Berkshire Czech Pilsner - Berkshire Brewing Company Inc.

rdilauro

Connecticut

2.73/5  rDev -31.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Typical light pour with almost zero head to it. I was hoping for a lot of a hoppy head and nose to this. I was disappointed since it was on the milder side.
The taste was light and the over mouthful was not totally balance. My mouth was bombarded with different flavors, some being hop, some being malit, but it was too inconsistent.
The final taste and aftertaste was also disappointing.
This was not a bad brew, but something I juts really didnt like

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 23:57:19 | More by rdilauro

bgjohnston

Connecticut

3.05/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer poured an orangy golden color with a small head of tiny bubbles. I would have liked a bit more carbonation, but what was there was very nice.

It was maltier in smell and in taste than I was expecting. It was not a heavy malt presence, but still stronger and more persistent than I was expecting. Maybe the Noble Pils from Sam Adams or the Lagunitas pilsner is just more to my taste, as they were more crisp and less sweet on the palate. I wanted a drier finish, too.

Overall, not a dislike for me, but I do prefer other brewers of this style.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 00:17:15 | More by bgjohnston

abgba121

Connecticut

3.1/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pours a clear gold with a very thin white head and leaves behind minimal lace

S: very light, fruity, almost banana like

T: crisp and dry, a slight detectable hop finish. A little sweet and fruity in the middle

M: thin body and well carbonated

O: a decent pilsner, though nothing amazing

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 04:20:47 | More by abgba121

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.13/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from bomber into pint glass

Appearance – The beer was poured a medium golden color with a big thick just lightly off white head. The head had decent retention, eventually fading to give a moderate level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is heaviest of malt. It has a bready and biscuity smell. Mixed with these malts is also some floral, grassy and light citrus hop aromas.

Taste – The taste begins with a dry malt flavor. Towards the middle there is some citrus that comes to the tongue. Any sweetness that was present in the start (which was quite light) is now largely gone. At the end there is a floral and grassy hop flavor which combined with the malt base to leave a slightly bitter and dry flavor to be left on the tongue.

Mouthfeel –The beers body is rather average as well as its carbonation level.

Overall – It had a decent flavor and aroma, but was nothing too special. It was rather simple and lacked much complexity. Good for a easier drinking brew, but nothing to really go out of your way for.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 00:58:07 | More by Darkmagus82

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.33/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured on-tap and served in a tumbler pint, the beer is a slightly hazed, pale, yellow gold coloring with a thin, dense, foamy white head. Floral nose, both effervescent and slightly tangy, with a touch of buttery sweetness in the background. Flavors are light, with a roastiness that comes in strong around the mid-palate. Buttery and toasted grain backbone with some slight sour notes throughout, all of which overpowers the floral flavors trying to break through. Roasty aftertaste on a light, round body. The carbonation fights to make it crisp, but falls just short. Sparse lacing left along the glass as you drink. The beer has a roasty and smooth finish. Easy enough to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2012 16:24:01 | More by GarthDanielson

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the BBCs 22 oz bomber into a pint glass.

Pours light amber - darker than a typical pils. White foamy, leaving a full layer. Pils-y smell but mild. Cleab malty flavor. Subtle hop. Some citrus. Clean finish. A little sweet, if anything. A good beer, not great.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 11:45:08 | More by KTCamm

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a 2.5" white head. Hazy straw yellow color. The flavor profile is typical BMC all the way too me, just a little stronger and smoother, and I kind of wonder if that isn't more to the credit of it being a fresher and constantly refrigerated version of a pilsner. Yes, I enjoyed it and would repeat, but as far as the build of the beer goes I'd still just call it a little above average.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 13:30:06 | More by MoreThanWine

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this one on tap at Sierra Grille tonight.

Pours a nice golden yellow with a nice looking half inch of head.

Smell is sweet citrus, hay and some yeasty spiciness.

Taste is pretty sweet without the sharp bite of other pilseners I've had, it reminds me more of a "golden ale". Definitely an easy drinking beer during the summer with the zesty spiciness of the Saaz hops.

