Lagunitas PILS (Czech Style Pilsner) - Lagunitas Brewing Company

donnebaby

North Carolina

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

Clear but viscous looking rich gold body and a tall creamy top with lots of extra cling on the rim. Smells wet and musty, lightly sour.

Taste is funky for a pilsener, like a pilsener injected with a little extra body and very sweet honey malts, somehow off-keel. Creamy body in the mouth. Way too sweet for my liking, going beyond malty sweetness to corn syrup (I know "czech" pilsners are a little sweeter but..). After is sharp with good characteristic gently bitter hops, lighty lemony and sour.

Not my choice for a pils!

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2005 07:14:25 | More by donnebaby

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.05/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Brightest amber with the merest suggestion of orange. Fine, lazy carbonation rises to a large cotton white head that isn't overly dense, but is as sticky as all get out. It's impressively rocky as it deflates and ends up laying down thick streamers of lace over the majority of the glass currently available to it. Well done.

The nose is dominated by hops, but it isn't nearly as aromatic as expected. There's a wee bit of lemon zestiness and... not much else. If any of the noble varieties are in use, you couldn't tell it by me. Strictly average.

Czech Style Pilsner doesn't taste like any pilsener that I've ever had. It's too pale malty, too buttery and too sweet with a serious shortage of hop flavor. What bitterness is present is thoroughly divorced from the flavor profile. I'd love to know what hops Lagunitas uses in this beer because I don't believe they chose wisely.

The body is light, edging toward light-medium on the finish due to a modest amount of mouthcoating. I just noticed that there's an odd aftertaste of bitter butter.

Lagunitas Pils is a strange one. It drinks like a cross between an amber and a pils with some off-putting diacetyl thrown in for bad measure. This beer isn't horrible, but it needs a complete overhaul (read: recipe change) before I'll give it another chance.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2005 23:31:10 | More by BuckeyeNation

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had three of these the other night at 'bones. I thought it was very good, especially for an American take on the style. Pour when served was the color of golden yellow sunshine, I enjoyed the snow white head on top. It left many, many rings in my glass as I drank it down. The low aroma was a bit appley/citrusy. Clean, crisp initially, it had some grainyness in the finish, but only a touch. Very smooth, great session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2005 21:23:22 | More by PatandDavid

carln26

Missouri

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

A fine pilsner is the palette cleanser of the beer world. You can drink one after almost any other beer, and uncover all of the subtleties it has to offer, and move on to the next style to do the same. The Lagunitas offering pours a bright gold, clear with a thick white head refilled by champagne bubbles. The nose is a crisp hop citrus backed by a mild caramel from the malt. The taste is a refreshing hop citrus. Hints of grapefruit accented nicely by subtle hop flower. There is just a hint of malt on the finish. Smooth mouth feel, very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-10-2005 17:40:16 | More by carln26

RoBotGod

Colorado

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

Most likely the lightest beer I’ve had from Lagunitas. Still decent never the less. Had a very thin head on the pour with a lot of small carbonation bubbles. Very easy to drink, something you might suggest to a not so experimental beer drinker. The cez style gave it an easy to drink golden flavor. There are hints of wheat with an over all refreshing taste to it. Not a beer a would drink at warmer temperatures, keep this one cold. I think the pilsner category limits the things they could have done. Nothing out of the ordinary but still a good lightly hand crafted beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2005 03:39:05 | More by RoBotGod

shapudding

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear and honey golden with tons of carbination seen rising up to the thick cap of heavy egg-shell foam. The rich milkshakey head left a ton of lacing, but reduced down to a good capping. Very nice aroma with surprising strength to it, can catch it from a few feet away, very malty and sweet. Nicely pronounced flavors, good bite of peppery hops and caramelly malts. Good bitterness left in your mouth. Crisp and sharp flavors. The carbination feels good, it is just enough, I thought it would be too much from all I could see going on, but it was just right. Very drinkable pils, great session with good flavors and feel to it.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2005 02:47:28 | More by shapudding

rastaman

United Kingdom (England)

2.25/5  rDev -38.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Bottle. Tinny, rusty flavour, bit of saaz and grainy malts, not much else though, short finish. I really wasn't a fan of Lagunitas, perhaps their beers are better on tap, i don't know, but all the bottled version i had while in the US were a little underwhelming. Dissapointing.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2005 11:32:27 | More by rastaman

necoadam

Connecticut

3.38/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured out a medium shade of gold with a nice head that left a bit of lacing.

