EKU Pils - Kulmbacher Brauerei AG

smcolw

Massachusetts

1.53/5  rDev -57.5%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

Very light color, as close to water as I've seen.

How do I say this? The smell reminds me of urine.

The body is like seltzer, which is also what the flavor reminds me of. Simply said, this is a waste of a bottle. Interestingly, this beer is not skunky.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2009 22:58:54 | More by smcolw

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

1.78/5  rDev -50.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I really want to find a German pils that I like. I feel bad that they all taste the same to me and it's rather disappointing. This beer is clear yellow it's earthy and mild flavored. Fresh cut grass on the taste too. Not much hops on the nose. Not my favorite style.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 23:20:36 | More by Knapp85

Pegasus

Texas

2.05/5  rDev -43.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Appearance: Clear, pale golden color, with a small persistent head, thick scattered lacing, and slight carbonation.

Aroma: Sweet, light tropical fruit, a stale bread aroma, and slight yeast.

Taste: Opens with tart malt, midway through the taste, a harsh medicinal hop note appears, lingering well past the end of the taste.

Mouth feel: Thin, with slight carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: A poor example of the style, not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2007 14:38:30 | More by Pegasus

Robert_Ray

Arizona

2.28/5  rDev -36.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

I had greatly anticipated the opening of this bottle. Had heard some nice comments about it, but as soon as I opened it, I smelled skunk. Same as Heineken. Guess I am not a German Pilsner kind of Guy. Maybe it was not fair since I had just finished a bottle of Pranqster Belgian Style Golden Ale that was excellent at 92 points! I just don't like the skunky in a beer. I will not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 02:19:18 | More by Robert_Ray

clvand0

Kentucky

2.3/5  rDev -36.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

This beer is fairly crappy and generic. It pours a boring yellow color with little head and no lacing. The aroma is skunky with possibly a hint of malts. The flavor is much like the aroma, being a skunky bland pilsner. I really didn't care much for it, but luckily it was pretty cheap.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2003 15:07:11 | More by clvand0

Amalak

New York

2.33/5  rDev -35.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

This came as part of a beer of the month club package. It had a very light, yellow/gold color to it. Had your traditional Pilsner bubblyness to it and good lace. That's where the good stuff ended.

There wasn't that much flavor to it, except a bitter taste, but not Pilsner bitter--more like skunk bitter. It also left a horrible taste in the back of my throat. I was also disappointed because I hold the Germans to a higher standard when it comes to beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2009 00:04:06 | More by Amalak

apintofknowledge

New Jersey

2.35/5  rDev -34.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

The bottle poured a pale golden straw hue with a creamy pure-white head. The aroma was that of a typical pilsner (for some reason, when it comes to pilsners, most smell like the bar my grandfather used to frequent, and I just can't separate that memory from the smell). The taste was relatively clean and refreshing... the somewhat sweet mild malt flavor with enough hops for balance. But there was this lingering slighly metalic taste on my tounge that just wouldn't go away even after several sips. Pils aren't my favorite beers, but I can appreciate a well-crafted offering... but that aftertaste just ruined it for me.

Yet another beer to add to my small but growing list of beers tasted (which will be growing over the next couple of weeks thanks to a couple of "beers of the world" eight-packs received as Christmas gifts - Thanks Santa!)... but not one really worth seeking out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2004 15:37:37 | More by apintofknowledge

KyleMWood

Texas

2.6/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Appearance - very light pale in color, almost like a light beer, not a golden color like I'd like to see from a pils

Taste - bland, boring in flavor, not the crispness i'd expect from a good pils - maybe because it was in a bottle, perhaps not fresh

Drinkability - it was light, so definitely drinkable, but not something i would go out of my way to drink again

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2009 22:09:27 | More by KyleMWood

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.6/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

If this "EKU" pils is the c lassic German pilsner, then what's the deal with Kulmbacher's Edelherb? Anyway, this stuff pours a clear straw topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises honey-dripped biscuit, light grass, and a kiss of flower petal. The taste holds notes of old biscuit, dank greens, iceberg lettuce, and a general sense that the world just isn't quite right, that the Matrix may, in fact, be real, and it's having a hard time coding the flavor of beer. Man, this stuff just jumped off a cliff and destroyed itself upon the rocks at the base (but the eyes are still open and trying to process the horror it just experienced). The body is a hefty light, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly oily feel. Overall, this is the second time I've had this beer, and both times have been incredibly disappointing. And I made sure this stuff was pretty fresh, too, so it's not like I've been sitting on a bottle for years or anything. I've just gotta say it: This is a fairly crappy pils. *sigh*

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 17:21:01 | More by TMoney2591

Cresant

Kentucky

2.63/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured this 12 oz. undated brown bottle into a pilsner glass. Body was golden yellow. The three fingers of bright white head faded quickly. Minimal lace remained.

