Lagunitas PILS (Czech Style Pilsner) - Lagunitas Brewing Company

lsummers

California

3.66/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had some good expectations for this one but it just didn't hit home.

Looked great with its one finger tall head that left some nice lacing. Smells nice but not anything too special. Taste was a touch hoppier than what I usually like in a pilsner. Hops are Lagunitas's style but the type of hops didn't quite do it for me.

Overall I'm glad to have tried it even if I didn't much care for it. I think it's got a spot in someone's fridge just not mine.

Edit - Retry

I revisited this one after a half year from trying it. I went in not expecting any particular style and found this very pleasant. The hops do well in a lager and it does smell pretty nice. Like a fresh wet field of hay. Tastes great too, a touch of bite from some floral hops leads into a more wheaty malt and nutty honey. Overall I am definitely going to retry and see how I feel again seeing as something was off the first time having this beer.

Edit - Another Retry...

Still liking this one, it's such a different tasting pils that I have to give credit to it. One that anyone whom likes slightly more hopped up styles should try. And to think that Lagunitas used to be one of my least favorite breweries. It's amazing how important retrying is.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 04:40:59 | More by lsummers

microbrewlover

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This brew pours a perfect straw, golden color with a fluffy white 3 finger head which lasts for several minuets. Good carbonation. Medium lacing on the glass lasts until the end.

The smell is malty, soapy, straw, wet hay and cut grass.

The taste starts with a sharp bite. Then a bready and honey taste comes in followed by bitter and dry aftertaste. Dry but oily, there seems to be a complex hop signature in this brew.

The mouthfeel is thin but bready. There is a bite in the mouth due to the high carbonation and the bitter hop profile that comes in on the back end.

Overall this is a good solid drinking Pils. It is the right color for a pils and packs a nice combination of malts and hops. It lacks the grassy, gritty, grainy aftertaste of many pilsners which you can consider a plus or minus based on your personal preference. I could see myself knocking back a few of these on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 22:55:40 | More by microbrewlover

Burkbom23

Connecticut

3.43/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a deep gold with a nice 2 finger fluffy white head that lasts. Pretty good lacing clings to the glass on the way down. Clean aroma with some grapes and slight hint of citrus. Tastes a little better than the smell led me to believe. Some malt and sweetness up front. Some breadiness. Slight bitterness in the finish that lingers afterwards. Smooth and silky in the mouth with good ammount of carbination. Nothing spectauclar, but very drinkable beer, could drink these all day.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 01:09:25 | More by Burkbom23

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked this up as part of a mix-a-six at Giant in Linglestown, PA. Poured chilled into a bass glass.

The color is clear golden with an appropriate white cap which settles to a thin ring of beads. The smell is very light with herbal aspects and mild soapy element. The feel is good with slight bitterness and mild sweetness with semi-dry and mineral finish.

The taste is gentle with light malt sweetness and mild spice from the hops with some soapiness in the background and light yeast taste with gently toasted grain flavor and dry finish. Overall a decent pils, but I would probably take or leave it, just an ordinary lager for the most part.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 16:59:45 | More by Slatetank

sam_bliss

Washington

4.14/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Like Adam and Eve, Isaac and Ishmael, Mao and Confuscious [sic], Good and Evil, Day and Night, Hittites and Visigoths, John and Lorena, or Groucho and Moe, Ales and Lagers are as different as can be. Still, we must love each for who they are, separately but equally, with liberty, and justice, for all. Cheers!

Classic PILS Lagunitas bottle. Looks like a nice clear beer. Mmmm I have not smelled a well-made lager for a while. In the US northwest we are ale-crazy and most of the lagers around are shitty macro brews. Since I am personally ale crazy too - I rarely come upon lagers that are not: (1) made by AB InBev; or (2) creative craft lagers that end up tasting unique or like ales. This one holds it's own as a Pilsener yet also displays the signature qualities of Lagunitas Brewing Company. The smell is of sweet golden bready malts. It reminds me of Germany, most likely because I have never been to Czechland. Some sourish pilsener scent overlays light fruitiness and grassy hops. The taste has sharp, slightly roasty malted grains and just a hint of coffee. A bit of salted caramel and some savory umami round out a very complete and clean malt profile. The hops have lemony and resin flavors; they are understated, as is typical of pilseners. On second thought, the hops are even a little soapy. Mouthfeel is fuller and carbonation more mild than most pilseners I have had. It's not perfectly true to the style but it works.