Smell consisted of a nice dose of hops, spicy hops, with a good malt underlying to it. It really doesn't have that pils aroma to it.

Taste was decent. Sweet malts start off and then gives away to some floral/spicy hops. Seemed to be a bit more fuller than the nose suggested it to be.

Mouthfeel was medium with a creamy texture, if anything, it might of been too creamy. I would of liked to see the hops really stand out in this brew, but just didn't come through. Decent, but not worthy of being in regular rotation.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2005 20:04:18 | More by necoadam

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

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

Poured from a 12 oz brown stubbie-like bottle, the import sticker on the 6 pack says that this is 5.3% abv. I actually like the little blurb around the border of the label more than the others, as well as the blurb found at the bottom of the 6 pack casing.

This is a pilsner with appeal to it, a rich, clear golden with some value to it, starting to lean towards a marzen-like appearance. Massive carbonation, one can get lost watching the show, and it all leads up to the dense creamy cap of white foam that rests regally atop this fine specimen of a lager. I'm not much for lagers on a regular basis, I must admit, but this one has got my attention. I know I'm hanging out "uptown", as the packages blurb suggests. Mottled lacing as the beer goes down.

Well rounded on the nose as well, sweet biscuity malt and crisp metallic grains, along with floral and herbal hopping, they have all their bases covered.

The flavour is also a real treat, crisp grain up front, bready malt in the middle, leading back to a crisp but rounded hoppy finish accompanied by a dry metallic aftertaste. This is rounded out by a very full and moist body to the mouthfeel, the palate puckers at brief moments of dryness, but is left refreshed when is all and said and done.

This has to be one of the most enjoyable pilsners I've ever had, stacked like a brick house, but dressed stylishly all the same, no tube top or hot pants necessary to sell this uptown girl. A well bred lager, actually worth the hefty import price tag I shelled out for. I'll be back for more, and will bring flowers and chocolates.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2005 18:17:12 | More by IronDjinn

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12oz bottle purchased as a single at The Spirit Haus, Amherst, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1" white head over the clear golden brew. Foamy head lasts, and exhibits very nice lacing. Aroma is lightly of pale malts and crisp hops. Taste is upfront sweet pale malt, which then switches abruptly to a nice hops flavor. Mouthfeel and drinkability are excellent. Wonderful example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2005 19:01:42 | More by ppoitras

Billolick

New York

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

Suprised to find this uncommon one on tap at a BBQ spot in NYC, Blue Smoke. Poured cloudy, medium straw in color, white 1/2 inch tiny bubble head, and displaying well developed fine lacing. Nose of powdered sugar, and bread. This is light to medium bodied hoppy, crisp and refreshing Pilsner. Palate cleansing lager, which went well with the BBQ. Not much of a finish, sort of petered out to wateryness. Servicable sessioner.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2005 14:25:11 | More by Billolick

