EKU Pils - Kulmbacher Brauerei AG

KickbacksSteve

Florida

3.8/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into a snifter. White head, moderate retention on a clear, light yellow body. Suddsy lacing sticks to the glass. Aroma includes a light hoppy note, some pilsner malt, maybe some lemon peel. Taste is light, refreshing, mild bitterness, slight sweetness on the back end. The taste can only be described as a light pilsner taste and clearly authentic. Tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2012 06:19:15 | More by KickbacksSteve

largadeer

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +25%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Gourmet Haus Staudt. Bright and clear in the glass, golden-hued with a thick frothy head. Nice spicy hop aroma, quite fragrant and fresh, a bit grassy. Crackery pale malt resides right beside the hops, and the yeast profile is clean, showing only a hint of sulfur. It's crisp and dry on the tongue, more hoppy than malty, with a robust spicy/herbal/green/grassy hop character. There's a touch of dry maltiness around the mid-palate, reminiscent of a sweet baguette. Finishing with a firm, punchy and lingering bitterness, this is especially dry and bitter for a German pils.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2010 00:18:36 | More by largadeer

drjamyma

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Keep in mind I'm not judging whether or not it fits the perfect Pilsner mold, just whether or not I liked it. And damn, I liked it. Keep in mind I was 5 beers deep when I had this. (also keep in mind I'm built like shaq)

This beer was served cold, perfect finger and a half head held on through the entire drink. The only thing distorting my vision through the drink was the glass itself. It was just a beautiful straw looking beer.

The taste was lightly floral, not thick, but not watery at all. A slight skunky taste as well, which was very nice.

After two disappointing casked porters, this really hit the mark.

Edit: Picked up a six pack of it and was very disappointed. Was quite plain in bottle form. No skunky taste at all which was ironic.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2009 06:42:00 | More by drjamyma

beveritt

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: Poured from a mini-keg into a standard pint glass. The entire keg, instructions and all, is in German.

Appearance: Pours with several fingers of pure white head. This settles slowly, leaving behind nice lacing. The beer itself is a pale yellow and perfectly clear.

Smell: Caramel malt with a yeasty and bready undertone.

Taste: Fairly sweet malt upfront, with a spicy hop character. Finishes with a medium hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation level is average. Body is good.

Drinkability: A few of my friends showed up on my doorstep with a 5 liter mini keg of this the other night. Really a pleasant beer for sitting on the porch and enjoying the cooling weather.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2008 18:25:30 | More by beveritt

Durge

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This brew, poured into a tall pilsner glass on tap, was a clear bright gold color with a big fluffy white head and lots of lacing. The aroma was a pretty flowery wheat, bready like many decent pilsners. The feel is midland for this style, fair quality with mild carbonation. I pick up light oak and sweet wheat. It's clean and crisp, very drinkable if you want something light and refreshing. But it isn't anything special, no complexity and it doesn't quite grab your tastebuds like the best pils can do. But I'm happy to drink it and would do so again depending upon the choices on a warm summer night.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2008 16:04:41 | More by Durge

fitzy84

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the Moan and Dove. Settled with a watery gold amber beverage; very clear. The drink had a well sized medium to eventual thin head. Grassy hops were well established in its aroma along with a woody texture. Great earthy flavors in the taste, as well, wrapped in the bittersweet hops of the beverage. Excellent carbonation; this was an extremely refreshing and enjoyable beverage. Overall, if you like earthy goodness, this is your drink.

Serving type: on-tap

04-25-2008 03:16:11 | More by fitzy84

alexgash

Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear, clean, golden pils-yellow body with a largish, thick, white head. Aromas of softly sweet biscuit malt, light cereal and grain, with faint hops. Taste starts with lightly, honey sweet malts. Clean. Followed by a decent spicy hop bite. Sweetish finish. Light-medium bodied with a lively, refreshing feel. Good summer lager.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2005 21:54:11 | More by alexgash

Billolick

New York

3.53/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

tried this one on tap at the Collins bar in NY city. Poured light golden and clear. The head is quite white, lacing was minimal. Nose that I got was mostly of grass. This is a moderatly crisp and clean lager. highly quaffable and pleasant on the taste buds. German hops duly noted, as well as a note of rye. Versitile sessioner.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2005 22:36:43 | More by Billolick

Denali

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at The Moan and Dove in Amherst, MA.

Color is golden with a small white head. Nutty/malty and hoppy aroma.

