Live Oak Pilz - Live Oak Brewing Company

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A good finger's worth of bone-white head with excellent retention. Nose was pungent with fresh-mown grass (read Saaz hops). Color was a medium-amber with NE-quality clarity. Mouthfeel was medium with a solid Saaz bite on the tongue. Finish was light, dry, satisfying. Pilsner as pilsner should be! 5's!

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2009 23:37:05 | More by woodychandler

elNopalero

Texas

4.78/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is a rich golden colored brew. Very foamy. Big, grassy hop aroma smacks your olfactory senses. Tastes fantastic, with that big grassy hop flavor and a sharp bitterness on the finish.
This is excellent. Imagine if this was your first exposure to a pilsner and then you tried the BMC versions of it… instead, for me at least, my experience has been the opposite: drinking the fizzy swill then finding out that beer has flavor. More, more, more please.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2012 21:13:46 | More by elNopalero

BeerZack

North Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Crisp golden body with nice white head that fades after a few sips.
The aromas coming off this beer are intoxicating themselves. Very "grassy", spicy hops with some citrus, makes your mouth water.

Tastes just like you would expect from the smell- dry and crisp spicyness riding over a soft grainyness that allows the hops to win the tug-o-war just enough to keep you thirsty.

This is my second favorite LO beer and probably one of my favorite Pilseners of all time (better than any bottled import I've tried; not as hoppy as a Victory Prima, but still a real craft beer). Can drink this stuff like it was made from water!

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2007 16:10:55 | More by BeerZack

MEsquandoles

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On draft at Crown and Anchor in Austin, but have had it all around town many times. $3 pint during happy hour.

Hands down my favorite pilsner. While I am a fan of the "big beers," this is the pilsner with the most taste I've ever had. Has some that green bottle skunky taste like a true Czech pilsner but much more more fresh and tasty (only coming from a few miles away). Grassy, floral, some peppered grain, slightly hoppier than most, authentic ingredients...I could easily drink 2 pitchers of this in a night. Highly recommended to get a keg of. If you're ever in Austin or Texas, definitely try all of the Live Oaks. If only they bottled and had greater marketing and distribution...

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2007 01:38:13 | More by MEsquandoles

stephens101

Oklahoma

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Opal Divines in Austin along with Sunday brunch. Pours almost pure gold with a pure white head. Had a very thick lacing which stayed throughout the life of the drink. Tasted of big hops and spice with a perfect unmistakable pis crispness. Was really surprised at the hop bite on this one. Behind all of that there was some grain, yeasts, spice and grass. The lacing was thick throughout. There was a quick burst of bubbles on a shake, displaying the high carbonation of the beer. Excellent and tasty pils, and like no other I've had before.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2008 22:56:10 | More by stephens101

champ103

Texas

4.48/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a clear golden/yellow color. A two finger white head forms and leaves some nice sticky lace.
S: Bread and biscuit malt. Awesome toasted grains. Followed by grassy, spicy, peppery hops. Then the hops turn very fruity. Citrus, mango, peach. Awesome.
T: A great balance between floral and grassy hops that are slightly bitter. Malty bread and biscuit flavors. Citrus and peach like fruity hops and a lingering bitters.
M/D: A light to medium body with medium carbonation. A nice snap on the tongue, and very refreshing. So clean, crisp, and dry. Easy and smooth to drink. I can drink this all day.

I like this a lot. Another great beer from Live Oak and an awesome Pilz. A near perfect example of a lager.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2009 04:59:39 | More by champ103

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Screw-top growler received via trade from SSW117. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" white head over the slightly cloudy golden brew. Head recedes gradually, with a solid coating of lace. Aroma is spicy hops. Taste is pale sweet upfront, lots of spicy Saaz in the middle, which just keeps on keeping on through the close. Mouthfeel is soft over the tongue, with the biting hops keeping it interesting, and drinkability is great. Go find some, you won't be sorry.

Serving type: growler

08-21-2009 20:40:24 | More by ppoitras

mynie

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Nice pour, dark filtered gold coruscating like champagne with a bright white head.

Smells light. Saaz hops are present, but not all that strong, and the regular pale malt lagered smooth that you expect from a pils, but not really complex or intense.

Tastes great, a lot more lively than the aroma had led me to believe. Big saaz beginning, moving into a middle of dandelions and barley, ending on a less bitter, more spicy saaz node. A wonderful amount of complexity for the style.

Very good. This Live Oak place seems like quite the joint.