UnionMade

Colorado

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This pils pours a pale gold, slightly chill hazed, a large plume of white head erupting with a vigorous pour. Good head retention, keeping a realtively thick coating for quite a while, leaving rings of brussels lace encrusting the interior of the glass. Gorgeous lacing, but could be clearer. Closer examination reveals a loose sediment of tiny particles suspended within the golden clarity.
The aroma shows a touch of age, perhaps. This is the first time I've had this beer, so maybe that's what it's like. Honeyed, soft pils malt without much in the way of hops. A slight peppery saaz note, with a soapy squeakiness. Very similar to some polish pilsners I've had. Not bad, but could be bolder.
The flavor opens with a burst of carbonation, a sweetish flair of sugary malt coming through immediately. Rather lively, with a honeyed sweetness and a slight lemony tint. The hops are odd. A pervasive soapy flavor ekes through the finish, balancing the malt just enough, but still retaining some sweetness in the aftertaste. Some peppery, woody notes, as well as coarser hints of north american floral and citric hopping. The honeyed malt lingers into the aftertaste, the hops clipping off neatly until the next sip. Medium bodied, with active, lively carbonation and a soft water, smoothened mouthfeel.
A bit on the sweetish side, for my taste in pilsner beer. I'd prefer something a bit hoppier, but the softness of the mouthfeel is spot on for a czech version. I'm guessing this is hopped with something besides saaz, because I'm picking up some strong floral notes, perhaps a bit of citrus. Perhaps one of the north american saaz crosses? Who knows. Either way, it's nice stuff. I'd like to try this on tap sometime. I imagine it would be a good session.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2005 23:22:07 | More by UnionMade

Gavage

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Yellow orange in color with a fluffy white two inch head. The aroma is of grass and hops. The flavor is grainy malt, floral hops, mild grass, and a hint of lemon. This brew leans a bit towards the sweeter side.

Mildly crisp mouthfeel at the start and finish, where other pils are more crisp than this. This was also a little heavier in body than other pils. Overall a slightly above average brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2005 22:22:08 | More by Gavage

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Not sure if I've ever had a non-macro pils, but I do remember not liking macro pils. But this is pretty good and may alter my thoughts on pils. The beer poured into the glass a tawny yellow in color, with mild carbonation. A head formed on top about to finger-widths deep, that quickly dissipated. After each sip a thin lace would form, but the disappear before the next sip. The aroma is bitter, which comes thorugh with a nice bitter and sour hoppy flavor. There was not much else with the beer's flavor. Really it would make a great thirst quenching drink. The only negative was that the hops were pungent enough that when I burped I was kind of taken back by own breath.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2004 20:18:26 | More by MuddyFeet

meathookjones

Virginia

3.08/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This poured out a hazy golden yellow with about a half-inch of white foam head floating on top. Some lace was left around the glass as this was consumed. Aroma was mainly just biscuity malts. Taste was crisp with bready type malts and a slight sweetness. Very mild beer all around. Body was about medium and well carbonated. Decent brew overall but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2004 19:21:00 | More by meathookjones

HochFliegen

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured a nice crisp very clear copper color. Miniamal head and lacing. Nothing more than a thin film on top of the brew.
The smell was sweet like honey with a citrus scent as well. Not overpowering at all very mellow and clean.
The taste was much like the smell sweet with a very clean taste. Crisp in the end with a bite of bitterness. Very impressed for a pils!

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2004 02:02:29 | More by HochFliegen

merlin48

Kentucky

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

This pours a chillhazed, medium yellow body with a one finger, tightknit, white head. Good retention falls into nice patchy lace.
Aroma has a pleasant, floral hopping balanced by a sweetish, fresh bread malt backbone.
Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied, with even carbonation.
Nice pils taste here, with a pleasant, floral hops biterness, and a solid malt backbone that is somewhat grainy and biscuity. The finish is crisp, dry, and refreshing.
Very well crafted example of a German pilsener by a good, California brewery. Nice balance, and enjoyable drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2004 22:35:04 | More by merlin48

beertaster13

Washington

4.05/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a fine pilsner. Pours a golden yellow with orangish hue. Head is very impressive, coats of lacing cover the glass. The smell is strong of thick malts, slight grain detected, a refreshing cascade pine hops detected as well. So unlike the pilsners that most are used to, this one uses a great blend of hops that really stand out, the smooth crisp sweet caramel malt is impressive, hints of grain. Medium bodied and very good. A great beer for sessions or those football games.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2004 06:55:03 | More by beertaster13

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured a clear pale golden with a very low white head that barely made it to lace the glass.

