Samuel Adams Noble Pils - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

TeamMathis

West Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Orangish yellow. Clear.
Smell: Very light bitter floral and lemon.
Taste: Light floral and citrus.
Mouthfeel: Dry. Pretty carbonated.

This is very floral to me, but has the odd bitterness of dandelions in it. It's enjoyable, but far from fantastic. The lemon is in the scent. The taste is something citrusy, but only lightly there. Nice summer drink. I wouldn't get this again with so many better options.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 01:56:00 | More by TeamMathis

makersmarkers

Texas

3.84/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I drank this beer from a double-walled Bodum glass, poured from the bottle.

There are some hops in this fairly clear light-colored beer: floral, piney notes in the nose. Sweetness and bitterness in perfect balance on the tongue and a subtle remembrance of the piney notes when it's gone. Being a good red-blooded American and Texan, it tastes close to what I imagine would be the platonic ideal of beer: balanced, drinkable, indeed, quaffable in large proportions. It tastes good without being too complex. A fine beer if not particularly compelling. A bit too hoppy to enjoy straight from the bottle.

Update: I've had a few more six-packs of this one, and some other lesser beers in between. I think that, in hindsight, I was a little underwhelmed at first by this beer, but it is more than "fine," and it is, indeed, somewhat compelling. My overall rating has jumped nearly a whole point. This is a very good beer and one that I will continue to buy when other options are few.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 23:04:58 | More by makersmarkers

flyingpig

United Kingdom (Scotland)

3.39/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from The Pot Still, Glasgow (355ml, £3.00):
Clear bodied with a golden amber colour and a thin, foamy white head on top that holds relatively well.

Sweet with some grassy hops, some lemon notes and light hops plus a touch of citrus and lemongrass. There is some apple too and overall the beer is light and sweet on the nose.

Light malts and a touch of citrus to kick things off, this is all followed by some basic pilsener malts and hops. The beer is crisp with a light bitter finish.

Smooth with some light medium carbonation and a similar body, there is a citrus tang and the beer is crisp, refreshing and light bitter at the end.

Not bad really, it was light and refreshing with nice sweet touches and a nice mouthfeel. The taste was a little light but it went down easy enough and had a pleasant, summery feel to it.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 15:03:41 | More by flyingpig

Burkbom23

Connecticut

4.11/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Light goldon color, crystal clear, lots of bubbles. Nice frothy white head. Good lacing. Hops in the nose. Some citrus. Getting a burn aroma also, hard to describe Starts with little bit of sweet malt up front. Mid way through hops kick in. Nice crisp refreshing finish. Slight drying feeling in the aftertaste with hint of bitterness. Hop flavor lingers Light medium mouthfeel, little tingly from carbination. Good balanced beer. First pilsner that I have really enjoyed a lot.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 01:04:54 | More by Burkbom23

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a fluted pilsner glass.

The beer is a clear golden color. A white foamy head sits on top and has a thick film for retention. Good foamy lines of lacing. The beer smells very grassy with notes of lemon peel and bright citrus hops. The taste starts of with lemongrass but soon turns to a more bitter hop body. The finish is of bitter grapefruit. Mouthfeel is medium and slightly dry.

Overall, a very clean, bright, and bitter brew that does not lack in taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 18:40:33 | More by JuicesFlowing

JackMcAwesome

Florida

3.45/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

I poured this from the bottle into a mug, with a freshness date of May 2013.

Look: It pours a light gold, with a one finger head. The head is gone about halfway through, with a decent amount of lacing.

Smell: I'm not sure if it was the mug or what, but I just wasn't picking up much. A bit of citrus and apple, other than that, it was almost flat. I'll try a different glass on the next bottle and edit if anything changes.

Taste: Luckily, there was something there, unlike the absent smell. A very crisp citrus, and a bit of the barley.

Feel: A very light drink with crisp carbonation. I did my best to savor it, but it goes down very easy, and I was left with an empty glass.

Overall: A welcome addition to the pilsener class. I imagine I'll come back every spring if it's available and drink to the oncoming summer. I wish there was a bit more to smell as I drink, but that just might be the nature of the beast.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 19:50:12 | More by JackMcAwesome

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

A: Clear golden yellow with two-finger, white, foamy, creamy head that lasted several minutes. Pretty good lacing.

