Lagunitas PILS (Czech Style Pilsner) - Lagunitas Brewing Company

atsprings

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Flying Saucer served in a standard pint glass a crisp orange with a thin diminishing head. Aroma was mild sweet malts and Earthy hops. The taste is a mild balance of sweet hops and mildly bitter lingering hops. The beer is quite smooth, crisp and refreshing. This is certainly an enjoyable pilsner, one I could surely see ordering again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2010 03:14:24 | More by atsprings

UDbeernut

New York

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap poured into a pint glass

A: straw yellow, 1" head with decent retention, slighht lace

S: grass and flower

T: light malt quickly entinguished with over the top bitterness, grass. Spot on for the style.

M&D: light to medoum mouth, drying. Can do about 5 or 6 and not skip a bit. Does have a slightly more abv than a session. Otherwise it would be perfect for a summer weekend bbq.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2010 20:49:59 | More by UDbeernut

TommyW

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Clear gold with a sticky white head.

S- Faint grass and mild floral hops; a little faint overall.

T- Bready malt with hay and grass. Clean floral hop presence, but it's a little on the weak side.

M- Medium body with a light carbonation.

D- Not a badly balanced beer, but the hop presence just didn't remind me of what a good Czech Pils should be.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2010 12:26:53 | More by TommyW

boss302

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Lagunitas Pils, draft, 5.3%Abv. This beer was newly tapped and quite fresh.
A4,S4.5,T4.5,M4,O4.5

A Big thick white head. Deep golden color and crystal clear. Head receeded, but continued to cover the beer all the way to the end of the glass.

S Nice fresh flowery noble hop Aroma. Just as a Czech pils should be.

T Malty, with sufficient hop bitterness to tip the balance toward the hops. Hops dominate, but are not harsh and are true to style.

M This a pale beer, with full flavor and medium body due to quality malt. Carbonation is a little high, but doesn't detract.

O Light colored beers are very difficult to make well because there is nowhere to hide errors. If you get a chance to try a good one, don't miss the opportunity. This is one of those beers. Highly recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2010 02:17:45 | More by boss302

taigor

New York

3.48/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On-tap poured into a regular pint glass.

A - Poured clear golden color with medium head that slowly dissipated leaving slight lacing around the glass.

S - Grains predominate with a hint of citrus, honey and hops.

T - Hoppy bitter with a dry finish. Unexpected for Czech Pilsener.

M - Light bodied with medium carbonation.

D - Easy going and enjoyable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2010 11:13:20 | More by taigor

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.15/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On tap at Kennedys in SF
Poured a clear golden yellow with good carbonation and a small white head. Nose is mainly just biscuity malts and grains. Taste was crisp, bready, grains and a slight sweetness. It had a slight twang or bite on the end. Very mild beer all around. Body was about medium and well carbonated. Decent brew overall but nothing special.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2010 15:31:48 | More by barleywinefiend

beertunes

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in straight pint glass. Poured the expected clear, clean, slightly golden yellow of the style. The beer had a tall, fluffy, white head that had very good retention and decent lacing.

The aroma was the expected grainy scent with a gentle kiss of hops. There was, unfortunately, a slight skunkiness to the aroma. The flavors also were what is expected for the style. A nice combo of grain, grass and hop.

Body and drinkabilty were both where you would expect them to be. Overall, I'd say this beer meets expectations. It's a nice, clean, refreshing beer that's certainly worth your time.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2010 21:24:19 | More by beertunes

BeerSingh

India

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap as a part of a beer flight at Argaria, Georgetown -

A : Straw coloured with a loose head. No lacing evident

S : Muddy and citrusy

T : Citrusy, sweet malt and finally the bitterness. Nice balance

M : Good carbonation compliments the light body

D : Of course, its pretty decent

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2009 06:29:16 | More by BeerSingh

DeepSix

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a mug, large head, that left behind a small lace. A golden clear color

Smell of some citrus with some rather subdued malt tones, the spicy grassy hop was very well present and made me very much look forward to the taste.

Taste is sweet only for but a moment, until replaced by the crisp hops. The aftertaste is slightly bitter and dry, but it ultimately finishes very cleanly.

The body is light to medium, with a bit of carbonation in der. Fairly stand pilsener mouthfeel.

This is a beer I could drink all day, a little too high ABV to be session (aren't most these days?), but it certainly feels like one. Especially nice seeing its still summer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2009 23:14:51 | More by DeepSix

dmamiano

West Virginia

3.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had at the Mellow Mushronn on tap.
Brassy and clear with a nice white head leaving behind drapes of lacing.
Husky graininess in the nose, maltiness with the ever so slight hint of hops present.
Taste is smooth, very well rounded. Nice feel on the palate with a good malt presence.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2009 01:31:25 | More by dmamiano

ZimZamZoom

West Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Snagged a growler at Consumer Beverage on a visit to Buffalo. I even used a gift card so it was free!

