Great Lakes The Wright Pils - Great Lakes Brewing Company

Spider889

Ohio

2.8/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2

This was a beer I had been wanting to try all year but it's only available at the brewery and this is the first time we've been able to go up there since Christmas.

Had on tap at the brewpub bar.

Poured a very light golden straw, very highly carbonated. Crystal clear clarity, medium head and low retention.

Smelled of rice and grains, with some of the bitter skunkiness associated with most pilsners.

The taste was surprising to me. I was expecting it to taste like most other pilsners but this one has some weird stuff going on. I immediately tasted wild rice, and after my second sips I began to detect a strong aftertaste - corn. It dawned on me and once I could place the flavor that's practically all I noticed, lots and lots of corn.

Mouthfeel is bright and well carbonated, excellent for the style.

Drinkability was low. Sure the light character of the beer and low abv make it an easy drinker, but, the flavor wound up being way too off-putting. My wife who ordered it didn't want to finish it and we had the bar tender exchange it for an Edmund Fitzgerald. Sorry Wright Pils, but you didn't make the cut.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2010 12:17:39 | More by Spider889

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

2.88/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Great Lakes spin on a Czech Pils. Light in color and flavor. Smell is a bit light, but the floral hops do come out a bit. The taste has hints of Great Lakes malt backbone, but not that much. Honestly, its just very light in every way. Flashes of floral hops do show up in the taste, but its nothing all that fancy. Not my favorite GL seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 15:39:01 | More by VncentLIFE

MP72

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A- gold with 1/4 inch white head.No lacing

S-Grains

T-Grains

M-medium bodied

O- Overall I was not impressed and I was truly excited to try this one too. There is a graininess to all the GL lagers that is odd to me. I'll stick to Victory for my lagers or the Germans. Sad because I love Great Lakes for most other things.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 23:57:19 | More by MP72

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

2.96/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a pilsner glass, the beer was urine sample yellow. Normally, colors this bright are reserved for kids' drinks. A generous white head was a sign of powerful carbonation, which was definitely evident in the mouthfeel. A grassy aroma was present, as expected for a pilsner. In the initial taste, one gets grass, sour hay, and a mildly tart grain taste. The mild sourness continues into the aftertaste, which moves in quickly because of the carbonation. I normally skip pilsners, and now I remember why. This is a pilsner, so it is Great Lakes' attempt at a beer for non-craft drinkers. For craft beer drinkers, it tastes a little more like a high end macro-brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 14:57:56 | More by JohnnyHopps

Philfromakron

Ohio

3.1/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured out bright gold. Very little head, and it didn't stick around long.

Smelled like a beer. Nothing really popped out to set this apart from any other beer.

Taste was ok. Not much flavor to it. Easy to drink. Nothing seemed special about this one. It disappointed me because I usually look forward to a GL.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 23:47:01 | More by Philfromakron

mattbk

New York

3.13/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Very very light beer. Completely clear. Not much head. It doesn't have much in the way of an interesting appearance. Still, not inappropriate for the style.

S- Hmm. This has an aroma of malt mixed with diacetyl. There may be some bitter Noble hops back here. I don't find the aroma appealing.

T- The taste is quite a bit better than the aroma. It's more crisp, sweet, and the hops are nice and flowery, soft Saaz hops. The sweetness is a little cloying, and there's not a ton of substance to the malt character. I don't taste any diacetyl. This is fairly enjoyable, not great or anything.

M- Light, but some feel to it. More than appropriate.

O- A confusing beer. The aroma is way off, the taste is pretty good. I'll enjoy this beer, but not sure I would buy more. I was expecting more from GL, who makes an excellent everything... almost.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 01:09:04 | More by mattbk

bum732

Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

S: Some grassiness, touch of spicy hops

L: Straw yellow, crystal clear, creamy head that dissipates.

T: Spicy hoppiness with a light maltiness. Medium low herbal bitterness with a clean maltiness. Spiciness in the finish, clean.

M: Medium light body, medium carbonation

Not bad, malt character lacks a little, even for a bo pils.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 01:55:31 | More by bum732

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.2/5  rDev -16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle from the Village Beer Merchant. A not true Czech pils. Consistent with many I have had in that realm, it has a bit of cheesy aroma. Slightly cloudy body. Middling mouthfeel. So-so drinkability, with some bitterness and lemony. Suitable carbonation. Dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 03:14:53 | More by northyorksammy

Hoptometrist

Oregon

3.23/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap into a shaker glass at the brewpub

A- Poured a light pale yellow color with visible carbonation. Kind of creamy head, left no lace.