Serving type: growler

05-16-2009 03:06:00 | More by mynie

beersheppard

Texas

4.35/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Golden, with a slight tinge of cloudiness, nice white head with good lacing. Decent carbonation.

Smell: pale malt, floral, and saazy.

Taste: pale malt, saazy, very hoppy, nice and bitter, bread, full flavored pilsener. A little black tea on the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: creamy, substantial, full.

Drinkability: A great example of a Czech Pilz here in the states. If you are ready to graduate to a full-flavored beer from the hum-drum american macro brews, this is a good place to start. I know the Live Oak guys really pride themselves on this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

04-12-2010 04:19:56 | More by beersheppard

Morris729

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pale golden amber color with a bright white head that has a nice retention. Nose is dominated by floral grassy hops but some fruity malt is detectable in the background. Taste mimics the aroma with spicy citrusy hops being the key players while kept in check by a solid malt backbone. A very hearty and thoroughly enjoyable Pils.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2006 22:18:46 | More by Morris729

AustinBeerLvr

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On my previous review of this brew, I think my palate must have been slightly off due to previous tastings.

This beer has an excellent balance of strong grassy somewhat citrusy hops with a slightly sweet malt to balance everything out. The after taste is awesome as the hop bitterness leaves you wanting more.

As I said above, this is a great Czech Pilsner. If you like a highly hopped brew with some good balance, this is your brew. One of my faves brewed right here in Austin!

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2006 04:19:17 | More by AustinBeerLvr

brentk56

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +10%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Arrives at the table with a hazy golden color and a modest head that didn't leave much lacing

Smell: Crisp and grassy noble hop aroma wih a slightly floral quality

Taste: Bready start with the crisp noble hop flavors emerging by mid-palate; after the swallow, the floral element comes on strong and provides a balanced, but distinctly bitter finish

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with prickly carbonation

Drinkability: Eminently drinkable - one of the better domestic pilsners I have tasted; not as big and bitter as Victory but easier to drink because of the floral elements

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2007 02:06:55 | More by brentk56

bobbrew

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Disclaimer - I've only had this beer once and it was after I survived 1+ hours trying to give Rahr's beers a fair taste at their Saturday tasting (read mad house with free beer) recently (March 2008).

I happened upon the Gingerman in Fort Worth and after trying about 5 tastes of nothing special, I LOCKED onto Live Oak Pilsener! Whow what a treat! It was my life ring in a day of swarming beer sloshers at Rahr. This beer is a true Bohemian Pilz. Arguably my favorite pilsener of all time behind Tony Gomes' Saxer Pilsener.

I brought in my own pilsener glass and after about the 4th try the bartender poured it in the proper way. Slam it to the bottom from maximum height. Let it sit for 4 or 5 minutes and then nurse more gently down the side. A rocky snow cone head formed and rose about 1.5 inches above the rim.

The color is golden (didn't pay that much attention) but was opalescent as I remember Saxer's legendary product. The taste was clean and refreshing but the aftertaste is the grabber. It didn't lock my jaws as Tony's did but it dig grab me mid pallet and LINGERED! That's what I look for in a Pils and Live Oak delivered! Could it be that this sensation requires a decoction mash, or maybe a double?

I've been searching high and low lo 10+ years to find a replacement for my favorite, and now defunct, Pils and I've found a worthy substitute. And, in all places, Texas! I'd written off anything brewed in Tejas until I had this beer. Here's to hoping my second encounter will equal the first! Truly a World Class Pilsener! Bob SNOB from Washington / Portland

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2009 15:07:45 | More by bobbrew

jasonjlewis

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I was busy during this review so it isn't as in depth.

Nice thick head with great retention. Nice amber color.

Taste is simple. some pale malts and nice hop bitterness. Pilsners tend to be good and simple, and this one is no exception.

Mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing.

This beer is ridiculously well balanced and easy to drink.

Not a whole lot going on, but really good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2007 02:05:07 | More by jasonjlewis

UTCengOwl

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Got this in a shaker pint at Crown and Anchor. Ate a mushroom swiss burger along with it. I feel lucky to have Live Oak available across the street from work :).

The beer is a rich, clear gold with a thin, white head. Maybe it's the serving glass, but this beer won't look great with this kind of head and retention. The body is solid, however.

The nose is grassy hops followed by a sweet and sazzy bite. Very noble nose.

The beer itself is mostly noble hops, but they're balanced by a creamy sweetness left by the malt backbone. How does Live Oak get their beers to be so smooth and creamy? The main hop flavor is Saaz, which I usually hate. However, the sweetness balances them and keeps everything in check. The lingering flavor is hop bitterness, but it's subdued and welcome. Perfect balance on the hop weight throughout the beer.