Overall it wasn't a bad pilsener and definitely worth a try if you see it on tap as BBC doesn't do many lagers.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2009 02:54:38 | More by indiapaleale

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Slightly hazy yellow body with a frothy white head. Decent retention and head size. Spotty lace down the glass.

S- Bread and cereal grain malt off the top. Floral and grassy hops balance it out. Some fruit notes.

T- Malty for a pilsner, cereal grain, bread and caramel in the forefront. Hops lend spice, citrus and floral grassy notes. Butter and dark fruit as well.

MF- Light slick body with a somewhat creamy feel. Good carbonation and light bitterness.

Drinks well, could probably be a bit more hoppy for a pilsner. Solid, like most of BBC

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 02:09:10 | More by cbutova

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I love Berkshire.

Hazy, dark yellow color. White foamy head = white foamy retention. Smells like light grain...and that's it. Some Saaz would have been nice. Taste is snappy pils malt, a little doughy underneath, and crisp carbonation. Again, some Saaz would have been welcome. I've read everyone else's reviews who rave about this beer and have evident hop contribution but I'm jut not getting it. I think it deserves further investigation.

A very Berkshire brew - it's not outstanding but really solid, traditional, and good example of style. I like it and hopefully I'll see it on taps around Boston soon as Steel Rail and Coffehaus seem to dominate.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2010 21:55:46 | More by donkeyrunner

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle into a Pils glass.

Pours a clear copper, with several fingers of fluffy bright-white head. This retains with a soft foaminess, which leaves back a robust cascade of spotty lace. The aroma is fresh and airy feeling in the nose, with a leafy spiciness and then a touch of earthy fruit behind it. This melds the graininess of the malt but is maybe coming off as a little too sweet overall. It’s definitely got a twang to it anyway.

The taste is has fresh citrus flavor and a moderate spicy bite to it, with some softer feeling fruit notes working themselves in as well. The malt is a bit more tight feeling but still mostly has a grainy sweetness going on with it. This finishes dry and spicy with some lingering bitter pith. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a firm prickle to the carbonation that then smoothes our more across the back. This definitely has a quality crispness to it overall though.

This was decent. It’s wasn’t quite as good as I remembered it being on draft at the brewery a couple of years ago, as this kind of got a little overly loose with the sweetness in spots but things did tighten up a bit the more I worked it and I was overall pleased with it by the end. A worthy pick-up if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 19:39:29 | More by Kegatron

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - A tad more than a fingers worth of tightly packed crisp head that is the purest white head that I've ever seen... Slight retention gives way to a full uniform lacing... The color is a pale yellow gold with an ever so faint haziness... An ample amount of medium bubbled briskly paced carbonation...

S - Earthy with some floral notes... Lightly toasted malts... A hint of spiciness... Some noble hoppiness... Spot on the for style... Simple, but effective...

T - A touch of graininess to start... Some faint floral notes... Grassy... Some bread crust undertones... Very subtle hop presence...

M - On the fuller side of light bodied... A tad on the thin side of the equation... Very light carbonation... A bit sleek... Mostly clean...

D - A very solid representation of the style but rather unremarkable at the same time... Steady and quite average... I would never turn a shot at this one down in the future, but this is far from the top tier of the style in my humble opinion...

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 23:23:32 | More by philbe311

DirtyPenny

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Two pours from a 22 oz bomber into a plastic tumbler. Yeah yeah. I was away from home and there wasn't any otherwise respectable glassware.

A: Gold with two fingers of foamy white head. Lots of hills and valleys of lacing along the sides of the cup. Foam gradually sinks down to just a few dunes along the top.

S: Crisp pale malts and grassy/hayloft hops notes.

T: Sharp, clear pale malts with a significant pungent hay/grass/pine hop bite.

M: Medium/light and smooth with less aggressive carbonation than I'd expected. Dry finish.