S- Floral, grainy, and grassy aroma

T- Floral, grainy, grassy, and some light fruit esters

M- Crisp, refreshing, high carbonation, and finished dry

O- A drinkable beer that could be a great gateway to craft beer. Great Lakes has a lot more interesting beers though, I wish there would have been more of a hop presence.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2011 17:33:41 | More by Hoptometrist

tdm168

North Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - pale, translucent yellowish-gold with a thin layer of loose, bubbly, white head that fades quickly

S - a bit warm and grainy

T - warm, a bit grainy, faintly grassy

M - light to medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated

This is a disappointing offering from a solid brewery. It's grainy and warm which is something I would expect from an adjunct offering. There are many better selections for this style.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 22:43:15 | More by tdm168

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.29/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

On tap at the Great Lakes location in the Cleveland airport. Pours a clear straw color. Crisp and clean but without quite enough hop bite. Dry and drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 05:10:21 | More by Thorpe429

Stigs

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle from the brewery, served in a tall GLBC pilsen glass

A - pours with about half an inch of loose, fluffy bright white foam. the beer is incredibly clear, pale gold in color. thin and wet lacing is left behind after every sip.

S - a small amount of roasted corn and veggies, grains, lemon rind, and grass. lightly sweet biscuity malts underneath.

T - begins a bit sweet, with dominating sweet biscuity malts. grainy through the end, with hints of buttered corn and diacetyl. very mild, grassy hops add a touch of bitterness through the finish.

M - light body, with moderate carbonation yet takes on a slightly syrupy quality as well. crisp and oily finish with lingering graininess.

D - eh. veggies and corn is strong here, also a bit sweet which mostly hides a pleasantly subtle hop bite. refreshing and thirst quenching, though not too appealing on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2010 02:46:20 | More by Stigs

gabedivision

New York

3.43/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured to a pilsner glass from a 12 oz bottle.

Pours a crystal clear and clean straw golden yellow, with a 1 finger white fluffy head that forms a thin lace. Smells of sweet grain, a tinge of floral hop like character coming through on the end, nothing exciting. Boiled grains and sweet sugary lemons on the tongue. A sweet bready malt base leaves a tad tart with a slightly bitter and dry finish. Light bodied moderate carbonation, sweet dry and a bitter finish. Overall; this beer is far from exciting (not unlike all pilsners), just a pretty standard pils.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 00:46:25 | More by gabedivision

barnzy78

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, pours a pale golden color with a tall foamy, white head. Good head retention with a little lacing. Aromas are grassy, floral noble hop, pilsner malt. Tastes are appropriately sharp and crisp, grassy, biscuity, finishes clean and dry. Body is thin with moderate to high carbonation. Overall, good example of the style, but I probably wouldn't get it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 00:53:36 | More by barnzy78

barczar

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a brilliant golden yellow with half inch white head that leaves wispy lacing.

Cracker-like malt, grain, and light floral hops comprise the aroma. Fairly bready.

Flavor is initially crisp, with a dry finish. Somewhat short, and fairly bitter. Touch of lemon pith undertone emerges. Grainy malt throughout. Floral hops emerge late.

Body is moderate with moderate carbonation and a touch of astringency.

Overall, a refreshing beer, more citrus character than anticipated, and less cracker flavor. More bitter than most.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 07:18:59 | More by barczar

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- crystal clear golden, yellow pour. Half finger white head. Lacing is spotty.

S- grassy hops, sweet malts, there is a slight grain and corn aroma.

T-grass and sweet malts, biscuits and corn. Lingering finish.

M- Light bodied, decent carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 01:37:54 | More by korguy123

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a better than average pils. pours crystal clear blond color with a rising white head that has okay retention. smells more hoppy than most of these, with some citrus hops notes on top of the stamdard pilsener malts. flavor is very crisp and dry, very summery. the hops are there for sure, which makes this one more appealing to me. mouthfeel is nice, more medium than light on the body, with fine carbonation. the finish is a little bitter, but its very quick. easy drinking and refreshing. nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 13:52:09 | More by StonedTrippin

adamette

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Live review. Poured from one of the 6 12 oz. bottles that I bought at the brewery last Saturday for $9.89, the only place to buy this one in bottles, a "gift shop exclusive." Poured into (what else?) a Pilsener glass, in this case one from Second City in Chicago. "For freshest taste, please enjoy by 9/13/10" stamped on the lower right side of the label.

A Ultra clear sparkling body under a 1 cm head that hangs around for a minute before dissipating down to a single layer on the top of the body. Rather typical look for the style. 3.0

S Nice floral bouquet of smells of a classic pilsener. 3.0

T Well, they have nailed the style with the barley in the front, backed with some hops of a variety that I am not aware but shows up often in Great Lakes beers. Solid and better than average for the style. 3.5

M Nice and full with a softness that I do not always get with this style. There is also a bit of effervescence as the beer dances on the tongue. 4.0

D At least good as the style is often quite drinkable, a session beer. 4.0

Notes: A special treat to have this "giftshop exclusive" in bottles from Great Lakes. It was available on tap inside the brewery as well but I did not get the chance to enjoy it there. This is a solid American craft pilsener.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 22:10:43 | More by adamette

steveh

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've never been a big fan of the GL lagers to-style, but they're always well-made and enjoyable, so when I was in the mood for something light and saw this, thought I'd give it a go.

12 ounce bottle six pack, best by 8/27/12 clearly stamped on the label, $10.

