Martens Pilsener - Brouwerij Martens NV

ZAP

Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Nice light golden color...clear...

S-Grainy malt....sweeter, breadier impression...not spicy at all..maybe a little musty

T-Grainy...bready....lightly hopped for a pilsner...just a light saaz like hop note late..

M-Light side of medium bodied....maybe high side of light bodied :)
Easy drinking....nice light malt flavor with just a kiss of hops..lower carbonation makes this drink real easy..

O-This is a real nice drinking lager...not an assertive pilsner by any means and I first I was a little disappointed as I was hoping for that. But if you accept it for what it is, it is still enjoyable. I wonder if this is what American Lager tasted back in the day....

Serving type: can

08-25-2012 04:44:36 | More by ZAP

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -4.5%

05-03-2013 20:33:21 | More by RedneckBeerz

MacStinson

Michigan

3/5  rDev -4.5%

04-15-2013 01:28:03 | More by MacStinson

jsh5771

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +35.4%

03-19-2013 02:45:59 | More by jsh5771

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

The fact that Martens Pilsener is a bit cloudy is a good sign. Many of the best pilsners I've had were unfiltered (or otherwise just clouded). And that's not to take away from the fact that this golden, solid-looking beer is in fact transparent and well burnished. Factor in the decent amount of head and it's safe to say that this is a decent, if conventionally aesthetic beer.

The aroma, though respectable enough for a mass-produced lager, is not immune to the tarnish of adjuncts (nor, alarmingly, of alcohol). Sugars were definitely added. The corn syrup-y musk is not sufficient to turn me away entirely, but we're not off to the best start and it's certainly enough to enforce the sense that this is going to be a pretty run-of-the-mill offering.

Martens Pilsener is for those people who prefer plain toast and unflavored potato chips - its flavour is light and basic. Though largely insipid, it has some cereal grain notes, a most welcomed trace of earthy hops and a surprising amount of body. In a way it drinks more like a true pilsner - as opposed to swill lager - albeit one with all the frills cut out.

It is in the aggregate that unseen details become visible; while the flavour is palatable enough, the use of corn and sugar adjuncts gives the mouthfeel a terribly starchy texture and also creates an overly sweet, off-putting aftertaste (one that fortunately fades in the time it takes me to make a few strokes on the keyboard). Still, I'm bizarrely left with a parched sensation.

Martens Pilsener is way closer to an actual pilsner than most commercial Belgian or Dutch brands advertised as such (cough, Stella, cough). Despite being “like” a pilsner, however, it isn’t - it falls foul to the same off-putting adjuncts and incompleteness as most every mass-produced lager. I honestly didn't mind the few tall cans I drank, but let's call a spade a spade...

Serving type: can

01-31-2013 18:08:35 | More by biegaman

stunna

Maine

3.25/5  rDev +3.5%

01-10-2013 01:10:18 | More by stunna

Kelpius

3.44/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

If there was a category for value, this would score highly. Even as an import, it is $4.99 for a four pack of tallboys at Total Wine. With an abv of 4.8, it's a definite improvement over American competitors. It is smooth, has no aftertaste to speak of (okay, I did taste the can), is not too sweet or hoppy, and is very affordable. If you tried craft beer because you were tired of PBR and the like, you can revisit the best of your past with this working man's import, without an obnoxious price point, skunkiness, or unexpected flavors from added impurities. Just good beer, pure and simple, unadorned and great on ice. Somewhere, a Belgian truckdriver knows what I mean.

Serving type: can

01-09-2013 06:33:44 | More by Kelpius

sumpjh

California

3/5  rDev -4.5%

01-02-2013 13:50:11 | More by sumpjh

mmilyko

Nevada

3/5  rDev -4.5%

11-02-2012 23:18:52 | More by mmilyko

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +3.5%

09-15-2012 22:31:39 | More by NightINgale

crwrunner

Virginia

2.75/5  rDev -12.4%

08-18-2012 11:53:19 | More by crwrunner

Oboogie

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev +11.5%

08-06-2012 23:45:15 | More by Oboogie

jeremy13586

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Picked this up from a local bottle shop. Pounder can with a 25/6/12 date on the bottom.

Poured a pale golden color. Formed about two fingers of fluffy head that slowly disappeared in to some pillowy foam. It left plenty of thin lacing along the glass.

Really not too much going on in the nose. Some hops and an aroma of grains. Some light lemon. Kind of drab, but clean and inoffensive.

