Polestar Pilsner - Left Hand Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine July 2007.

A good part of Polestar's authentic appeal comes from the award-winning Weyermann Pilsner Malt that Left Hand uses. This beer has also has a great blend of Perle, Vanguard and Saaz hops. Very pale golden-yellow hue. Clarity is perfect, with lots of tiny bubbles racing to the top. Impeccable head retention, as two fingers froth stick all the way down to the bottom of the glass. Light and fluffy biscuity malt aroma, as well as spicy, grassy hops in the nose. The crispness is so embedded and the smoothness so laid-back, it's incredibly refreshing. Fresh, biscuity malt flavor throughout--simple yet perfect. The grassy hop bitterness is not abrasive in any way, actually comple- menting and balancing out the beer very well. Suggestions of grape skin appear, minimal but persistent. Dry finish with a spicy hop and a clean graininess that lingers.

By far one of the best and most drinkable lagers brewed in the US today; one that gives the German Pilsners a real run for their money--and not on freshness alone. A heaping bowl of piping-hot chili verde will do the trick for a pairing.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 20:44:33 | More by BeerAdvocate

RDW

Nebraska

4/5  rDev +10.2%

06-19-2013 04:03:27 | More by RDW

Riik3

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

06-18-2013 21:59:24 | More by Riik3

MaddDogg84

Texas

5/5  rDev +37.7%

06-15-2013 23:11:47 | More by MaddDogg84

Musineer

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

06-12-2013 21:54:32 | More by Musineer

utopiajane

New York

3.71/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours faded yellow with a finger of white foam that fell pretty fast but left a thin skin on top and some good lace. Perfect clarity. Nose is pilsner all the way. Yeasty and dank. A touch of lemon and some fresh cut grass. Some spice on a good light malt. A little bit of a mineral quality too. Taste is light biscuit and floral hops. Grassy with a touch of bitter. Body is soft and smooth the malt is airy and light. Really an outstanding pils that isn’t too bitter and offers a graceful malt through out the drink. Finished dry with a delicate texture, a touch bitter and a kiss of honey sweetness. Well done! You could happily drink this beer all day.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 13:54:35 | More by utopiajane

herrburgess

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

06-11-2013 13:41:15 | More by herrburgess

wsickler

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +10.2%

06-10-2013 12:46:30 | More by wsickler

blastoderm55

Texas

4/5  rDev +10.2%

06-09-2013 18:43:18 | More by blastoderm55

shelby415

Oregon

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

06-09-2013 05:29:08 | More by shelby415

Stout_Combo

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +10.2%

06-08-2013 15:15:01 | More by Stout_Combo

Zach136

Georgia

4/5  rDev +10.2%

06-07-2013 03:24:23 | More by Zach136

jstevep00

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

06-06-2013 06:22:24 | More by jstevep00

calcutron

Texas

4/5  rDev +10.2%

06-03-2013 06:52:04 | More by calcutron

trevorpost

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

06-01-2013 02:12:21 | More by trevorpost

bluntedboywonder

New York

4.5/5  rDev +24%

06-01-2013 01:44:38 | More by bluntedboywonder

RichH55

Illinois

3/5  rDev -17.4%

05-31-2013 17:13:02 | More by RichH55

dmorgan310

Panama

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-31-2013 02:41:35 | More by dmorgan310

mcellis

Georgia

3.45/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyable, especially for Summer food - Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, you get the idea.

Pros: Nice thick head after pouring. Smells like fresh cut grass and seawater. Bright clear yellow color with nice carbonation. Creamy mouth feel makes an interesting contrast with the briny, malty taste.

Cons: Less of a con, but as a word of caution, this is a beer lover's beer. You have to like the taste of hops and malt and general "beer-ness" to enjoy this beer. I can easily see my Wood Chuck loving friends turning their noses up to this. Enjoy this with other beer lovers only.

Overall: Left Hand does no wrong in my opinion, and Polestar certainly didn't try to convince me otherwise. Not my favorite of their brews, but I would happily drink it at a cook-out. Very refreshing and has a nice complexity to tease your palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 14:22:18 | More by mcellis

GRUUMSH

Belgium

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-29-2013 07:57:21 | More by GRUUMSH

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +17.1%

05-25-2013 16:18:08 | More by Slatetank

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

05-25-2013 00:10:04 | More by ThePorterSorter

Flounder57

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle was poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: This beer poured a one finger head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a golden straw yellow with great clarity and slow moving bubbles coming up through the glass. Nice lacing in the glass as the beer was drank.

Smell: sweet and bready malts followed by mild hop aromas.

Taste: Same as above with mild hop bitterness and lime characteristics.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, chewy, low to medium bodied, medium carbonation, and a little tingly bitterness.

Overall: An enjoyable German pilsner styled beer. Easy drinking and very enjoyable with a little hops to it too.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 03:21:09 | More by Flounder57

ackeeper

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

05-22-2013 02:44:50 | More by ackeeper

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +10.2%

05-20-2013 13:54:35 | More by touchmeimsac