Prima Pils - Victory Brewing Company

TBoneJones

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a bright hazy straw color, crisp-looking, had a finger-thick header.
Smells of fresh peas, with some grass and malt.
Tastes refreshing and crisp as it looks, with an impressive distinct taste I can only hope to compare with other renowned pilsner styles as I eventually try them. I've had this as a go-to session beer for a few years now simply because it's refreshing and original, with a grassy/ spiced flavor that's as tasty as I could hope for. It must help that I love hops, as apparently this is quite bitter even for German pilsner standards.
Again this beer shines as far as mouthfeel goes. Smooth carbonation, perfect crispness, finely balanced drinking here.
Due to the hops usage here, I suspect if I try every other example of this style, I'd still come back to this one as my tops. Rich for what it is. And excellent.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 23:57:24 | More by TBoneJones

jmarsh123

Indiana

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours very pale straw. Minimal head, but a little wisp sticks around.

Bready grainy aroma. Noble hop presence.

Grainy flavor, spicy noble hops and finishes pretty dry and crisp.

Light mouthfeel with good carbonation.

Great beer for the style. Nice, crisp and bitter. Perfect for watching some college football after mowing the grass.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 19:01:38 | More by jmarsh123

AmitC

Indiana

3.85/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A good pilsner beer.

Aroma: Complex aroma with enough hint of hops.

Appearance: Pale golden color. Small regular bubbles. Very small head.

Taste: I liked its taste. Looking at its color, i though this would be a regular malty lager. But no it was a surprise. Enough hops and good spicy taste that is not a lot but not too little either. Well balanced and a bit complex to judge.

Mouthfeel: normal carbonation and medium bodied mouth feel.

Overall an enjoyable pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 01:15:29 | More by AmitC

JCaweinstein

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Straw yellow, mostly clear and has a creamy one finger white head. There is a lot of carbonation so the head retention is also good.
I smell earthy hops and cereal grains. It's not an exotic aroma but at the same time it makes me want to gulp this thing down.
I mostly fast the malts from this with some herbal hoppy notes and a hint of lemon.
This is thin bodied, very crisp and dry. It leaves a herbal like aftertaste.
Prima Pils is a very tasty thin bodied beer. This could be drank all day long and would go great with some spicy buffalo wings! I'll drink more of this.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 02:02:23 | More by JCaweinstein

Lemke10

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this as part of an M&M 6pk from Woodman’s East in Madison, WI in summer 2012.

Pours a mostly clear goldenrod color with a bubbly white head. Scent is mild with hops, wheat, yeast, and hints of citrus. The taste is initially a sweet wheat tone that turns wet and slightly dry on the palette. Texture is smooth and refreshing as the beer is fairly complex for a pilsner. Leaves a slight chalky after taste. Not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 03:05:31 | More by Lemke10

BryanCarey

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Prima Pils pours to a yellowish- straw color with a nice, white head of foam and an aroma that is one of light pepper, biscuits, grassiness, and lemons. The body of the beer is just slightly hazy and the beer leaves some decent lacing as you consume.

Tasting this beer proves even better than the appearance would lead you to believe. The flavor of this beer is a delight to the senses, offering tastes like biscuits, dough, bread, pale malt, citrus, and herbs. The spiciness in the finish is evident, but it doesn’t overwhelm and the taste is actually rather balanced overall with an aftertaste that returns to that of biscuits and dough.

Victory Brewing makes many fine products and Prima Pils is one of the finest. I find myself sipping, evaluating, and continuing to find more and more complex flavors. Everything from the initial sip through the aftertaste is memorable and quite remarkable. Try a Prima Pils for yourself, and see what you think.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 03:13:49 | More by BryanCarey

magicman

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is hands down the best German Pilsner in the business.A wonderful clean and refreshing brew that can be drunk all day and a great pairing for many types of food. The hotter it gets outside the better the beer tastes gong down.Although Victory makes many great brews this is their flagship brew in my opinion.In my opinion the best session beer out there.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 08:22:55 | More by magicman

rdacey

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Aroma: Spicy noble hops with slight lemon aromas as it warms, slight grainy aroma from the pilsner malt, no esters, no diacetyl