Grain and a light sweetness. More flavor than in the nose. A bit grassy in the hop department. Light on the flavor, but it was consistant and didn't taper off.

Very smooth with an incredibly clean finish. Light body. Seemed to have pretty mild carbonation for a pilsner.

Pretty decent and inoffensive pilsner. The aroma and flavor were there, but it was a little bit on the delicate side. Might make for a nice tailgate or BBQ beer if you're looking for something light that will still have some decent flavor.

Serving type: can

08-06-2012 21:08:40 | More by jeremy13586

mynie

Indiana

3.78/5  rDev +20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Snagged a four-pack of cans in Iowa. The expiry date printed on the bottom of the can (which is not visible when the cans are in their plastic wrapper) says it expires the day after tomorrow. Whew!

Pours darkly into an old High Life pils glass, fizzy and translucent with a really nice, fluffy white head.

Smells rich yet delicate. Nothing too fancy--pils malt, dry floral noble hops--but the balance is excellent. Tastes like it smells. The hops are nearly dry or strong enough for this to qualify as a German pils, but it's got a bit more bit to it than your average Euro Pale. It's like the missing link between Stella and Urqell, lacking the oldtimey unfiltered character of Sam Smiths' lager, but still more interesting than, say, Carlsberg.

Serving type: can

06-24-2012 02:53:20 | More by mynie

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Picked up a can mixed-n-match for $1.75

A - Pours a light straw colored yellow with some damn impressive head/lacing for a Pilsener.

S - Smells of mild grains, really mild hops, some sour apple funk and a touch of lemon grass.

T - It's really not that bad in fact it taste better than most Euro lagers I have had. In no way offensive when it gets warm. Taste is mostly grain forward, sweet malts, and a touch of sour apple/tart lemon.

M - Light to medium as expected.

Overall not something I would seek out again but 3x better than your miller lite BMC.

Serving type: can

06-02-2012 02:50:51 | More by DrDemento456

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

3.03/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The beer pours a crystal-clear light golden color with the requisite cap of white foam. The modest aroma conveys hints of various grains. Light on the palate, a little bread here and there. Sweetness accompanies the filler. The beer is a standard Euro style golden brew.

Serving type: can

05-23-2012 01:52:56 | More by BeardedBoffin

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Martens Pilsner. Martens Beer Anno 1758, Traditionally brewed Premium Pilsner.

Clear, golden hued, head starts huge, shuffles down, leaves a little lace.

Aroma: cereal and straw. Highly hopped with traces of corn. Largely inoffensive.

Taste: Tasty hop profile up front, lean bodied, soft and supple. Drinks easy, with an insistent hoppy edge. A little lemon-y now, a touch of fruit. But, overall, dry, with a slight bitterness.

Not bad at all. Even good. I don't often drink lagers and pilsners, but I wouldn't turn one of these down.

Serving type: can

05-22-2012 07:06:44 | More by feloniousmonk

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

500 mL can from a 4-pack picked up at the LCBO; best before February 2013.

Pours a deep, translucent golden-yellow colour; similar to, but perhaps slightly darker in tinge than most comparable imports. A frothy eggshell-white head erupts at the surface, reaching two fingers in thickness before gradually settling into a thin, lumpy cap over a few minutes' time. Retention is decent, and the stringy lacing left behind on the sides of the glass is of respectable quantity for the style. The aroma is acceptable, but offers nothing very interesting - grainy malts, some light sweetness, with some weedy, vaguely-sulfurous/skunky hop notes.

The taste isn't bad, but I'd hesitate to call it particularly good. Light barley malt sweetness is probably the most dominating facet of the flavour, with some (thankfully subtle) corny notes in the background. Slightly herbal, with vaguely noble hoppy bitterness coming forward toward the finish. Dryness blends with lingering barley malt sweetness in the aftertaste, along with an unfortunate and unmistakable metallic twinge. Light-bodied and refreshing, with lighter carbonation levels than I expect from the style.

Final Grade: 2.9, a thoroughly average C-grade. I've seen this on the store shelves for a few months now, and at under 8 bucks for 4 half-litre cans, it must seem like a tempting choice for frugal lager drinkers. Having actually tried it now, I can confirm that Martens Pils is nothing special, and barely a pilsener in the first place.