Pours a slightly hazy gold color with a nice fluffy white head. A nice balanced aroma of earthy malt and spicy hops. Some Euro skunk in the aroma as well. Taste is a nice round malt with hints of spice from the hops and a bit of a biter finish that fades semi quickly and allows for a rather clean after taste.

Nice body, nice carbonation. Not my style, but a nice easy drinker that seems fairly legit.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2009 22:03:20 | More by ZimZamZoom

rugerj

Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Beer pours a golden color with a 1 finger white head that dissipates quickly, not much lacing left in glass. Smell is of sweet malt and a piney hop nose. Taste is of sweet malt with some graininess; grassy/piney hop presence is noticed. Carbonation was good and beer was light in body. Beer finishes fairly dry.

A decent Pilsner but falls short of others I have had form overseas.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2009 15:19:51 | More by rugerj

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a solid gold color with decent head retention and lacing. The nose is fairly attractive, consisting of honey and bread dough. The beer actually tastes better then it smells, consistig of a faintly sweet package of hoppy bitterness and honey. The beer has a nice crispness on the palate that is attractive, and gives the beer something of thirst quenching mouthfeel. Otherwise, this beer is medium bodied at most, and actually comes across as fairly light (which is pretty much expected with this beers abv.). Drinkability is pretty good, though I wish this beer had a bit more flavor. Still, this is a nice enough pilsner style beer, and is especially good on a warm day.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2009 19:29:18 | More by johnmichaelsen

treehugger02010

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this on-tap at Cantina Dos Segundos in Philadelphia, PA. It was served in a pint glass.
Appearance: The body is a clear gold color. The head is one and a half fingers tall, light, small bubbles, good retention and good lacing.
Smell: The aroma is kind of plain, notes of citrus hops.
Taste: The flavors are dominated by grapefruit with no malt backbone.
Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is oddly smooth.
Drinkability: This is a very drinkable beer.
Don't drink and review.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2009 20:10:29 | More by treehugger02010

spointon

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this one on tap at the Illinois Bar & Grill in Lemont, IL on 3/18/2009.

A= This beer poured a hazy yellow gold color with a thin 1/4" white head. The head dropped fairly quickly to almost zero and left very little lace on the glass.

S= I found biscuity sweet malts, with just a hint of grassy fresh hops.

T= Like the smell, bakery malt sweetness up front with a green/grassy hop quality soon after. A mild lemon flavor in there too. Dry finish, though not as dry as some pils I have had.

MF= Light bodied and crisp all the way.

D= Very drinkable and enjoyable pilsner here. I could have a few of these in a sitting for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2009 04:08:07 | More by spointon

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Canal Street, Reading, PA on 1/31/09.

A - Clear golden/amber body with very minimal carbonation and half a finger of bubbly white head that receded to a patchy film and left some decorative lacing around the glass.

S - Fruity nose with citrus, grape and apple notes as well as a sprinkling of mild grass and spices. Malt seems buried beneath the sweetness, but there is a hint of doughy, biscuity malt.

T - Opens with a good bit of caramely, biscuity malt with subtle alcohol notes. However, the spicy Czech hops soon kick in, offering a grassy, herbal flair. Finish is spicy and fruity bitterness with a subtle sweet grape character.

M - Medium body with an oily texture and moderate carbonation. Finishes with an even bitterness and lingers on the palate for a while.

D - Solid Czech Pils that is classic and true to style. I find that pils drink much better on tap, and this one is no exception.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2009 18:39:02 | More by ffejherb

Jimbo87

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Lost Dog Cafe in Arlington.

Not much head when they brought it in a pint glass. Nice clear gold beer. Left almost no lacing.

Smelled of sweet malt and slightly grassy hops. I've just gotten into craft beer, and the only pilsner I'm familiar with so far is Victory Prima Pils, and this smells much more toward the sweet side, but then again, this is a Czech, not German Pilsner, and maybe that's the difference.

Tastes as the nose would indicate as far as the malt-hop balance. Definitely sweet but not overly so. There's something about this that reminds me of a taste in milk that's gone sour, but not in a bad way. Hops balance the sweetness in the finish to make this a very good and refreshing beer.

Mouthfeel is standard for a refreshing pilsner. Nice carbonation.

Drinkability is great. Very good beer, and a nice change from Prima Pils for me. This is my second beer from Lagunitas after Imperial Red Ale, and so far so good.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2009 01:59:13 | More by Jimbo87

LemZeppelin

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

I'd have to say...this beer was exactly what I imagined it to be. Not spectacular as it is a tough style to master, but Lagunitas always puts out a quality product. I am using Pilsner Urquell on-tap as a basis of comparison...I spent several weeks in Prague and drank it with almost every meal.