Smell was clean, hay-like. Mildly leafy. Mildly malty. A little on the bland side.

Tasted of light hops. Subtle lightly sweet malts. Tart lemony finish that lingers. Thins out at the end. EKU Pils has a weaker noble hops presentation than I would have guessed.

Mouthfeel was somewhat tingley due to the alcohol and moderate carbonation. Light to medium bodied. I'm glad I tried this one but I will not return.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2006 12:32:42 | More by Cresant

HardTarget

Texas

2.68/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle Inspection: 11.2 oz bottle from the “Beers of the World Sampler pack” Thanks to Stephen for picking up the box from the Class VI on post.

Aroma: Slight sour/bitter yeast smell, something about it is a bit off, can’t put my finger on it.

Appearance: Crystal clear golden glass with a short lived white head that didn’t lace.

Flavor: Strong bittering hops that overwhelm any malt present. The hops lack any fresh or pleasing tastes.

Mouthfeel: Puckering bitterness, medium body, average carbonation.

Overall Impression: Trying not to slam this beer as I’m afraid it’s a bit old (but no date on the bottle, so fair game). I’ll have to try another later and confirm or correct these low numbers.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2005 05:30:41 | More by HardTarget

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

2.68/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Got this 12oz single for $2.00 from Manchester Wine & Spirits, Manchester CT. Code 2013311. Served cold in a chilled pilsener glass.

Perfectly clear, bright yellow brew shows moderate carbonation and puts up a healthy 1.5" of white foam. Smell has some dried hay, lemon, raw grain, and a little skunk... smells like a standard EPL. Taste is a good dose of saaz, then lemon rind, hay, grain. Fairly hoppy. The feel is light and crisp, but astringent in a way that makes my teeth feel gritty, which is a bit offensive. Finishes with gritty teeth and a lingering flavor of leather.

Bleh. I'm not impressed, won't be seeking this out again.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2010 22:57:16 | More by BeerNinja007

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

2.7/5  rDev -25%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Light lemony gold with a faint haze and a few whispery floaters that settle to the bottom in due course. The beer is crowned with a shockingly bright white head of pillowy, yet tacky, foam that sticks to the glass in cheesecloth-like sheets. The lace is too melty though and before long scattered shards are all that remain.

When I first popped the cap I smelled skunk. Now that the beer has had a chance to breathe, the little mammal seems to have wandered off. A faint odor trail remains, but I'm convinced that noble hops smell this way in some pilseners (even relatively fresh ones). There's some semblance of untoasted grain, but hops overpower all. I've smelled better.

The flavor is a little too harsh for me. It's tough to say what's causing it. My guess is a malt-to-hop ratio that's too low. The bitterness is impressively unsupported and is a sharp, pungent beast that keeps me from enjoying the flavor much at all. There's also a mild 'sucking on pennies' vibe that isn't fading.

The beer feels soft in the mouth thanks to an understated amount of carbonation, but that only makes the sharpness of the flavor that much more noticeable. I don't pick up any citrusiness, which I tend to like in this style. A little lemon zest often makes pilseners more drinkable for me.

EKU Pils just can't be recommended, there's too much unsupported bitterness. This beer is only for those who love the style and maybe not even for them. Best avoided.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2004 21:29:31 | More by BuckeyeNation

WesWes

New York

2.73/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

The beer pours a pale gold color with a thick frothy white head. The aroma is decent. It has a nice slightly malty scent with a bit of dry skunky aroma. The taste is average. It has a crisp, bitter flavor with a dry, yet weak finish. It has no malt character, but does reveal some bitter hops. The mouthfeel is decent. It is a low bodied beer with a boat load of carbonation. This is a hard drinker. I don't care for the taste at all. It has a nasty stale aftertaste. It's one and done for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2004 01:01:35 | More by WesWes

BexterK

California

2.73/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A. Pours straw yellow. 1 inch head that doesn't last.

S. Clean, slightly grassy aroma.

T. Bite of mild hops, earthy/hay flavor.

M. Medium-high carbonation, zesty on the tongue.

Overall very light, clean and bland with a faint bitterness that fades quickly. I'm not a fan of light beer in general, but this was more subtle than any other light beer I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 14:17:57 | More by BexterK

JackTheRipper

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Pale, clear golden with a thin to non-existing head.

S: Thin, malty smells with some fruity sweetness. No hop aroma to speak of.

T: Weak tasting with a sort of malty sweetness towards the end. This beer advertises "Perfect Balance" on the label, but utterly fails to deliver.

M: Light in body with a nice crisp feel to it. Zero aftertaste. CO2 and ETOH are in good levels.

D&N: Refreshing, easy to drink because it doesn't demand anything at all to grab your attention. This beer would be perfect picnic fodder.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2004 08:27:32 | More by JackTheRipper

DaggerEyes

New York

2.78/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Everything about this beer was pretty darn average

Poured a pale yellow with a decent head that disapated into a modest lace

All malt nose with some very sweet, "cheap beer" scents, a times it's a little too sweet.