S: Citrus, malt, and hay.

T: Light sweetness and light bitterness. Toasted malt and very mild hops. Apple juice.

M: Medium bodied with fizzy carbonation. Crisp and drinkable.

O: Very drinkable Pilsener. Nothing special, but good.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:24:39 | More by SolipsismalCat

Apellonious

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle from six pack.

A - pale gold- fairly clear, half finger head that holds for while.

S - crisp hops, bread, and grassy notes.

T - straightforward but tasty. Begins crisp, with a malty bread like finish. Pine and citrus notes.

M - slightly watery, but the carbonation is set at a good level.

O - occasionally it's good to revisit the pilsner style to get back to the beginning of the beer journey (at least that's where I started...Milwaulkee's Best anyone??? ). A step above the macros.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 01:21:40 | More by Apellonious

Premo88

Texas

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle poured into pilsener glass

A: awesome head for a pilesner. not bad lacing. carbonation throughout the column. color = gold. maybe a hint of amber, just a bit darker than what we grow up thinking of as "beer" in the U.S. I'd prefer a lighter yellow in a pilsener (because I'm dumb maybe?) but gosh is it pretty to look at.

S: light, hint of something (barley? grain? hops?) hint of sweetness, too.

T: really good hop bite up front ... plenty of carbonation. VERY drinkable. no adjunct taste whatsoever (obviously). only downer here is a slight metallic taste, maybe soapy? not good, but it's so slight that it's not ruining the overall presentation. gets a slight sweetness as you get halfway through the 12 ounces.

O: not bad, nothing to hold a parade over. but BRAVO! to Sam Adams for trying to make us all a true Czech Pilsener. I hope they keep making it. I'm going to find a much better version of this style, I'm sure, but I must say I love the fact that the Boston Beer Company is making the Noble Pils.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 02:47:58 | More by Premo88

Uncle_Jimmy

California

4.29/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance- slightly hazy yellowish with a little maybe green tint. 2 fingers of fine white foam. lacing

Smell- apple hay honey

Taste- hoppy but not over bearing or bitter. crisp carbonation light malt and hop on the front end piney and then floral hops to finish it off. well balanced.

Mouthfeel- light dry and crisp

Overall- a good Pils, and a good sam adams brew. the balance is what is good in this beer it has apparently several different varieties of hops but doesn't taste like a pale ale or an overly hopped pils. It taste like I very well made PIls!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 05:26:01 | More by Uncle_Jimmy

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

4.39/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have a hard time remembering the 5 nobile hops, but it is very cool to see our lovable craft brewers paying homage to that legacy.

Fruity, piney hop notes. Mild in compairison to most IPA's, very drinkable and very nice beer as you would expect from Sam Adams.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 15:23:07 | More by FlatRabbitRed

carolinahophead

North Carolina

3.94/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this beer from a Sam Adams Hop Variety six pack
A: great color with nice clean white head and moderate carbonation . very clear .
S: imported malt and hops aromas but not over the top.
T: crisp and easy to drink . Great hop and malt flavors come together. there is sweetness and bitterness. citrus and light cereal grain
M: light mouthfeel and moderate carbonation. This beer would be great with pizza.
O: It's another sam adams favorite . great starter for a craft beer newbie.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 19:09:50 | More by carolinahophead

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle into tulip. best before March 2013.

A: a slight haze on an otherwise bright golden body. bright white head. retention is average. spotted lacing.

S: herbal, green tea. a little minerally, slightly metallic. lemon. minor pils aroma.

T: starts with some cereal flavor. a little fruity. some slight oxidation. finish returns, similar to how it started with more cereal/grainy flavor. reminds me of a pastry. a minor acidic twang.

M: average, slightly moderate carb. light bodied.

D: simple, hits a lot of notes that are very close to the style guidelines. I was expecting a little more hop characteristic in the nose than I got, otherwise a pretty good Czech pils.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 06:41:45 | More by Jimmys

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.9/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle. No bottled on date. Poured into a Boulevard tulip.