Appearance: Pale straw color; thin, white, lasting head; beautiful clarity

Flavor: Slightly grainy but balance is more towards the use of noble english hops. No diacetyl, no esters, finish is dry and slightly bitter.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with medium carbonation, finish is dry and slightly bitter

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 02:47:58 | More by rdacey

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly clouded straw gold with minimal head that falls to nothing. Nose is a matured and subdued lemon.Flavor is slightly citrus like with a smooth and slightly heavily bodied character that comes off as earthy and leaves a high amount of ink in the mouth. Consistent flavor delivery never drops off; just fades away over time. Very drinkable, though might be a bit too hearty for some.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 20:28:02 | More by RblWthACoz

DovaliHops

California

3.9/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden straw color with a medium white head that disappears quickly. Scent is grassy with a hint of lemon at first. A good amount of hops for a pilsner. Slight german malt aroma. A bit of grain as well. Nice smell for a pilsner. Taste is very lemony at first with some subtle hoppiness...which immediately turns to a good amount of hoppiness. Grassy hops with some nice German malt flavor with crisp, earthy flavors. Mouthfeel is light bodied and refreshing. Drinkability is very high. Overall, this is very tasty for this style. Not my particularly favorite style, but this is one of my favorites when it comes to this genre.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 06:18:53 | More by DovaliHops

cfrances33

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at a random happy hour spot in Philly. Served in a shaker.

Pour: Completely clear straw yellow with a finger and a half white head that recedes pretty quickly.

Smell: Light floral and grassy hoppiness that has some light caramel and bready malts.

Taste: Follows the nose very well, building upon the floral and grassy bitterness, adds some citrus, and finishes with a great bready maltiness.

Mouthfeel: Super light a refreshing on a hot day. Bitterness lingers mildly well.

Overall: A really, really enjoyable pilsner. Will get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2012 13:58:59 | More by cfrances33

beerluvr

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled from a Pilsner Urquell tumbler.

A- Clear straw yellow, supporting a pillowy white head

S- Clean grassiness and flowery hops, some light bread

T- Brief subtle malt sweetness then POW...here's your hops, nice and bitter. You could never fault this one for being underhopped, that's for sure.

M- Gently carbonated..smooth and easy to drink

O- Just about the finest domestic example of an German Pilsner I've come across, it's got the assertive hoppiness I enjoy and it's light enough to drink in quantity. Well done, Victory.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 23:21:26 | More by beerluvr

mtast098n

New York

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a Southampton shaker pint glass from a 12 oz bottle.

A: an attractive light golden color. Many different streams of bubbles flowing up to the top. Nice frothy white foam.

S: Green apple, biscuit, floral, green grapes,

T: Bready, floral, pear, apple, earthy, fuzzy on the palate, clean finish with a shortly lingering aftertaste of green apple.

A nice crisp, clean, and refreshing pilsner from Victory. They have done a good job staying true to the traditional pilsner style while putting their own tweak on it giving it a little bit more of a kick, the beer seeming a bit more robust than a traditional German-style pilsner which is what they seem to be trying to emulate. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 22:31:33 | More by mtast098n

Kurt_Boss

2.43/5  rDev -40.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

My score is way off the norm, but notice how the high ratings tend to agree that this beer is a breed of its own. It makes for a difficult review because it doesn't taste like other pils. Should we treat it as just a beer, or as a particular attempt at the style? I fall on the side of judging to the standard, so please take that into consideration. This receives only a 2.5 (below average!) from me, but it gets this score as a pils. Without regard to style, it's easily a high 3's to low 4's.

This is a pils for an IPA fan. I happen to be a big fan of double IPA's, so this particular beer suits me--but, my take away is it is far too bitter for a pils.

This is a tasty beer, please don't misunderstand me. The problem is that this beer style is supposed to be an easy drinking, low ABV, refreshing brew. A good pils, in my book anyway, is clear, crisp, and thirst quenching; however, this beer is more inline with an experience such as you'll find with a good IPA.

With all that out of the way here's my take.

Served from bottle. I don't care about glass type, so I'm not noting it.

The smell is citrus, hops, and a faint hint of what many will consider skunk. (Don't worry it's not skunked, lagers are aged...a tiny hint of skunk is not a fault!)

