Lagunitas PILS (Czech Style Pilsner) - Lagunitas Brewing Company

Blakaeris

Iowa

4.38/5  rDev +20%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours clear golden yellow with a pillowy white head and mild lacing.

Aroma is mild hop and citrus. Grassy and sweet.

Taste is much more robust than expected. Surprisingly malty with generous floral hop spice. Bready, nutty, with hints of honey. Finish is crisp. Lingering floral hop and lemon zest.

Mouthfeel is quite thick and full for a pilsner.

A tasty brew. I find most pilsner to be rather lifeless. However, this one is full flavored with an interesting character. Excellent bready malt and floral hops. Flavors are balanced and unified. A great Czech pils that I will return to again. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2007 02:51:10 | More by Blakaeris

Frosty80

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Color: pours a light, golden straw. sits a brilliantly clear, burnished gold.

Smell: good malt character with a grainy sweetness and almost unnoticable diacetyl presence. low spicy, Saaz hop aroma

Taste: rich malty sweetness with just enough bitterness to lightly support. very low spiciness from Saaz. diacetyl is almost non-existent. finish is slightly balanced towards bitter and does not linger very long.

Mouthfeel: rich, low-medium body with moderate carbonation

Notes: refreshing, easy-drinking, well rounded brew. makes one wonder why our american versions had to be made even lighter. could drink this all night.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2009 05:48:45 | More by Frosty80

avaldivia

California

4.38/5  rDev +20%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at lagunitas.

A: Light golden color with a huge head for a lager. The head fades very quickly however.

S: Light with just a bit of hop character.

T: Damn. That is a delicious, refreshing pilsner. Nice malty flavor with just a hint of hops. Absolutely enjoyable.

M: Light and crisp. This is a great summertime beer. Incredibly refreshing.

O: This is my go to lager. Affordable, easily obtainable, and wonderful. Great beer to have when warm outside.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2011 16:49:21 | More by avaldivia

pineaxesaw

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +20%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Right now I am going through a phase of trying authentic czech style pilsners, and this pilsner stays very true to its style. It has a much deeper golden color, then a Bohemian or Vienna style lager. The spice notes are quiet to come through but once you taste them, your happy they have used some high quality Saaz hops.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 00:45:30 | More by pineaxesaw

DogFood11

California

4.35/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've been happy with this brewery so I couldn't pass up the czech pils. 6 pack of 12oz bottles.

Poured into a pounder glass it is golden color with a meaty ivory head that laces all the way down with a thin layer of goodness.

I picked up hoppy/saaz, even slightly floral, right off the bat. malts were subdued and more of a filler. light fruitiness mostly orange. perfect carbonation. tasted the yeast I've come to expect in this style but this was lighter in that department and more of a hopped up spicyness that was enjoyable and easy on the palate. Crisp mouthfeel that finishes moderately dry. Not the thirst quencher nor the session beer that one might expect this has some characteristics that make it more compatible with a meal than a session. A very respectable offering from Lagunitas.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2005 23:01:35 | More by DogFood11

Franchise

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark gold hazey and inviting leaving a spotchy white head that quickly disappears but one swirl quickly brings it back. The aroma is fruity, hop spiciness, that is very clean and brisk. The taste starts crisp with a hop bitter twang that finishes with a honey malt backbone for balance. This is a refreshing brew...I will def visit this offering again.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2006 18:04:33 | More by Franchise

KomodoDragon

Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Beautiful 2" white head aloaft a classic yellow colored beer

S - um... smells like a lager

T - Crisp caramel malt flavor transitioning to a slight hop finish. Some hints or citrus/orange

M - Slight carbonation, allowing the malty flavors to take center stage

Goes down easily. My summer lager of choice.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2011 03:09:23 | More by KomodoDragon

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.35/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I pretty much like everything this brewery makes. I didn't care for the Brown Shugga' the first time I had it, but we tried it again on the blog so I put more attention to the overall flavor profile. They just released Laguintas Sucks, which is a really nice citrus forward IPA. Oh, and their cappuccino stout is delicious. I have had this one before, but I am excited to try it with attention to the flavor. This one has been sitting in the fridge for a few weeks, and we will be drinking it ice cold. Bring it; i'm thirsty!