The taste buds experience exactly what the nose led them to believe, a malty beer which is very very sweet.

Pretty much a middle of the road beer, that walks a fine line between being ok and being too sweet

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2006 03:26:16 | More by DaggerEyes

HappyHourHero

Indiana

2.9/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bright white head held out for a minute and then faded to a film, leaving a ring of lace as it went. Clear, light gold colored beer. Smells like a crisp and fresh beer. Almost no flavor, like a light macro. I can't pick out a damn thing in the taste, although it is pleasant. Not much in the taste department, but atleast it's clean. Light body, but not watery.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2003 06:34:58 | More by HappyHourHero

Noelito76

New York

2.9/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I thought I would like this beer more when I saw it's nice rich yellow color and the thick head it produced. While the hoppy aftertaste is unmistakably potent, I found it that after a few the aftertaste became metallic like. This beer was pretty grainy too making it's drinkability challenging.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2005 18:51:20 | More by Noelito76

Pepeton

Mexico

2.9/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A bit dissapointed with this one.

Pours a light yellow, with a thick white head. No lacing to talk about.

Smell was hard to pick up, if any.

Taste is mildly bitter, with some bready malts.

Mouthfeel was crisp, just as a lager is supposed to be. Period

Drinkability can be high for some people, especially as a session beer. Not me 'cause it's way too light.

¡Salud!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2008 19:52:10 | More by Pepeton

Yagman3000

New York

2.9/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Appears dangerously light. I just held it up in front of my eyes and could watch the Mets game through it.

Smells and tastes alike: thin and starfish with a sweet that comes through the late middle and rests at the end.

mouthfeel is thin with a subtle pilsy dust at the end.

Overall on the lighter side and I wouldn't necessarily seek it out but am a little intrigued with the subtle sweet surprise. Interesting to have a fruit different than a wit orange of HW banana clove.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 01:32:01 | More by Yagman3000

SwillBilly

Virginia

2.93/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle

Appearance: Pours clear and golden into my pils glass with a dense, foamy head. Head is long lasting with ample lacing on the glass.

Smell: The saaz hops initially waft out of the glass with a crisp, bracing aroma that is followed by hints of a malty like sweetness of creamed corn make an appearance.

Taste: Too bad the smell is better than the taste. Starts out with little promise, those usually crisp and dry saaz hops make a brief appearance that is then followed by a corn like sweetness, followed by another all to brief hop bitterness. Taste like a typical macro lager.

Mouthfeel: Thin and slick, ample carbonation but doesn't have that tell tale crisp and dry mouthfeel of other German Pilsners.

Drinkability: Looks really do deceive. This one of those beers that looks a lot better than it tastes. More like your typical Euro lager than a German Pils. Missing that tell tale saaz hop bitterness and crispness. Way to sweet for me. I guess it could be an easy drinker if you like Euro Lagers but I'll pass on EKU Pils. There are better German Pils out there (see Prima Pils, Tuppers Hop Pocket Pils).

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2006 23:54:05 | More by SwillBilly

Gusler

Arizona

3/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The archetypal lager/pils color on the pour, a lucent gold, the head brilliant white, frothy and mountainous in size, after dissipating, it leaves a fine covering sheet of lace. Typical all malt nose that is also fresh and clean, the start sweetly malt, the top skinny, the finish masterfully hopped, minimally acidic, quite dry and an “Average” beer at best.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2003 12:06:37 | More by Gusler

albern

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This is a very average beer. It is a light yellow with a white head. There is some lacing, but not a lot. The smell is funny because straight out of the bottle this had quite a whiff of skunk but it dissapeared pretty quickly. After the skunk came your wet straw, some citrus, and then a bit of sunflower as the beer settled. The taste underwent some changes too. At first the hoppiness came through more so than when the beer finally settled. This is a slightly watery, light bodied, medium carbonation beer with not much going on one way or the other. What do I get are hints of the following in the taste: dryness, straw, some bits of citrus bite, a peppery bitterness at the end, some maltiness in the mid section. Eh ... this is just average.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2007 22:26:45 | More by albern

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.03/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured a light golden-straw color, with a thin white, foamy head that left a fair amount of broken lacing behind.

S: Upon first opening there was some skunkiness. The nose was fresh and grainy with some hay and grass notes and pretty classic per style.

T: started with some really sweet malt taste upfront, which was grainy, with some wet hay flavor. There was some herbal hopping and fresh grassiness detected. Some raw vegetables made a presence upon warming.

M: thin, with a fizzy aggressive carbonation.

D: A modest drinking pilsner but a tad sweet per style. Wouldn't drink this on a regular basis or hold my attention as a session.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2008 22:21:17 | More by beerthulhu