Appearance is below average for a pils. It should be clear enough to see through, while the Prima, as many have noted, is cloudy for quiet a while. The carbonation, head, and lacing are perfect examples of what a pils should be--in this regard of appearance Victory has done a great job. Too bad for the clarity!

The mouthfeel is too think and creamy for the style. While no porter or malty bock, it simply is a little too thick. As noted previously, the carbonation is pleasant and what you expect from a pils.

The taste is the real downfall for Prima Pils as a pils. While the style should be refreshing and crisp, low enough ABV to tip several back in a session, the hops will just stick with you. This tastes like an IPA. Not an overly hopped IPA, but it's bitter, and the bitterness does not leave the back of your palate for quite some time.

Overall: This falls below average for a pils. I'm sorry to say, a typical macro pils is simply superior to this for the style.

Final words. Try this beer if you like IPA's. You may just find the lager you've been looking for. You get the hoppiness of a good IPA with the great head of a true pils. Taken in this regard, you'll find much to enjoy, just don't judge it as a pils.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2012 21:07:45 | More by Kurt_Boss

chimaylvr

Rhode Island

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into Stella chalice

App: hefeweizen-like hue - cloudy deep yellow, half-finger head
dissipates rather quickly but retains a light lacing...get a good whiff quick!

Smell: lemony and grass like, light citrus

Taste: medium bitterness, lemon, some lingering honey and ginger notes, lightly phenolic

Mouthfell: malty but a little puckering. Carbonation level medium to low

Overall: for it's style I really enjoyed this beer. Victory really can hang with any German brewery on this one. I will buy it again

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 03:36:36 | More by chimaylvr

schoolboy

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is another great pils - the second I've had this week. It has great aromatic character and a nice hoppy taste. The aftertaste has way more hops than this style usually has, being out of character, but really nice.

The beer was way too cloudy when I opened it but it was pretty cold. As it warmed it got better. The taste kept getting better too.

This is a really nice pilsener I would buy again when I wanted a fuller than normal experience.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 00:45:18 | More by schoolboy

BrewDocCT

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into my SamAdams perfect pint.

Clear golden yellow. Very little head.

Smells of grass.

Tastes of grass, some lemon. Pleasant bitterness. Do I rate on style or how much I like it? I'll go with how much I like it, which is a lot.

Mouthfeel: no complaints.

Overall: a refreshing and delicious, if over hopped, pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2012 20:34:49 | More by BrewDocCT

Grohnke

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

(BA / BJCP)

Brilliantly clear, light yellow gold. Fluffy, well-forming white head. Little staying power.
(3.5 / 2)

Moderate noble hop, floral and lightly spicy. Moderate grainy pils malt. Clean profile.
(4 / 10)

Moderate grainy sweet, bread/toasty malt. Heavy noble hop flavor. Strong hop bitterness. Balance is tilted towards the hops. Finishes dry with significant hop flavor. Aftertaste is hoppy bitterness and heavy floral hops.
(4.5 / 17)

Light body, medium-high carbonation. No astringency, no alcohol warmth. Creamy mouthfeel.
(5 / 5)

Very crisp, hop-focused, easy-drinking beer. Hop flavor is quite heavy handed. Thought the pils malt, although should be light for style, was too light, and should have had more of a role.
(4 / 8)

( 4.3 / 42)

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 00:13:11 | More by Grohnke

Teleweizen2

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - pours a glowing crystal clear yellow. No head, bartender poured to the rim of the glass. Still looks pretty good though. Spotty lacing clings to the glass after a rigiours swirl.

S - aroma is light and fairly straight roasted. There are some leafy green herbal and notes possibly some mint and floral notes with lots of doughy bread.

T - doughy malt flavors up front with just a hint of sweetness. hop bitterness enters mid palate with lots of leafy herbs, and some crisp citric flavors. There is a bit of floral character in the backend followed by a lingering citric bitterness.

M - creamy yet crisp texture. Medium bodied but pretty big for a pilsner. High carbonation with tight zippy bubbles.

O - excellent American take on a pilsner. This is one of my summer go too beers. It is just flavorful and refreshing. A good times kind of lager.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2012 00:54:04 | More by Teleweizen2

NardiByNature

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Longtime favorite, first time review. Biased? Probably. I'll try my best to be objective.

