. Rindy bitterness lingers a short spell before fading. Overall? Not bad; I'd have this again, though I wouldn't go out of my way to find it. Prosit!!

3.8 rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

1413

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 19:09:10 | More by Bierman9

KarlHungus

Minnesota

2.4/5  rDev -32.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This beer pours a clear golden color with a slight haze. The head is a quarter inch in height, and recedes very quickly into nothing. The aroma is of faint bready malt. The taste has a the same bready malt, and a little bit of noble hops. It is still faint for a beer of its strength. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with carbonation that is way too low for a pilsener. Overall, this is a really bad beer that I will not be drinking again.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2010 23:06:29 | More by KarlHungus

emmasdad

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had this one on tap at the Rackhouse Pub in Denver. Don't really know much about it, but it was billed as an imperial pilsner. Maybe a little dark for the style, a dark gold/amber color, with a little bit of white foam. Some sweet malt/caramel aroma, almost like a strong adjunct lager. Not much flavor wise, similar to the smell. A decent beer, but I won't be ordering another one.

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2010 02:35:05 | More by emmasdad