This is a great casual drinking beer and another victory for Live Oak.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2011 21:36:57 | More by UTCengOwl

BeerAngel

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a brilliant golden color with a nice white head. The smell of a hop punch is very apparent along with a mild malt. The taste is as the aroma is, but the hops are even more pronounced. This one might be riding on the fence of an Imperial Pils (don't shoot me over this one Chip). Yes, that's right, an Imperial. The boldness is Imperial-like yet the malty background is the traditional Czech style. This is a light to medium bodied brew that finishes slightly dry.

Notes: This is one tasty brew that will slap you silly (in a good way) when you expect the traditional style. If I had a way to get growlers of this and/or their hefe, it would be a staple in my fridge! Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2004 06:26:10 | More by BeerAngel

HardTarget

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Aroma: Bready, with a spicy (Saaz?) zip
Appearance: Very clear pale yellow, which I caught odd shades of green (could have been the bar lights at Threadgills North). Poured with a good finger of white foam which left impressive lace.
Flavor: Malt base with a peppery hop kick. Classic Pilsner in the style of Urquell.
Mouthfeel: Medium body and a smooth clean feel. Hop bitter set in for a bit, but the finish was fairly dry.
Overall Impression: A very solid brew. If I hadn’t been traveling I could see making a session of it. Very happy to see a Texas brewery putting out such a fine product. If you are in the area, do try a sample.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2004 08:18:40 | More by HardTarget

Shultzerdugen

Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Ginger Man in Austin.

Clear straw with a small tight bubbled head.

Bubble gum and banana notes from the malts are paired with an assertive grassy hop note.

Light bodied with ample carbonation. The round malt center fades abruptly into a bitter German (Saaz) hop finish. Mild lemony citrus notes come into play for the finish, and the caramel and bubble gum malt flavors grow around mid-pint.

A very solid Pilsner.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2006 01:00:49 | More by Shultzerdugen

dill

California

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

served on tap into a pint glass

A - a nice golden color with a thin, white head.

S - grainy, yeasty smell.

T - yeasty with a touch of hops at the end.

M - light carbonation with a medium body.

D - this is a highly drinkable beer as most of the Live Oak offerings tend to be.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2008 02:16:18 | More by dill

glid02

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Flying Saucer in San Antonio, TX.

Pours a crystal-clear golden color with a half-finger white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of light pilsner malts with a good bit of floral and slightly citrus hop aromas.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Crisp pilsner malts kick things off and are joined quickly by earthy hop flavors. The hops carry through to a crisp and mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall I thought this was a crisp and well done beverage. Worth a shot if you see it on.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2010 02:03:29 | More by glid02

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Gingerman. The body is just a touch thicker than most of the Czech pilsners but this lager does a great job of amplifying the Nobel hops without going over the top. There's a tasty lemon-herb hop character backed by mellow white bread malt to make this both satisfying.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2011 05:16:03 | More by tempest

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at The Ginger Man in Austin.
Clear gold with a shirt white cap. Nice lacing and good head retention. Intense noble hop aroma, grassy, floral, and spicy, with a little bit of grainy malt in the background. Solid bitterness from start to finish, mild cereal sweetness with plen more floral and spicy hop character. It had more body than I expected for a pils, a little more richness, but the texture was smooth and carbonation was soft, making for a very easy to drink beer. I quite enjoyed this beer and could see it becoming a staple if it was available in my area.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2011 22:26:27 | More by DrJay

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap, the beer is a clear darkish golden color with a white sticky head. Pale bready malt and grassy hops emerge from the aroma. A dash of spice is mixed in. The flavors are similar to aroma. The pale malt is nicely balanced by the grassy hops at the end. The beer is smooth as it goes down and very thirst quenching. I really enjoyed this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2011 21:39:41 | More by BeardedBoffin

rowew

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Ginger Man in Austin. Slightly cloudy, flavor is a nice combination of malt, hop spice, and the mineral flavors I enjoy from a pilsner. highly drinkable, I could definitely enjoy several of these. Medium bodied, with a smell that reminds me of noble hops.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2010 19:28:00 | More by rowew

omnigrits

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Austin Ginger Man.

Wonderful golden yellow colour with a strong head that's leaving not just lacing but a coat of head on the inside of the glass. The nose is a bit doughy but don't let that deter you - this is a crisp, hoppy, refreshing pilsener. Good body and carbonation. Very dry, bitter finish. A fine beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2009 21:53:40 | More by omnigrits