It's hard to know how to score a lager. The label is right: lagers are just so different from the beers I normally drink. It's hard to fathom that they are both beer!

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 01:55:38 | More by sam_bliss

sethcroisant

Nebraska

2.46/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.25

A- weak looking head that clears out quickly. a decent bit of lacing sticks around

S- slightly fruity hops, maybe hallertau? not much malt, but it's a little sugary. boozy for a pilsner.

M- somewhat high carbonation, but it's offset by a full bodied feel.

T- intense hops that are very soapy. the particular flavor of hops is more reminiscent of a pale ale. hops oil lingers on the tongue. not much malt until the end, where it's sweet and caramel-like. slightly dry and crackery in the after taste.

O- very strange and a little off-putting. there are much better choices on the market than this.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 04:47:27 | More by sethcroisant

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.21/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A - Pours a crystal clear copper with a two finger bubbly white head that leaves no lacing.

S - Starts out with pilsner malts that quickly transition to honey and corn.

T - Follows the nose. Pilsner and pale malt open up the flavor which quickly becomes followed by honey and a bit of corn. Grass and slight lemon zest finish out the flavor.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

O - Overall, It was decent, But no my style of beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 05:11:36 | More by SometimesIfart

ktblue22

Vermont

4.15/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Note - I was served this beer on tap but in a series of a flight, as it was during a Lagunitas Tap Take-over at the Fireworks Restaurant in Keene. The flight was also paired with the best fish taco I have ever ever had - just to say, if you're in the area, check out their Craft Beer Thursday (first Thursday of every month)

A - yellow khaki color with a very thin head
S - crisp and dry
T- well carbonated, dry and very flavorful. Very good take on czech pilsner - fresh and crisp yet smooth and flavorful...YUM

Beautiful and drinkable - not my favorite lagunitas, but a great option for a pils if you are sick of Scrimshaw (me)

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2013 06:19:19 | More by ktblue22

Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -11%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

Bottle > Winter Lager glass
A - Pours a light and very clear golden color, minimal head thin lacing, but looks nice.
S - Yeast and biscuity malt, some interesting spices as well.
T - Tastes like your average pilsner with a belgian touch. Nothing too crazy goin on.
M - Thin, a little watery, and a slightly metallic feeling on your palate.
O - Not bad, but I'm not a fan of Pilsner's in general, so not going to seek this out anytime soon. It really doesnt have any hop presence at all either, kinda disappointing on that end.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 22:22:59 | More by Omnium

beergoot

Colorado

3.64/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Gold body topped with a thin white head; crystal clear with plenty of carbonation rising. Aroma came across with cereal grain and dry, grassy scents. Taste and feel reinforce the aroma characteristics with a clean, smooth, medium body. There's a good hop bitterness to counter-balance the malt grain and sweetness notes.

I like this pilsner. It's solid and does a fine job of matching the style except it's a bit weak in the hop aroma. But, taste, to me, is the key, and this beer is very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 20:56:52 | More by beergoot

DeltaGolfSierra

Tennessee

3.71/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Color is a crystal clear gold. The generous head has great retention, and leaves a fair amount of lacing behind. Scents are bread and lemon, but are a bit weak. The taste is mainly biscuit/cracker, with hints of grass and citrus. High carbonation and a slight peppery flavor give it quite a sharp bite. There is a slight bitter metallic taste to it as well, though not overpowering. I think it could benefit from a strong hop profile, similar to Victory's Prima Pils. Solidly good, but not spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 20:01:54 | More by DeltaGolfSierra

mfnmbvp

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle with no apparent bottled on date present. The label on my bottle says this beer is packing a 6.0% abv as opposed to the 6.2% suggested on BeerAdvocate.

Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Pours a standard amber / gold looking pilsner / lager looking color with tons of bubbles rushing around and leaving us with about one finger's worth of fluffy doughy draft looking head. Nice fluffy lacing on the sides as the beer goes down.

S - Clean, pale malts, faint citrus, and some very vague note of smoked oak wood perhaps. Not too much happening on the nose.

T - Smooth, light, roasted malt flavor. Slight hint of sweet piney hops are present in the back end, but not overwhelming by any means. Noticeably spicy and peppery in the finish, but again it is faint and not distracting. A pleasant sipping beer. Again, a slight oaked wood character creeps out as the beer warms a bit.