Taste was very nutty and almost buttery. A slight hops bitterness comes through but was not overpowering. Finish is somewhat thin. Smooth as opposed to "crisp" like other pilsners I've had, but this was enjoyable nevertheless.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2004 22:43:34 | More by Denali

HighCarbDiet

Colorado

3.4/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Disclaimer: I'm not a big fan of pilseners, but I've had other good stuff from EKU, so I gave this one a try. It didn't impress me as much as their other products.

The appearance seems about right on for a pilsener, but doesn't look overly inviting. Very clear, very light, okay head.

Like the appearance, the smell is also light. Crisp and clean, good and grainy, but nothing too special.

To my palate, the hops had a slight bitterness, but not enough flavor or aroma. I was hoping for something for "uplifting."

Very refreshing, nice for the Tucson summer. No off-flavors or anything disagreeable, but not enough to make me want another.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2004 03:34:59 | More by HighCarbDiet

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer promised a lot, but didn't deliver. Very clear golden yellow when served. It had a slight perfumey aroma which intrigued, but when I tried to follow it up when drinking, well, it was missing. My notes say: not much taste. The mouthfeel was good, low-medium, with a nice soft crispness. It was just...not a lot of taste at all. Would try to have again, see if I get a serving with some taste next time ;-)

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2004 03:26:52 | More by PatandDavid

Boilermaker88

California

3.85/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I rarely will purchase something in bulk for a first-time try but I'd done it before with Kulmbacher's Kapuziner Gold hefe so I figured, why not with the EKU Pils. So I ended up with a 5L keg can and have tapped it into my waiting pilsner glass all weekend.
The color was clear gold with a soapy white head that slowly receded whilst depositing chunky lace along the glass walls. The nose had a soft, malty aroma that vied for attention with some floral and, to a lesser degree, spicy hops notes.
The taste began with a grainy, hayfield-infused malt flavor. This was slowly moved aside in favor of a moderately spicy hoppiness that lingered through the finish. The feel was slightly creamy due to the abundant carbonation, light shading toward medium-bodied, and sporting a crisp, dry finish.
I felt this was one of the more highly hopped pilsners I've had in the past. Still, the grassy malt seemed to be the prevalent flavor here. I've been drinking this for a day or so now and it's proving to be a worthy session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2004 05:19:12 | More by Boilermaker88

beergeek279

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served from a 5L keg can, into a pint glass. The color is golden, with an uneven foaming head. The smell is mostly malt with just a bit of noble hoppiness to it. The taste is dominated by the hoppiness (which seems just a tad off). Mouthfeel is average. As for drinkability, I think I could have a couple.

An average pilsner from the EKU people. On the hoppy side of pilsners, and hopefully the keg can's a bit old so that this one will be even better next time. Though it doesn't stand up with its big brother eisbocks, I'd probably have another one in the hot summertime.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2004 18:57:26 | More by beergeek279

Globetrotter

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this on tap at a German Bierstube in Moscow. It came out (in a Helles glass) clear gold with a 2.5 finger contoured head that stuck around a while and left very nice lace most of the way down the glass. The nose was very mild, almost imperceptible. The mouth was prickly and light. My tastebuds were pleased by the nice balance between the malty start and the hoppy finish. The aftertaste is crisp bitter, with an amazing extra hoppy kick in the car 15 minutes after I finished the glass. This is a good session beer and a fine example of the style, albeit on the mild side.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2003 14:25:20 | More by Globetrotter

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled from a 5 liter keg can.

This pils poured a clear golden color with white foam that left lace. The carbonation action was good. The smell was malt and biscuit - a nice persistent aroma. The taste was malty and biscuity with some floral hops and mild bitter hops. The mouthfeel was smooth and crisp and relatively clean. The body and carbonation feel were medium. This was a good german pils.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2003 21:39:32 | More by UncleJimbo

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

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.74/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

EKU Pils has a thin, white head, with big and quickly dissipating bubbles, a mostly clear, bubbly, golden appearance, and no lacing left on the glass. The aroma is of sweet, slightly-turned barley malt (the beer might be old), tangy hops, and cracker. Taste is of the same, with light hop bitterness at the end. Mouthfeel is light to medium, and EKU Pils finishes crisp, refreshing, and mild. Overall, this is a good beer, and I think it’s interesting enough to try.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 20:34:13 | More by RonaldTheriot

Buttermaker

California

4.38/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This one came with my first beer of the month club delivery. (The club, www.beermonthclub.com, was a gift. It's expensive and I'm not sure I would buy myself a membership but I was pleasantly surprised by the uniqueness and diversity of the offerings.) It's a nearly perfect example of a German pils. This is the beer you want to crack open after mowing the lawn on hot summer day. Clean and refreshing (at 5.0% ABV!) without being watered down and tasteless. Great pils flavor that never becomes too bitter. (Some pils start to taste like dishwater after the 3rd or 4th one.) A classic.

