Lagunitas PILS (Czech Style Pilsner) - Lagunitas Brewing Company

Mustard

District of Columbia

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

Presentation: 12oz. brown bottle with no "bottled on" or "best before" warning; purchased as a stray single for $1.29 from the Whole Foods on National and Barrington in West LA.

Appearance: Pours a clear gold with a slight, orange tinge; fine, two-fingered, cream-colored head; intricate sheet lacing; very good head retention.

Aroma: Predominantly of grass, citrus and sweet caramel.

Taste: Considerably less sweet than its nose; good, sturdy biscuity malts upfront and thoughout; piney, grassy hop flavors; suitably bittered; secondary notes of grain and oranges; faintly spicy. Medium bodied with a creamy mouthfeel.

Comments: Rather enjoyed this and would happily have it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2003 08:25:49 | More by Mustard

Rumrunner

California

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

12 oz. bottle.

I real nice clean pilsner. It pours a clean golden color. Decent head with nice lacing. The head stayed thoughout the drink of the beer. The scent is not too strong but has a nice estery feel to the nose. Some rind and grass to the scent as well. Decent malt balance to the nose.

There is little sweetness to this pilsner. It has a deep malt flavor. A crisp pine taste that has a bitter bite to it. A citrus flavor comes through but it is taken away quickly by the malt. The hops are there but irrelevant.

It drinks easy and smooth. A very fine pilsner. I am enjoying Lagunitas more and more. I first tried their IPA a year ago at a Raider game and I was impressed. I have to buy that one again and review it soon.

Lagunitas may be coming in to its own. I do not regularily drink pilsners but this one is very good. If only the macros could understand this beer we would not bash them so much. I will definately try more of thier beers soon.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2003 06:56:49 | More by Rumrunner

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Appearance: clear, bright golden color, active carbonation, with a thick, fluffy, bone-white head, which softly sizzles down to size.
Nose is dry, wide open and suggestive of absolutely nothing in particular, or at all.
Light and smooth, just right for a lager, but bad for a self-described "Czech-style pilsener." For one thing, very little hops are felt, and additionally, dryness is missing. Instead the flavor is bland, bald, and lagery sweet. I keep waiting for some dry hoppiness to emerge and assert itself through this treacly murk, something that may indicate a true "Czech-style Pilsner" profile, but, alas, it never does.
Again, far too thick and sweet...nice try, but you missed.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2003 19:41:47 | More by feloniousmonk

Reidrover

Oregon

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ok this caught my eye today..never seen a Pils from Lagunitas until now.
came in a brown short neck 12 oz bottle usual simple but pleasing Lagunitas label..intresting script round the label.
nice looking pilsner..nice golden colour with a large crweamy white head..it goers down fast but leaves great lace.
smell is good but not exceptional..lot more maltiness than most pils though.
a good "thick" tasting pils..very nice reminds me of Starobrno..nice strong malt backbone for the hops to ride on.
Great on the tongue very intresting.
A most wonderful beer to drink..best from this brewery I have tasted..unsusal for a west coast brewer to do great lager

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2003 23:37:02 | More by Reidrover

mickeymac

California

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

Poured from a short 12 ounce bottle, it a crystal clear yellowish gold with a big foamy white head. The head dimishes but leaves a thin layer on top of the glass all the way down. The Saaz hops are immediately noticeable, along with slight grainy aroma. The taste is nice, with a bit of hop bite and grassy flavors mixing well. The mouthfeel is what I'd expect in a Pilsener. As for drinkability, it's 100 damn degrees today, and this stuff goes down like water. This would be a good beer to lure macro drinkers to something better.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2003 17:38:16 | More by mickeymac

drewbage

California

3.13/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Sampled at Beer Appreciation Night at BJ's Woodland Hills

Beer pours pales gold with a sticky white head.

Nose is sweet and corny with a large blazing hop aroma. The flavor of the beer is honey malty with a hop bitterness accentuated by a mineral character to the water.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2003 01:14:14 | More by drewbage

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Slighly hazy dark gold color, a shade up from many. Fairly big head but flat on top and greatly diminished at 40 seconds. Simple but complete laces. Hoppy aroma, unmistakable Saaz qualities. The body was quite a bit bigger than I expected with a fleshy melon and caramel malt start and mid mouth impression. Hops bitter well and this brew is solidly balanced, though it swaps personalities and ends with some pine even in the aftertaste. Not a very light and crisp example of a Pils, more guts than style points on this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2003 09:26:24 | More by ADR

AtLagerHeads

Ohio

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

A very nice Pilsener. This is a very crisp, clean tasting brew with a nicely balanced level of hops. The presentation is what's expected from a regional with clever naming and descriptions of the bottle contents. Poured a very golden color with a thick white head that had good retention. This is a robust Czech style with the emphasis on body rather than heavy hopping. A very enjoyable beer all round.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2003 07:22:27 | More by AtLagerHeads