O: Great example of the style. Berkshire's brews have been hit or miss for me. I know I can at least count on their pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 14:11:04 | More by DirtyPenny

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a two finger white head that fades quickly to a thin leaving some lace. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Almost clear pale yellow/amber color. Nose is grassy hops. Flavor is sweet grass with light bitterness. Good pilsner. Their site puts the ABV at 5.5%. $4.50 for a 22oz bottle from Colonial Spirits, Acton, MA.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 22:29:49 | More by jdhilt

Zbyler

Connecticut

3.74/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A- Slightly hazy golden yellow. About one finger of white head.

S- Bready notes, floral and grassy aromas.

T- Bready malts, light citrus/lemon notes, floral notes, fresh grassy flavors, corn, slight bitterness on the end.

M- Mild carbonation, light, refreshing.

O- overall a solid offering from BBC. On a hot summer day it would be excellent. Very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 16:24:49 | More by Zbyler

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Good solid gold brew with a nice white thick foam head that lasts. No lacing, but who cares? - very pretty.

Grassy and herbal spice in the aroma. Some sweet light malt round it out. Might be fighting thru the head for scent.

Very nice. Not as crisp as hoped, but flavor makes up for it. Nice light malt, with a perfect balance of bitter and grassy-sweet. Some raw grain and bitter husk, but again, sweet and bitter. Clean soft finish.

Light too medium-light. A bit more body? Nice.

Overall, the bomber went away fast. Try this if you like the style. I hope this becomes a year-rounder. You guys at BBC had me at negative many years ago, but have brewed your way back into my favor. Drink this.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 22:51:46 | More by OtherShoe2

sawbones420

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Haven't done a review in a while and I believe this is the first time this beer has been released so I figured I'd throw my two cents in.

Poured into an imperial pint glass. Yes, I have a pilsner glass but if you've had as much BBC as I have, you've learned that all their beers have a malt profile that tastes best in a shaker.

Pours hazy straw, with a head that quickly dissipates to nothing.

Smell is fine, slightly fruity, slightly malty. Smells like a lot of BBC beers.

First sip is delicious and crisp. As suspected, this has that classic BBC malt backbone that I really dig. It probably detracts from the "authenticity" of the style, but I'm finding it very drinkable. Those hints of fruit I smell come out only a little bit in the taste with a very subtle hop tang. There's a quality to the flavor that reminds me of the pleasant almost grassy flavor of some Chinese green teas.

Mouth-feel is similarly crisp though it flattens out slightly towards the back of the tongue.

At 5%, I believe this is the lowest it gets from BBC in terms of ABV. This makes it very drinkable and very sessionable, however at this price point ($5/22oz.) it's not likely that I'll enjoy more than one at a time. If this ends up on tap at a local bar, I imagine it'll be one of the better values available. Give it a try if you see it on the shelf

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2011 00:10:04 | More by sawbones420

gfreed

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

As a regular fan of BBC brews, I was not surprised by the overall tone of their take on a German style: subtle where other American breweries are harsh; understated where others are hamhanded. A quickly-disappearing cottonball head let loose with waves of hops and oranges and a distinct cloud of malt sweetness. More of same in the taste, with some grassy flavors that rounded things out nicely. No overhopped sting at the end, no syrupy suffocation from the malt at the beginning. It could have been a wee bit drier in the finish, but that's a quibble. This was also slightly undercarbonated for my taste, but still hit the spot on a hot evening. Worth seeking out while it's available.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2010 18:57:56 | More by gfreed

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Consumed 6/11 poured in to a pint glass

A: This beer pours a relatively clear, nice deep golden color with a one fringier of bone white, sudsy head. Head recedes relatively quickly leaving spider webbed lacing on the glass.

S: Nose is grassy, large bread notes, a bit of underlaying fruitiness, and just a touch of spice.

T: Taste is grain, bread and corn at the forefront. A grassy presence combs through in the middle with a touch of spicing. Finish is a very light malt flavoring with a granny smith apple flavoring that hangs in the finish.