Recommended Music Pairing - Uncle Tupelo - Still Feel Gone

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 03:57:00 | More by Buttermaker

Ford

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a Sam Adams pint glass.

Wow... upon pouring.. what a superb looking beer... beautiful, clear color.. perfect bubbles rising up... just looks super enticing.

Whoa... the smell... strong for a Pilsner in my opinion...and it doesn't smell very enticing.

The taste... better than average... but not that great.. I've had lots of Pilsners brewed in the USA that I like a lot better.... Saint Arnold and Live Oak being a couple made here in Texas.

Glad I tried this.. it came with my beer of the month club.... but I won't be looking for it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 03:02:13 | More by Ford

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

ccrida

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearence is clear gold with a small white collar leaving scattered lace.

Smell is mild cereals, a touch sweet.

Taste is very clean, sweetish pils, with a floral hop note and fairly decent bitterness.

Mouthfeel is light, dry, slippery.

Drinkability is good, a fine pils, clean, nice flavor but balanced and restrained.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 20:52:01 | More by ccrida

pburland23

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've had this beer sitting around my fridge for a while and I can't even remember when I got it. Figured I'd give it a chance. Probably not the best circumstances for a review but I probably won't have this beer again, so here goes.

Poured from a 11.2 oz. bottle into my Hoegaarden half pint glass.

Appearance: Pretty pedestrian looking pour. Very, very clear. Pale straw colored with about a finger of bright white head. Head retreated quickly and left no lacing behind.

Smell: Grassy with some floral hops. Bready malts as well. Again, fairly run-of-the-mill.

Taste: Light and lemony. Grassy with mild hops bitterness. The taste is a little lacking in terms of other German pilsners that I've had. Not bad, but nothing too exciting.

Mouthfeel: Very light bodied and incredibly drinkable. Carbonation is spot on and the beer is sessionable at 5.0%.

Overall: With all the great pilsners available in the US, I wouldn't go to this one again. Doesn't measure up to Prima Pils and others.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 00:19:27 | More by pburland23

metter98

New York

3.63/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is crystal clear yellow in color and has a moderate amount of carbonation. It poured with a ¼-finger high bright white head that died down leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and a web of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of bready malts in the nose. No hops are detectable.
T: The taste has flavors of bready malts and a bit of sweetness along with a slight amount of bitterness. There are some hints of spicy hops in the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and relatively clean on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very easy to drink and quite sessionable. It would seem to make a good pairing with food because the taste isn’t that strong.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 23:45:46 | More by metter98

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a standard US pint glass.

Pours a >2cm head of medium-sized bubbles, white in color, producing a very dense-looking collection. This fades, over the course of the drink, to a 0.5cm ring around the glass and some islands of foam. The body is a pale golden color, transparent, with a single stream of continuous carbonation holding the perpetual head aloft.

Aroma is clean and distinct, giving odes to flowery hops and light, sweet malts.

Taste opens with fairly good balance between flowery and herbal hop flavors alongside pilsner malt sweetness and grain flavors. The malt components win out briefly, yielding light breadiness . Hops reclaim in the finish with a slight citrus rind twang leading to nice, comfortable bitterness in the back of the tongue. Lingering taste of faint malt and gentle bitterness.

Body is medium to medium light. Could use a bit more carbonation than what experienced, but still adequate. Finish is dry.

While drinking this and writing the review, I didn't even notice how quickly I had finished the beer. This is just a very crisp, clear German pilsener that showcases everything enjoyable about the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 20:51:59 | More by falloutsnow

Halcyondays

California

4.03/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a clear gold with a medium white head, excellent retention, good lace.

S: Nice sourdough bready malt, very floral noble hopping.

T: As with the smell, a great mix of pils malt and floral hops, grassy.

M: Light-bodied, very crisp and easy drinking.

O: An excellent pils, I don't know why I don't drink it more often.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 07:12:38 | More by Halcyondays