Dogbrick

Ohio

2.93/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

From Hollingshead Deli in Orange, CA. I just can't get into these Bohemian/Czech Pilseners. Pours a hazy light orange color with a medium white head. Thin lacing and the head disappeared rather quickly. Aroma is mostly hops with a tiny bit of fruit. Flavor is mildly hoppy with a little malt backbone and a somewhat sour finish. Also has a very carbonated feel, but manages to not be very crisp at the same time.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2003 07:11:30 | More by Dogbrick

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

Mark

California

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

Pretty decent brew from Lagunitas. Poured a medium straw, head retention was decent and lacing was above average. Malty smell highlighted by Saaz hops. Good smooth taste with decent hop bite.I really like the flavor of the Saaz. A very refreshing and drinkable beer. Could become a warm weather staple.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2003 19:46:52 | More by Mark

Bighuge

Minnesota

2.83/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Highly chill hazed golden orange in appearance. A clingy off-white head that barely skims the surface, but laces effectively. Fresh hop leaf aroma. Floral and spicy in nature. Almost full body. Not quite. Spicy and bitter taste. Doesn't taste like a good pilsner or dortmuder to me. There's actually a lingering bitter aftertaste that is tannin like and not pleasant. This is a below average beer. Along with their Imperial Stout, the only subpar brews I've had from Lagunitas.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2003 20:53:10 | More by Bighuge

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.53/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Lagunitas Pils, Czech Style Pilsner from the Lagunitas Brewery comes in a short stubby 12 fl.oz Bottle. It immediately impresses me with the fact that it defers to the Czechs, and unlike some Breweries I could mention, calls itself Czech ‘Style’ Pils. I like that and I am already endeared to this beer before I open it for its honesty.
Wow! And when I do open it, I like it even more. Straight from the fridge and once the crown cap is popped; I swear the Hop Aromas leap for joy into my Apartment. The beer pours a lovely golden color, with some turbidity though, even so, the orange milk hue from the fine suspended solids looks fantastic. Head is like Jaws, a Great White Monster. Huge, rocky, frothy and very reminiscent of a Czech Pils, and it has staying power. Aromas are stunning, a massive fresh citric and spicey hoppiness that positively invades the room and the nasal passages as though they are glad to see you.
Tastes are incredibly refreshing, extremely clean lines, exceptionally crisp and with a marvellous hop character. Some lingering bitterness in the finish. Mouthfeel is nothing short of perfect for this style. The Saaz hops contribute that spicy hoppiness so often found in fresh Pils in Czech Republic. After a few mouthfuls, a very soft fruitiness develops and is clearly perceptible in the middle, just like the real thing.

I first went to Czechoslovakia in 1992, and then revisited it when it was the Czech Republic a few times. I can honestly say this is one of the very best US interpretations of a Czech Pils that I have had to date. It reminded me so very much of the lashings of fresh Pilsner Urquell I drank in the Golden Tiger (U Zhlatého Tygra) in Prague, and later in Pilsen at the Brewery so many years ago.
Bloody Impressive, Marvellous and very accomplished indeed.

A big Thumbs Up to Lagunitas on this one. Na Zdravi!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2002 19:20:32 | More by TheLongBeachBum

Gusler

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear gold the color on the pour, the head, is a brilliant white, frothy, substantial, the lace nice sheets upon the glass. Nose is malt, lightly sweet, clean and fresh. The start is malt, somewhat sweet, the top is light, and the finish is eminently dry, perfectly acidic, and superbly hopped. A good session beer "No Doubt", drinkable and ranks as one of a few "Pilsners/Lagers", I deem acceptable to maintain a permanent place in my "Stable" of beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2002 16:45:56 | More by Gusler

marc77

California

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

Clear dark straw / light gold hue topped by a well retained, dense lace leaving head. The pungent, grassy, (dry - hopped?) Saaz hop nose is ensued by sweet, hay - like grain notes. Assertively hopped and quite malty-- it's not nearly as dry as other examples of the style. Sharp, grassy hop flavor. Moderate to full - bodied for a Pils, w/ a somewhat viscous mouthfeel. Finishes w/ a quickly fading bitterness. Almost a good pilsner, but malt nuances were overshadowed by the slightly rough bitterness. Tasty, but definitely not a subtle pilsner. What else can you expect from Lagunitas?

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2002 06:48:59 | More by marc77

WilliamPhilaPa

Pennsylvania

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

A luscious pale gold in color, the head is frothy, big, some-what rocky, white in color. On the nose the aroma of hops, slight citric. On the palate the flavors are crisp with a delicate malty sweetness, good hop character, fruitiness, and balanced well. Overall a a fairly interesting Pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2002 19:05:06 | More by WilliamPhilaPa