In the Glass: It's clean, thin, and gold in the glass. Looks like a domestic, to be honest. The beer does offer a decent lace that I wasn't expecting. I've had this before, and gave it a 5/5 on Untappd. It's been a while, so I hope I still like the flavor.

Nose: That smells like beer should smell. It is clean, and you really get the Saaz hops coming through. It is almost grassy/earthy on the nose. Smells like beer smells in Europe. I guess this IS a Czech pilsner! I really like this style, too. I call beers like this "chugging" beers.

Flavor: It's not sweet, but it's close. It is bittersweet, maybe. The flavor explodes when you take the first sip, and then it changes and becomes more complex as you swallow leading to a wonderful dry aftertaste. I have a few double pilsners in the fridge. I actually prefer this one over them. This is just lovely!

Mouthfeel: It starts off thin, then gets dry toward the back of the palate. Not a lot of bubbles here, which I might have expected just thinking about previous pilsners I have had. But the flavor profile literally changes as you swallow and the aftertaste is incredible. I will stop mentioning the aftertaste and will just go talk about it!

Aftertaste: I swallowed the beer five minutes ago… and the aftertaste is still there. The flavor ends dry on the palate, and then there is a swallow or two of sweet. When the sweetness leaves, and the dryness kicks in. Imagine the flavor you get after licking bamboo. That is what I am tasting here. Not sure if I have ever licked bamboo, but that is the flavor that I am thinking of. It is earthy and dry, and hangs on for a long time. Great flavor!

I rated this beer 5/5 on Untappd the first time I had it. Not sure when that was, but I am giving it the same rating again today. It looks boring in the glass, but the Saaz hops really make this a powerful and delicious brew. The founder of the brewing company thinks this is the best beer they make. He might be right! Drink this fresh, drink this cold, and enjoy! Bottoms up, people.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 17:55:10 | More by rickyleepotts

kgotcher

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A bottle of american micro brew made in the traditions of Chechvar and Pilner Urquell. Pours nice clear golden like a good pils should, smell is light with that distinctive Czech fragrance. I always have loved the flavor of a Czech style lager and this one is no different. If anything it seems bit crisper than the traditional pils but maybe it is just a fresher beer since California is not as far as the Czech Republic is from Portland. Overall a very good, drinkable beer, a "real" alternative from american pilsners while watching a hockey game or hanging out with friends on a summer day. This is a beer I could drink any time.

By the way I reviewed this beer as a particular style, It seems that pilsners tend to get rated lower due to their lack of complexity or their closeness in relation to macros. Even in the world of Pilsners Czech style is a bit different from everything else out there.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2005 02:05:00 | More by kgotcher

funkengruven

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Lagunitas version of a Pilsener, another good call.

This poured a bright orange with a puffy head that didn't last too long, left a bit of lacing and a slight ring around the glass. Smell is hoppy and malty, definitely a fuller body than a traditional Pils. It's like they took a Pils and kicked it up a bit, very full flavored, solid malt and hop flavor throughout. Very easy drinking, would make a good crossover beer for the non-BA types.