M: Lighter side of medium body, medium carbonation, some girth to this for a pilsner with a slick finish.

O: Goes down easy, tasty, not too filling, mild kick, nice representation. The granny apple flavoring took me by surprise, in a pleasant way.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2012 03:13:51 | More by Jayli

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask at 2 Brothers. Pours a murky light orangey brown with very little head. No lacing. Light aroma of grass and honey. Some sweet malty grain aroma. Taste is sweet honey and malts with some grass notes. Crisp with a nice mouthfeel from the cask. Very drinkable. Most Pilseners are a bit boring to me but this one does have some nice complex flavors. Overall, glad I got to try it on cask. May have to try buying a bomber next time i see it.

Serving type: cask

06-21-2012 21:19:14 | More by PicoPapa

steinlifter

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured deep golden hue, 1/2 inch head that reduced to thin sudsy collar.
slightly fruity aroma.
Very tasty, and true to the style..slight hop kiss on the finish.
crisp and clean taste and mouthfeel.
drinkability is great on this one..could drink em all day long.. :)

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2010 21:06:35 | More by steinlifter

davey101

Connecticut

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best by of 12/22/11. 22 oz bomber into a tall pilsner glass...finally get to rock an actual pilsner in this glass!

A - Really dark golden brown/yellow body. Super fluffy white head that breaks apart into chunks. Loads of bubbles.

S - Bready malts, cereal grains and some mild hops. Fairly one dimensional. This is the only flaw I found in this beer.

T - Really nice creaminess and bubbly texture. Rich malty bread, some sweetness and just the perfect amount of hop bittterness at the end to tie it all together. This is really delicious. Its also worth noting that I cracked this about 45 minutes after I bought it so its warmed up a slight bit. Still amazingly drinkable.

O - Perfect. Summer. Beer. This might just be my new favorite summer seasonal. Its so simple, crisp, clean and refreshing. 22 oz of summer! Another winner from BBC.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 02:24:01 | More by davey101

OldIronLungs

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pils glass a straw gold with a nice white styrofoam head that settles to a quarter inch disc.

The nose is sweet grass with the slightest touch of lemon.

A sip is open and light with lots of tingly carbonation - bready malt sweetness is tempered by very subtle hops. Clean, smooth and mellow.

BBC, you make a fine brew. Truly.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 00:05:15 | More by OldIronLungs

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22-ounce bomber into a Sam Adams pint glass.

A: Clear, clean, golden straw yellow with a two-finger head of fizzy carbonation bubbles upheld by a bit of creaminess which lingered for a bit but left little lacing.

S: Loads of rustic grains, bread malts and baked, buttery biscuit aromas to go along with slightly spicy, musty Saaz hops.

T: Toasted cereal malts hit the palate first with a little creaminess and zesty, milled graininess. The hops slowly build in for a distinct, spicy, bubbly and slightly metallic taste that dries out the palate and washes the brew down with a lightly bitter and bready aftertaste.

M: Light to medium body, crisp and refreshing mouthfeel with a little creaminess up front before the bubbly, spicy drying hops take hold.

O: A nice, balanced pilsener with an authentic Czech feel to it. Saaz hops are the subtle star of the show and bready, earthy, milled floor malts add enough substance to keep it a nice hot weather brew. Not a ton of interest on a normal basis, but BBC did a fine job here.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2011 02:17:56 | More by Gambrinus1184

mltobin

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22 ounce bomber, split with a couple pals, poured into a wine glass.

Appearance is straw yellow with one finger of a white head. This Czech Pils has an aroma with biscuit, malt, some sugar. A fairly basic smell, but a little better than average. Tipping it back and I taste malts, some hops, quite a bit of bread. The mouthfeel here is great, very low-key and crisp. It has perfect carbonation and finishes very clean. Over the years, I grab a bomber from these guys once in a blue moon. And this was a good choice and it went very well with the spicy food that I had for dinner alongside it.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 00:48:38 | More by mltobin