A - Typical golden lager color. Tall eggshell colored head recedes quickly. Very clear with a steady stream of bubbles rushing to the top.

S - Very minimal hop smell. Smells like what I imagine a lager with some lemon squeezed into it would be like.

T - The most minimal hop bite ever is present, but that's really all you can ask for considering this beer is a lager. Not heavy on the hops. Still, enjoyable nonetheless.

M - Mouthfeel retains itself well. I'd almost say it is a slightly resinous beer, which is a nice change of pace when everyone else around you seems to be drinking mass-marketed trill

Overall, it was a nice change of pace, but I would probably opt for an IPA myself. Still highly drinkable stuff, and in the case of being a pilsner it is a great beer.

Samuel Adams Noble Pils ---3/5

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 23:06:52 | More by mfnmbvp

akuczero

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was one of my first Sam Adams beers. Pours a golden color with a decent head. Smells light and a little hoppy. Great carbonation and super easy to drink. Good lacing. I think Ill keep a couple of these around in the future. A good, easy to find beer

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 18:43:54 | More by akuczero

jimmah120

Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle best before february

look is a pale clear gold, with orange hue. small wispy head typical for sams. smell is muted wheat, sour hops. taste is light and crisp, mildly bitter, with sour almost green apple hop flavor. crisp bubbly light feel.

light and crisp, if that's what you're into. medicinal bitterness and a slight astringency keeps this far from great. drinks like a green apple sody pop. it might seem like I'm bashing it, but I quite enjoyed this beer. not something I'd drink all the time, tho.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 08:12:33 | More by jimmah120

DavidS88

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Noble PIls is a crisp, light, yet flavorful offering from Samuel Adams. It pours a wonderful translucent gold with a very small white foamy head and retains decent lacing down the sides of the glass. The nose can be summed up in one word: FLOWERS. This is easily one of the more florally scented beers I've ever smelled/drank. Despite the strong presence of the flowers, they don't seem overbearing or intimidating in the least bit. Rather it draws the drinker in because more than anything, you're expecting this to be a lot like an IPA, and instead hits you with something rather different. While it smells kinda like an IPA, the taste shows that this most definitely is a pilsener, full of hoppy and citrus flavor that is only slightly bitter with a delightful tang of what seems like lemon. Despite not looking all that carbonated, it does feel a little carbonated when drinking it. That really is the only drawback of this damn near outstanding brew from Samuel Adams and the Boston Beer Co. Bravo, Jm Koch, bravo indeed.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 02:42:42 | More by DavidS88

Immortale25

Florida

3.88/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a 3floyds tapered glass. Notch on label indicates best by January 2013.

A- Pours a slightly hazy gold color with a 1/4 inch white head that bears little retention time before becoming a thin ring around the edge of the glass and a crescent of surface foam. Sudsy, non-resilient lacing.

S- Vegetal hop aroma that's mild and also a bit piney and floral. Stiff graininess in the back.

T- Slightly bitter in the start, evens out mid-palate and then there's the lingering vegetal aftertaste that's common in Czech pilsners. This is quite enjoyable though, compared to ones that strictly use Saaz hops. Light, grainy malt presence.

M- Crisp and smooth with a light body and medium carbonation.

O- Extremely quaffable and accessible, although I guess that's what Boston Beer Co. does best. Still, I'm pleasantly surprised whenever they produce something more than just OK in my eyes.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 03:43:42 | More by Immortale25

nUgZ

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle poured into a Pilsner glass.

A: Pours a clear golden color with a 2-3 finger head and nice lacing.

S: Sweet, but citrus hops as well as some grassy notes. Doesn't smell quite as fresh as I thought it would.

T: There are some bitter hops, but they are balanced by some sweet malts. Somewhat grassy also.

M: Light bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: Not my style, but it came in a Hop Tour Variety Pack. Light, refreshing, and easy to drink. I doubt I'll buy more, but I'm glad I tried it.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2012 19:59:56 | More by nUgZ

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale yellow color with some serious lack in head formation. Glaze-y thin foam on the surface, only. Slightly hazy.

Bright lemony-citrus Noble hop aroma with grassy notes alongside biscuity malts and a hint of crystallized ginger. Sweeter than crisp, but I like it.