Another good Lagunitas offering. Keep them coming.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2007 21:18:03 | More by funkengruven

Beerbuddha

Louisiana

4.33/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was a great beer. I'm normally not a big fan of pilsners but this one was rather nice. It poured a nice golden, straw color with a nice white head and had great lacing. The aroma was floral hops and a nice malty sweetness. The taste was fresh and clean. Had a nice dry bitterness balanced with a sweetness as well. The mouthfeel was medium body with medium carbonation. Overall drinkablity was great. I felt like I could drink these all day. Too bad this brewery isn't available in LA.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2008 14:19:17 | More by Beerbuddha

Natural510

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pale gold with thick, retaining head.
Smells quite strongly for a pilsner; grassy, grainy, and with the yeast/barley/hop elements all coming through.
Hearty grain and hops come through in the initial flavor; light malts bring out sweetness and an overall earthy note gives it body. Nice breaded/biscuit character as well.
Crisp, refreshing & smooth in the mouth. A very subtle hop bite.
Very good example of the pilsner style...refreshing coming from the land of ho-bomb ales. This one is full of character and a must for those who are fans of a good pils.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2008 08:10:31 | More by Natural510

thartman

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tall Pilsner glass, yellowish-gold with a slight haze, foamy white head that disapates to consistent thin topping. Lots of bubbles and a little lacing left on the glass. Smells of grain, corn, muffins. Taste of corn, biscuits, straw, and grains, some hop bitterness on the finish. Decent body! Clean a crisp with a slightly dry finish. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2008 23:51:06 | More by thartman

ccrida

Oregon

4.3/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle poured into my Lagunitas shaker, the Lagunitas Pils is clear bubbly cold with a white head that quickly fades to a thick collar leaving light, scattered lace.

Smell is sweet cereal grains and grassy hops

Taste is good, classic Czech pils, on the sweeter side, some spicy noble hops, but incredibly balanced and clean. Just enough graininess to provide texture.

Mouthfeel is very creamy, lighter body, with a drier, crisp finish.

Drinkability is very good, this is a very well made Pils, super smooth and refreshing, with a satisfyingly full flavor that doesn't tire or overwhelm. Really impressed to see Lagunitas exercised some restraint here .

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2008 02:46:32 | More by ccrida

freed

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Giving American Pilsner's a good name...

By volume, most American Pilsner's suck. Its good that real brewers are giving us drinkers options during those warm summer months. Cause you can't drink Stout when the suns beaming down.

This pours a bright golden, like you'd expect a pilsner, with a nice amount of head and decent retension. The smell is definately pilsner, with a hint of skunk (you know, the saaz through light glass smell). The malt profile is sweet and subtle. I'll have to remember this come summertime.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2003 21:01:18 | More by freed

pershan

Maryland

4.28/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on-tap at Frisco Grille in Columbia, MD.

The beer poured a clear amber with a thin, white head into a pint glass. A slight whiff of hops in the aroma. The taste was that classic pilsner profile: Vienna and pilsner malt flavor, lightly hopped, with a crisp, pleasant finish. Good carbonation and lacing. Not really a beer for this time of year, but still an excellent example of a classic Czech pilsner (i.e. Pilsner Urquell).

Serving type: on-tap

02-28-2008 18:58:38 | More by pershan

damndirtyape

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Kennedy's pub in San Fran. served in a shaker pint glass.

Appearance: Golden to darker straw yellow with a white head that dies down to eventually nothing. Very mild lacing here and there initially, but eventually that goes away as well.

Smell: Crisp earthy hops blended with some malt. Smells like a pilsner should, but a bit richer in smell. There is a hint of citrus to those hops, but it's still very Germanic....what is it? It's not quite floral, it's not herbal. It screams pilsner and that's the best I can describe it.

Taste: What this beer does not have in appearance it makes up for in taste. Very balanced crisp Czech/German style hops and biscuity malts together. The hop bitterness comes out just enough ahead but in a very satisfying way. The hop flavor is like the smell, some hints of west coast citrus, but that earthy and classic Czech/German flavor is there. I wish I could describe it better but I cannot. Equally good when first poured and towards the end of the glass. Very refreshing.

Mouthfeel: Right balance of carbonation and smoothness. Coats the throat nicely and leaves - making me ready for the next sip or swallow. Nice.