That being said, the price is still a huge plus, and as far as imported pale lagers go this is nowhere near the worst choice. If that metallic flavour in the aftertaste wasn't so prominent, I might even consider this above average in the category. Alas, this was not the case. Don't bother with this unless you are a Euro lager fan on a tight budget.

Serving type: can

05-13-2012 03:19:18 | More by thehyperduck

ZorPrime

Quebec (Canada)

2.55/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Ok, this one did intrigue me quite a lot... A pilsner from Belgium... To me this sound very strange. The beer color is golden, copper with a cloudy looks foamy head on top of it. It sticks well to the glass. Nice looking beer. The aroma is floral, fruity with some cereal notes. Nothing out of this world... and a little bit simple for the aroma. A bit like a adjunct lager if you ask... The taste is not very good, slightly metallic. Taste like a pale lager... nothing to write home about. Refreshing but nothing to get a envious craft beer drinker to seek out this one.

Simple beer for simple days and simple thirst!
Cheers!

Serving type: can

04-23-2012 13:55:05 | More by ZorPrime

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: 1/2" white head that dissipated quickly over copper coloured liquid with excellent clarity a moderate carbonation.

S: Somewhat metallic with grassy and earthy hops.

T: Biscuity sweet malt with grassy, earthy and citrusy flavours. Somewhat metallic.

M: Medium viscosity and carbonation.

O: Quite drinkable, more enjoyable that Stella Artois.

Serving type: can

04-07-2012 21:37:35 | More by DaftCaskBC

WhatTheAle1973

3/5  rDev -4.5%

03-29-2012 04:40:32 | More by WhatTheAle1973

BeerDocT

Georgia

3.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

-Appearance 3.0: Poured out with an inch tall, soapy-looking head. This quickly dissolved and left frothy goodness on the sides of the glass.

-Smell 3.0: Good bouquet. I smell a very subdued barley and hops and that is about it. Somewhat standard.

-Taste 3.5: Above average taste. Front is cool liquid with a middle that is dry and slightly hoppy with vague barley notes. Finish is all watered-down hops and barley with a vague metallic taste. However, this all disappears quickly and the aftertaste is a quite pleasant dry hoppiness that fades out post haste.

-Mouthfeel 4.0: Carbonation is average. Very "liquid" feel to this brew, which is refreshing.

-Overall 3.0: Nothing spectacular here, but nothing awful, either. A respectable session beer that will not disappoint. Excellent with food or on its own. Slightly reminiscent of Beck's and I mean that as a complement.

Serving type: can

03-16-2012 04:50:13 | More by BeerDocT

Douberd

Netherlands

2.98/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I bought this in the Netherlands and it doesn't say anywhere that it is imported, also everything on the bottle is written in Dutch. I have reported a change for the ABV as on my bottle says it's 5.0% but now I am not sure if that's the case for all Martens or it's because this is for the Dutch market. Bottle is also different, the usual dutch beer bottle. Anyway.
Second beer I buy this week and its appearance (of the bottle) looks so fake, like someone made a fake label and glued it on the bottle of another brand. . When poured it produced a golden yellow coloured beer, with a two finger soapy head, with very good retention though. Lots of bubbles rising to the top too.
Aroma is of malts and hay.
Taste is slight bitter, with some corn traces and also sort of metallic.
Medium thickness on the body and very carbonated.
Overall, an average pilsener and with that bottle's appearance, not so attractive too.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 16:25:24 | More by Douberd

Greggy

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +28.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pint canned poured into a pint glass. Slightly hazy straw colored body with bright white head 2 fingers in height. Good lace and small thin cap.

S- Malty husky grains and metallic hops. Definitely a euro lager here. Fresh.

T- Starts off with floral hoppiness and balance biscuitty notes. The finish is pretty floral and drying.

M- Good carbonation, nice and malty mouthfeel.

O- Overall, a tasty euro lager.

Serving type: can

02-28-2012 02:45:32 | More by Greggy

DerekP

Pennsylvania

3.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Heavily carbonated, glowing golden appearance with decent head retention and sticky lacing.

Smells of wet grass, a bit of booze and sweet grapes. Grainy.

Just enough bittering hops. Mild on the malt, light-medium bodied. Chalky. A touch of metallic tang. Process (pasteurization, etc) seems to have hurt the taste a little. Hop flavor delivers some spiciness.

For a $1.80/pint can, not a bad brew. I'll try it again if I see it on-tap.

Serving type: can

02-17-2012 02:23:25 | More by DerekP