M - Smooth and clean feel, no real lingering flavors. Nicely bodied, nicely balanced, and a nice beer to sip on.

Overall, a modest pilsner from Lagunitas, the first I have tried from them, as opposed to being partial to their more hoppy endeavors, and I can definitely say this is a beer worth trying if you are into pilsners and lagers.

Lagunitas Pils Czech Style Pilsner ---3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 02:35:46 | More by mfnmbvp

humuloner22

2.14/5  rDev -41.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.25

I know I may be in the minority here. But, I have had Czech Style Pilsners in Europe and this was not anything like them. I could have gotten a bad batch, but this beer was just plain awful! It was more malt than hops and had a thickness that does not typify a Czech Pilsner to me. It was not clean and pretty low carbonation. The smell was sweet and did not have that nice sharpness that typify a Pilsner. I had a friend concur just to make sure, neither of us had had this one before but it was not remotely a good tasting beer. I rarely do this but I could not get through this one it tasted so bad. It was like a really cheaply made grain dominant beer with a large amount of malt. If they were trying to make a Czech style Pilsner, this is not one. If I can talk myself into trying this one again I will give it another chance. But, this particular lot was really bad.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 23:23:34 | More by humuloner22

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, golden colored with a short loose head that dissipates quickly leaving little lacing, clear

S: sweet cereal grains, honey, nice malt smell

T: sweet malt followed by a clean bitter hop finish, has a mineral water quality

M: thinner and highly carbonated

O: an OK beer, clean finish with little flavor, some hop flavor

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 22:24:25 | More by M_C_Hampton

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pilsner glass.

A: Clear pale golden yellow with two-finger, white, fizzy, creamy head that lasted more than several minutes. Okay lacing.

S: Hay, grass, hops, and malt.

T: Moderate sweetness and light bitterness. Spice, toasted malt, apple juice. Very nice.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Crisp and slightly smooth.

O: This is a really good Czech Pilsener. Wasn't expecting much given the BA score, but I was pleasantly surprised as soon as I tasted it.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 02:03:16 | More by SolipsismalCat

dar482

New York

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A pretty honest Czech pilsner. It comes in a light clear yellow with a heavy head that dissipates quickly. The flavor has good hops and bitterness. It's quite light and finishes decently. It leaves some bitterness on the tongue.
It's not an incredible beer, but it's a good example of Laguntias trying to do a Czech pilsner. Quite drinkable, but it does lack some rounded flavors and leaves a taste that isn't exactly right. Recommended for casual drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2013 03:05:37 | More by dar482

mattkoon

South Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

i got this lagunitas pils after trying the "sucks" which i really liked. the pils isnt as good but it is still a worthy beer. the color is a cloudy golden. it smells of barley with a sweet caramel mix. the taste is smooth and sweet with a crisp lightness. not as bold and flavorful as gthe "sucks" but its a different style- this is a good pils but if i had to choose id go for the "sucks" every time. also, on another note- this beer is very drinkable.... if you want something you can drink a few of you wont be disappointed with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 00:27:54 | More by mattkoon

Uncle_Jimmy

California

3.74/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance- sparkling clear little to no head, no lacing

Aroma- Hay, Honey, grass, popcorn, sweet butter

taste- more of a hop forward pils. full resin hop hit at the front that drops off sharply and the carbonation cleans up the palette. It doesn't linger long. Different from corny pils

Mouthfeel- high fizz a little more bitterness than I have tasted in the style. I like the alcohol in this its a little higher than I am used to in this style.

Overall- i think this pils will please a lot of modern beer drinkers its hop forward is a little more boozy than most, its pretty in the glass. Traditionalists beware. I think I could have put a lot of this away in my college days when my drinking priorities were different. Bravo

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 07:24:12 | More by Uncle_Jimmy

magictacosinus

California

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Taking a break from all those insane ales to try a pilsner-style, this time from Lagunitas. Poured into a pilsner glass from a 120z bottle. 6.2% ABV?? Nice.

Produces a clear, golden yellow color with tons of carbonation, to the point where an aggressive pour in the glass is extremely frothy and yeast-like in appearance. About 2 fingers tall at first, it eventually dwindles down to next to nothing and leaves some lacing behind. It settles down a bit after about 10 minutes, but still retains the gentle and simple, graceful look in the style of Czech pilsners.