Appearance: 5/5. Crisp, golden color and clarity were on point. Small head that didn't dissipate and held its own until the bottom third of the beer, but also not too thick and didn't lace the glass. Can't say too much about a 5/5...they nailed it.

Smell: 4/5. Great floral and (can I say) "herbal" scents, but not exceptional as it didn't bring me back overseas. There weren't any off-scents or anything "bad" about the smell...I just remember Pilsner Urquell's having much more of a nose than this one.

Taste/Mothfeel: 5/5 + 2.5/5. Same as with scent (afterall taste is nearly 90% smell anyway) I found this to be on point but just a little too weak for my taste. Pilsner Urquell is a very pleasant kick to the palate and while this was certainly enjoyable with no off-flavors, it didn't fully stimulate my tastebuds the way a true Pilsner can.

Clean and crisp malts up front with a dry and refreshing (but not too bitter) hop finish. Gentle carbonation makes for a very smooth beer and enhances some spicy characters. I took off a lot of points on Mouthfeel due to the finish. Typically dry, almost pulling your tongue down your throat, this one didn't have that pleasant bite I was expecting/hoping for. It's one thing to brew a great tasting beer...it's another thing entirely to brew one that will stick to the palate for minutes after a sip. Pilsner Urquell has it...Lagunitas Pils doesn't.

Drinkability: 4.5/5. This beer can be anything you want it to be. Dinner beer, session beer, summer day/winter night...just make sure you like the taste of pilsners!

Summary: 4.5/5. I was very impressed with this beer and its ability to live up to my horribly biased pilsner standards! I may have focused on it's shortcomings, but that is only because they are fewer than its accolades and this is a review, not a novel. Simply put...Lagunitas nailed the Pilsner style but it doesn't create the same "POW...right in the kisser!" effect that the 5/5 Pilsner Urquell does.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2008 17:46:02 | More by LemZeppelin

Chinon01

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

As a fan of Pilsners in general I was disappointed by this beer. I found that the taste was sweet almost like a macro rather than rich like say Staroprahmen. The complexity too was missing like spiciness and a muskiness and there was relatively low hop bitterness as well. The mouthfeel and drinkability were fine. Overall not interesting or compelling.

Serving type: on-tap

10-07-2008 02:21:27 | More by Chinon01

Lexluthor33

New York

3.78/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours copper with a golden hue.Small head,small lace.
The aroma is grains,mild hops and light citrus notes.
The taste was sweet,biscuit malts,mild hops and some grains.
The feel was clean,decent balance,mild carbonation and some yeast in the finish. Some mild bitterness.

Notes: Plain and simple, a decent brew.Good for the last call,easy to chug and session worthy.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2008 22:30:39 | More by Lexluthor33

fitzy84

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at the Moan and Dove. The drink had some patchy lacing with a generally dark amber appearance. A thin but balanced aroma of malts and hops. Just wish it was stronger. The taste was a medium-level bitterness that was really dry. Carbonation was crisp, giving it that dry aftertaste. Overall, not bad.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2008 04:42:52 | More by fitzy84

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.05/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Lagunitas- Czech Pilsner

On tap at Isaac Newton's- Newtown, PA.

A- Bright clear golden orange with little to no head.
S- Very light wheat and bread grains. This had no aroma until almost the last sip.
T- Light crisp grains, wheat, sunflower, & a touch of pepper.
M- Light, crisp, and bubbly with a bone dry finish.

Overall- A good light summer beer. Easy to drink but the flavor is too subdued.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2008 20:27:28 | More by NJpadreFan

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

cichief

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on draft at the Frisco Grille, Columbia, MD.

A- Pours a beautiful straw yellow, with a nice thick white head.

S- Mostly hoppy in the nose, somewhat floral.

T- Nice hoppy flavor, somewhat citrusy, without being over the top.

M- Very bubbly, right on the mark for the style.

D- This would make a great session beer. It isn't my favorite American pilsener, but it ranks pretty well.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2008 16:45:52 | More by cichief

williamherbert

New York

3.83/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Quick notes on this beer:

*Dark gold, much darker then the average pils.
*Clear and thick
*Hoppier smell than most pilsners
*Has a woody hop scent with a "wet" malt smell
*Taste is bitter and hoppy. Some bitter malt and yeast as well
*Feels wet but with a bitter kick; a thick pilsner.
*Mild sour apple taste, not a bad thing
*Bready yeast sweetens as it warms.
*Feels fizzy and bubbly, like a saison
*Both sweet and sour tastes come out with more warmth
*Feels "spiky" and harsh, not smooth
*It's hard drinking for a pils, and quite strong considering
*Lots of flavor, but just too fizzy

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2007 03:29:17 | More by williamherbert