A -- Clear, light gold color with a dense white head.

S -- DMS and light, spicy hops.

T -- Sort of a dry graininess up front with bitter, herbal hops in the middle and finishing with a mellow breadiness. There is some light citrus character in the aftertaste and the hop bitterness lingers to the end.

M -- Smooth to crisp mouthfeel with a dry finish and medium light body.

O -- A pretty standard micro-brewed Pilsner -- which is to say much better than any macro-brewed light lager, but lacking in a good Pilsner malt base that would round things out nicer. The dryness can become palate-fatiguing and a touch of sweeter malts would help that.

Looking at the grain bill from GL and I'm pretty surprised to see that there is no Pils malt listed at all. A little odd for a style originating from the malt itself.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 21:01:53 | More by steveh

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

America is getting really good at brewing traditional European lagers. The bohemian (Czech) lagers display a world of esteem and flaws, and this beer captures them all with elegance and grace.

Brightly colored, the light straw hue properly captures light and carbonation through a prism of gold and yellow highlight. Well headed with cottony froth, the beer's carbonation keeps the foam coming. With persistent retention and clinging lace, the beer is admirable until the last sip.

All the nakedness of pilsner malt is captured in the nose as aromas of dried barley, husk, fresh baking bread, corn-like sulfur, and a faint whiff of butterscotch give a full impression with a lot of character. Accented with floral and herbal hops, the beer carries a notion of honeysuckle and lemongrass.

Fuller flavored than your average lager, this slightly robust elixer balances the taste with the bready, starchy, grainy-sweet taste of lightly kilned barley along side of the herbal and grass hops turn spicy and bitter to finish. Background notes of apple, corn, basil, tomato, and butter engulf the taste and add fullness and zeal to the taste rather than distraction.

Fullness is further felt in the bolder texture of the beer as well. Creamy and lightly zesty carbonation allows the beer to inflate the mouth with slight vegitable oil and starchy textures. Developing into an off dry finish, the beer holds onto a tinge of malt weight even in finish, despite the mild minty-warmth of alcohol and the resinous dryness from hops.

In nearly any other style, the combinations of corn sulfur and butter would be an immediate detractor regarless of how slight the tastes are. But the union in this beer gives added fullness both in flavor and texture. Perhaps this doesn't work for every pilsner, unless it's The Wright Pils ;-)

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2012 19:10:56 | More by BEERchitect

Hophead717

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Light, golden straw with a half finger head that fizzes away.

S: Pilsner malt, very light grassy/floral hops. Super light spice.

T: Mildly bitter upfront (not hop bitter, but just bitter). Some hay and grassiness as well. Interested pils taste.

M: Moderate carbonation or a medium to thin body. Works for the style.

O: A fine representation of a Czech pils, but not my favorite beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 00:49:13 | More by Hophead717

wedge

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a sparkling straw gold color under a pure-white, frothy head. Drippy sheets of lace, but no head towards the end of the glass. Clean aromas of spicy, grassy hops, hay, and cracker-like grain. Softly sweet cereal malt flavor with a bitter grassy/herbal hop finish. Crisp and snappy in the mouth...light bodied and refreshing. I think the malt could be a bit richer to counteract the hops, but a nice take on the style that I'll revisit this summer I'm sure.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 21:08:15 | More by wedge

jkrich

Indiana

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a dated 12 oz. bottle: typical Czech pils pour - bright and clear golden with a quickly dissipating white head.

Sweet cracker-like malt aroma with hints of lemon and oddly a faint vegetal smell that quickly dissipated.

The pilsner begins with the familiar rounded, malty sweetness with compliments of noble hops. There are some other flavors in play here that you don't typically find in a Czech pilsner. A dryish, lemony flavor is evident throughout along with a hint of marmalade. Quite a bit more hop bitterness than I am accustomed to with this style.

This has a very thirst quenching and refreshing mouthfeel with a solid light body and spritzy carbonation.

I always enjoy a fresh pilsner on a hot summer day, and this one is no exception. There were "off" flavors that kept this one from the very top of list.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 23:06:50 | More by jkrich

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light hazy straw color with a thin head which gives way to some lace. The aroma is of grass and straw with hints of bread. The aroma is inviting. The taste follows suit with a bready backbone followed by a grassy and earthy slight hop bite and a hint of spiciness. The mouthfeel is moderately carbonated and easy to drink. Overall it is a solid pilsner. There is a nice mild overall flavor with a nice aroma.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2011 18:34:17 | More by goblue3509

Chickenhawk9932

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a straw yellow with a white bubbly head that quickly dissipates with a slight patch of island in the middle that holds on.

Smells of sweet malt and floral hops. Some subtle bread and caramel notes.

Clean and refreshing upfront with a bitter hop punch in the back heightened by good carbonation. Chewy malt bread qualities come out towards the end along with an herb bitterness that all but hides the subtle sweet caramel notes. Finishes dry.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 15:08:35 | More by Chickenhawk9932