The smell is pretty spot-on when rating to style, with tons of golden pilsner malt aromas, lots of grain, some Saaz hops, and an enormous skunked backdrop. Actually, this last smell appears to be far more exaggerated in Lagunitas' adaptation, and more so than any I've had yet from the Czech Republic. The sugared, sweetened alcoholic aroma permeates underneath a bit of spice and zest. The yeast aroma seems to settle down a bit when you let this sit, although I am still bracing for the flavor at this point.

The flavor starts out pretty malty, as expected, but eventually some hops and alcohol creep in the aftertaste. What's crazy is how skunked this gets and how harsh - yet fun - of a drinking experience it becomes when it melds with the slight alcohol burn. I realize that this is yet another experiment from the brewery's part (especially since this is their only lager you can find more often in between their ales), so it seems ultimately that the alcohol serves to add muscles to the beer. Graininess permeates, but it's really all about the yeast and alcohol aromas here, with the hops taking a backseat in this case. The yeast is pretty vibrant, although the body, despite being excessively carbonated, could be a little less watery. The yeast becomes a bit distracting the more this warms up, and the alcohol a bit oppressive.

Not a bad attempt from Lagunitas to take on this style, and definitely full of flavor and crowd-pleasing aspects for sure. I would probably get more of these to give to people that like lighter recipes with an alcohol kick masked underneath. Worth a shot for Lagunitas enthusiasts.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 03:24:22 | More by magictacosinus

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Type: 12 oz bottle
Glass: Pint
From: Plum Market in Ann Arbor, MI
Price: $10 a 6-pack

Appearance: light straw yellow in color and clear. Small foamy head that fades quickly to a lacing on the top and sides.

Smell: Upfront spicy hops that are not at all overpowering followed by a nice mixture of malts and yeast. Smells very good.

Taste: Again spicy hops, malts and yeast. Unlike in the nose they are all lumped together and lacking in proper balance. also is a bit grassier than the nose

Mouthfeel: light and crisp. high carbonation. fairly drinkable

Overall: almost a very good beer. the taste needs a little more balance instead of everything being jumbled together and hard to pick apart.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 21:16:28 | More by SportsandJorts

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

silverking

Florida

3.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

It pours a nice, clear gold. The head is white a fluffy, almost mallow-like. The lacing is practically non-existent. Lots of grassy malt aromas and bread dominate the nose with a touch citrusy hops. Relatively low carbonation and a light mouthfeel. The hops show some more in the flavor, but malt is the highlight of this one. The finish does have some nice bitterness to it. Hmmm. It fails to "wow" me, but I'm far from dissapointed.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 00:07:05 | More by silverking

zachloveshisbeer

3.75/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Oh it's OK, but not their best effort. As far as a Czech pils is concerned, this one is a little high on the abv and low on the citrus flavour. It poured a nice, pale yellow colour with a hint of malt and light hop aroma. I drank it and felt like it just wasn't on-par with the other brews from these guys, which you should all be aware, are some of the best craft brews on the market today. I would probably pair this one with a nice summer salad or some old cheddar to increase its character. It is one heck of a lot better than any macro, but it's still not the best Czech pils I've had.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 16:54:34 | More by zachloveshisbeer

Moose90

Colorado

3/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz Bottle into Pint Glass
Can't decipher freshness date

A - Pale straw, bright gold. Pours aggressively with a big head that slowly subdues, lacing left behind is evidence of the higher ABV.

S - Typical pilsner. But I also get some fresh sweet malts, almost like a fresh fried donut, strange. Some hops coming out, but not much.

T - Smooth and subdued, grass, hay and some hop character here.

M - Clean, may be over carbed a tad, but still very refreshing and smooth, the ABV is not apparent, though there is a lingering sticky-sweetness on the finish.

O - Not a big fan of the style, but I love Lagunitas so figured I'd give it a go. Its a good beer, relatively solid representation of a Pils.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 01:13:49 | More by Moose90

Serge

Alberta (Canada)

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

Pale golden/straw colored beer with a thick white head. Aroma is quite grainy and cerealish with a soft herbal hoppiness. A bit floral and lightly noble in character. Flavor is quite non-descript though. Pale malt, soft bitterness and a light floral character. As a pale lager it works, but it’s one of Lagunitas’ weaker brews.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 10:45:25 | More by Serge