More crispness in the flavor, but we're following the nose here. The hops are still juicy, even though this isn't the freshest example. The lot is of the Noble variety with lemon and orange citrus doing more than merely peeking through. Still has a nice balance with sweeter and more doughy buttered malts than you might expect in a pils, but with a grassiness. The finish isn't short on palate-bursting bitterness that is quite refreshing, and there is a presence of floral notes, to boot. Some real-deal carbonation isn't kidding. On the higher side of the spectrum, it creates a big brushy explosion in the back of the mouth. The tongue is easily cleansed, and the crisp nature of the flavor leaves you wanting more and more sips. The body is pretty smooth, almost like skim milk, to draw in each drink.

This is a very fine example of the style. I prefer Germans to Czechs, but I can always get down with a Sam Adams Noble Pils.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 01:30:31 | More by thecheapies

sevenarts

New York

3.53/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pale and translucent yellowish orange with strong carbonation and a nice fluffy white head.

S: Mild, pleasant spicy and floral hop notes.

T/M: As with the aroma, this is a mild blend of floral hops with hints of spice, a bit of pine, and a lot of sweet malt. Very crisp and clean and refreshing.

O: A straightforward, drinkable and tasty pils. Nothing groundshaking but a real nice, simple beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 23:26:17 | More by sevenarts

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours dark gold with a one finger frothy white head that retains very well. Left good lacing.

S - Slight pine, lemon zest, light wheat, multiple types of hops

T - Multiple very light hop flavorings with moderate amounts of wheat. Slight orange and lemon as well. slightly floral like in the finish.

M - Light to medium body with medium to heavy carbonation.

O - Overall, This was a very clean, straight forward offering from Sam Adams. Nothing impressive, But nothing offensive. I'd have it again. I believe that this beer really shines when it is consumed straight from the bottle

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 21:12:51 | More by SometimesIfart

zac16125

South Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into a Pilsner glass (cause hell I barely ever get to use it!)
Best before Feb 2013

A: Pours a crystal clear light straw color with 2 fingers width of bright, snow-white colored head. Leaves a decent amount of lacing.

S: Aroma is spicy hops, pale malt, bready.

T: Taste follows the nose. Lots of spicy hop notes, touch of citrus. Not much going on, but for a pilsner its pretty tasty.

M/D: Light, crisp, heavy carbonation, medium body. Drinkability is average, but limited by the high carbonation.

O: Overall, pretty good for the style. Unfortunately, the style is rather drab and unremarkable. Im an ale drinking, and dont even usually venture into the lager side of the beer spectrum. Too simple, too plain, too clean. For what it is, its decent, but Im gonna finish this one and go have a IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 00:23:28 | More by zac16125

A60sburnout

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice American answer to the original Pilsner Urquell. (Not sure if SABMiller has tinkered with the original recipe.)

Poured a nice golden color with a dense 2-finger head that slowly dissapated leaving some fine lacing.

Nice hop aroma on the nose; I think it's the Sazs hops that come to the forefront.

The malt sweetness is deftly balanced with the hop's tartness, a truly refreshing example of the style.

It seems that Jim Koch has yet another winner in the stable. Certainly well worth trying, if not buying again and again.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 23:15:57 | More by A60sburnout

mckenziac

4.53/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Pilsner Urquell pilsener glass. Taken from a Samuel Adams "Hop Tour" mixed sixer.

Appearance: Pours a translucent, bright golden color. Has a large, fizzy head that dissipates slowly and leaves some spotty lacing.

Smell: Smells strongly of German and Czech noble hops, especially that spicy, Saaz aroma. The hoppiness is backed by a sweet, lager maltiness.

Taste: Has a crisp, citrusy hop flavor backed by a sweet, almost honey-like maltiness. Almost perfectly balanced between strong noble hops and lager-y crispness.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, medium-bodied, and refreshing.

Overall: This is an outstanding beer and probably my favorite selection from Sam Adams's stable. Pilseners are sometimes difficult beers to nail perfectly, but Noble Pils comes as close as I've seen on this side of the Atlantic. A definite must-try.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 22:59:02 | More by mckenziac