Pours very yellow with a small white head. Retention clings throughout the duration of its stay in my glass. Leaves behind some soapy lacing. Nice clarity, nice color.

Usual suspects permeate the nose: fresh cut grass and a little lemon zest. It’s lack of “spiciness” stands out a bit when I think about other pilsners.

It tastes ultra fresh: probably a lot to do with the hops. Earthy, grassy, crisp. For a pils, there’s plenty of hop action, which suits me well. As in the nose, there seems to be subdued spiciness but it does make a nice appearance in the aftertaste. The malt profile makes me think of rye bread. Not too dry, not too slick.

Really very good. I went into the liquor store yesterday (Choice Mart on Mass. Ave.) and spent some time perusing their selection – dece for a liquor store. In the end I came away with a sixer of Prima – nothing exotic, just hits the spot on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 16:52:17 | More by NardiByNature

ThomasMetal75

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Like a macro lager. Clear, golden yellow. Typical looking for a beer.

S- Floral hops and musty grains! Not a clean smell, if you know what I mean. Very different for a lager, even a German Pils.

T- Hoppy! The hops imparts a spicy quality to the beer. Moderately bitter finish. Carbonation is very tingly on the tongue.

M- Almost a medium mouthfeel. But overall this is an easy drinking beer. The bitterness is making it hard to drink.

This was an ok beer, Nothing special. I don't think I'll buy this beer again. It's a little too bitter, and not refreshing enough for me to warrant keeping this around.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 01:26:19 | More by ThomasMetal75

Brewhead

California

4.7/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

pours bright yellow, typical for a european lager, though this is totally american.
midrange carbonation. has a good one finger frothy white head after it settles down.
smells grapefruity like a mild IPA.
taste similar to smell with lots of grapefruit. tastes like an IPA lager. wonderful! does it get any better than this?

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 02:06:04 | More by Brewhead

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Consumed 6/22/12

Appearance: Clear gold - pours with a moderately sized, bright-white head - fades to a nice ring, leaves some spots and wisps of lacing

Smell: Grassy hops and some lager aromas - normally, I frown upon grassy smells, but it works here - herbal and spicy - touches of citrus, mostly lemon rinds - malts are pale and grainy, with a lot of sweetness

Taste: Grainy and hoppy - nicely balanced and highly drinkable - some citrus, mostly lemon - grassy, herbal, and spicy - mild to moderate bitterness - malts are grainy, bready, and light - very pale, but flavorful - some earthiness

Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body, smooth and crisp, nicely carbonated, refreshing

Overall: A unique and tasty lager

This is a classic. It's grassy, and yet I like it. It works well with the grainy malt profile and the slightly spicy lager yeast. I've had this a lot, and I plan to continue drinking it in the future.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 07:34:30 | More by angrybabboon

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle in a pilsner glass.
served 2 months from enjoy by date.

pours a slightly cloudt straw yellow while yielding a 1" white/off-white head. decent head retention and lacing.

nose is citric hops (notably lemon zest) with secondary notes of grass, wheat, and malt. aroma translates well to the flavor; it's better, even. nice citric and grassy hop characters with some malt and wheat notes in the background. crisp and tasty; medium-bodied mouthfeel with average carbonation.

overall i'm admittedly not a die-hard pilsner buff but this is a very good rendition. crisp, flavorful and refreshing.

(originally reviewed: 07-18-2011)

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 16:17:14 | More by BostonHops

RodneyCarrington

4.88/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Late one night after a drug-free fueled raid on my own mind. It occurred to me the most disastorous of capitalist consequence has occurred in this country of the U.S. of A.

You still can't find a good beer.

That's right. I said it. Just like the Europeans have been saying forever. And by beer I mean the stuff our Pappy, and especially Pappys Pappy drank. Especially if your last name has no vowels in it. Isn't that special...

But I digress : A lager - Golden and crisp and uncomplicated from the burden of excess hop, barley or roasting faggotry. A straight, drinkable, readily available, and AFFORDABLE beer.

Thank god D.C. is close enough to dutch country. All hail the greatest beer in America.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 11:29:52 | More by RodneyCarrington