The aroma was malty but with a distinct DMS (cooked corn) aroma.

The flavor fared much better with a crisp maltiness and decent hop backbone to balance. The beer is actually very well bittered and refreshing.

The finish is dry and with slight crisp bittering well into the aftertaste. The body is medium.

12 ounce bottle. A tasty beverage, but the corn aroma detracts.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2004 00:01:35 | More by GCBrewingCo

silenius

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden yellow and has decent size chunks of yeast bits suspended in it. The head filled the regulation American pint glass up to the rim then it slid back down to coat the surface of the beer with what looks like ice (but is not).

Not too much of a smell here. Some floral hops is all I get, and this isn't much.

Taste is very refreshing and light. A nice bitter aftertaste lets you know that this beer is hopped enough to hold some interest.

Mouthfeel is crisp and dry. Which goes really well with the super high humidity we have here in Chicago right now.

This is a very drinkable session beer at 5.5% alcohol. I emailed the company and asked. They said they didn't like advertising the ABV because they "don't want it to be seen as a strength claim." Whatever that means.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2004 22:51:09 | More by silenius

watermelonman

California

2.98/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This sits as a crisp golden color in the glass. It looks decent but unfortunately I think its appearance is its high point.

The smell is a bit hoppy, which isn't bad for a change. The taste is of the same, but a little acidic as well. It doesn't sit very well on my tongue, but it's still reasonably drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2004 21:40:09 | More by watermelonman

gnaussea

California

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear, golden orange. Medium, off-white head, a bit dirty looking and weakly carbonated for a pilsener. Stong wheatiness to the nose, with some brad notes and floral hints. Flavor starts a bit acidic and becomes very dry in the aftertaste. wheat takes a step back in the flavor, allowing the hoppiness to come right out. Bold hops, but overall thin taste, and not very traditional for a pilsener. I know Lagunitas likes to go off the beaten path, but this time I think they just went askew.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2004 06:28:11 | More by gnaussea

Boilermaker88

California

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

Poured from a 12oz. bottle which had no freshness date or %ABV listed. This brew had a slightly hazed golden color and a rocky 1½" bright white head which left large portions of sheet lace gracing the glass walls.
The nose was of sweet malt and floral hops. The taste was largely possessing a sweet grainy maltiness with some fruit notes reminescent of apple or pear. There was some spicy hops present toward the finish but not near the amount detected in other Czech pilsners. The feel was light, crisp and clean.
I found this to be a pretty tasty pilsner that went down fine. It just didn't quite hit the mark in terms of the style. It's taste profile seemed to be leaning too much in favor of malty sweetness, sacrificing the hoppy notes I've come to associate with the style. It also wasn't as dry and crisp as most other pilsners I've sampled. While it's a good beer, I'm not sure it fits the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2004 19:03:59 | More by Boilermaker88

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appears a glowing orange golden hue with a magnificant sized white head leaving very fine lace behind great looking brew. Aromatics are malty with some Saaz backing the nice malt characater up some grassy notes very nice with some bready yeast tones hanging around as well from the bottle conditioning. Taste, upfront bready with a great finishing zesty peppery hops but a smooth vanilla like malt character ties everything together. Mouthfeel is light to medium in body decent carbonation and one very drinkable beer to boot, tasty and refreshing a winning combonation every time.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2003 21:23:42 | More by WVbeergeek

beerguy101

California

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Light gold color, medium foamy head. Aroma is malty and a little hoppy. A full-bodied pilsner. Malty and somewhat hoppy. Touch of sweetness at the start that gives way to a fairly strong hop bitterness. Good flavor throughout. Well balanced. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is smooth and dry. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2003 03:53:35 | More by beerguy101