Drinkability: Oh ho - this is a dangerous one. Despite the slightly higher ABV, I'm not noticing it until the entire glass is done. I think I've found a new favorite pilsner. While it's nothing pretty too look at, it is interesting enough as a pilsner I keep wanting another sip, and when it's gone, I really want another one. I could see this going very well with a lot of different foods. A very good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2011 05:11:42 | More by damndirtyape

MerkinMan

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours crystal clear with nice head retention. Immediate fruity / hoppy aroma, and then the grain becomes gently apparent. Great hoppy fruitiness in the taste. Spicy like Czech counterparts, but more fruity -- a great rendition of a classic style with subtle creative accents.

Beer has great body, and is damn drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2008 23:52:53 | More by MerkinMan

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes

Pours an effervescent straw color with with 4 fingers of pearl colored head. Good lacing & average head retention

S: Grainy notes, faint breadyness, & some lemon notes

T: Grassy & lemony notes, some bready & honey malt notes. Dryness & grassyness dominates as this warms, plus some sweet bread. Finishes with mineral & lemony hop snap & some grassyness

MF: Light/medium bodied with soft carbonation & great balance

Drinks very easy, a nice take on the style. This will be in the summer rotation to be sure

Had this a few years ago & swore that I reviewed it on BA, I don't remember it being so damn drinkable...

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2010 18:03:47 | More by russpowell

jbonapar

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The only Pilsner I've ever really liked has been Steamwhistle from Canada. But I keep looking to find an other great one. Well, for me i found it. Wonderfull pour with a thick head. Smell is floral and very malty, almost biscuity.

A very full body mouthfeel for such a light beer. The taste is as the smell, malty, slightly piney and floral. A tough of creamy vanilla.

My new favorite pislner. Wonderfull.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 01:04:20 | More by jbonapar

Jerone

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Golden and slightly hazy with some bubbles coming to the top where there lies a pillowy off-white head that sticks around and leaves fair lacing.

S - Hops and malt with a surprising yeasty smell that I like.

T - A good floral hop spice is supported by a biscuit malt along with a yeast flavor that gives a touch of banana or bubble gum flavor, just enough to make it different.

M - Verging on medium body with fairly high carbonation but very drinkable.

O - A great beer that is maybe my new favorite pils, or perhaps tied with noble pils.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 21:39:10 | More by Jerone

Bcant

Michigan

4.22/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Crisp; perhaps that’s the best way to describe this pils. Nice gold color suitably carbonated but it produces a poor head. Excellent grainy malt flavor but balanced very well for an American pilsner. Kudos for Laguntas for making a solid pils in California!

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2005 05:23:45 | More by Bcant

Monkeyknife

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle a hazy lemon yellow with a thin white head and not much lacing.

Aroma is mostly sweet malts.

This has so much more body and depth than the more traditional Czech Pilsners. Some sweet malts with just a smidgen of bitterness. No sulfurs at all.

Mouthfeel is light yet rich with a fizzy carbonation.

I love this interpretation of a Czech Pilsner from Lagunitas. So easy to drink and enjoy. Time for another six.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2007 21:06:45 | More by Monkeyknife

hops4me

Virginia

4.22/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - gold-yellow in color. Fluffy white head. Lacing clings to the glass as it gets consumed.

S - little bit of malt and hop spiciness in the nose.

T - malt sweetness up front. Bready in the middle followed quickly with the spicy hop flavor you would expect.

M - Light body and prickliness from the CO2.

D - good drinkability and representation of the style. A nice lager with good refreshing qualities.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2008 02:48:51 | More by hops4me

EPICAC

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a bright, clear golden. A thin, bright white head bubbles up on the pour, but quickly fizzes away to a thin film. The aroma, like most pilsners in my experience, is light. Though there are nice malty caramel aromas and a bit of herbal hops.

Sweet and bready flavors greet the tongue, moving into a more defined malty sweetness. The finish is a pretty spot on. There's a nice citrus-tinged, spicy hop finish with a good lingering bitterness. Crisp, nicely carbonated and light-bodied.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2008 03:04:57 | More by EPICAC