Heineken Pilsener - Heineken Nederland B.V.

metter98

New York

3.06/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On-tap at Oud Holland, Amsterdam, Netherlands

A: The beer is clear yellow in color and has a light amount of carbonation. It poured with a finger high white head that died down and left a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of bready malts are present in the nose along with some faint hints of sweetness.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and has flavors of bready malts along with some hints of sweetness and grain. No bitterness is perceptible.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied but slightly watery on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink but isn't very flavorful. Drinking this on-tap is nice because it tastes fresh and there is no green bottle skunk.

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2013 06:22:07 | More by metter98

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.53/5  rDev +26.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 30cl bottle in a business lounge in Amsterdam. At first I assumed it the common Heineken beer but found that the label said Pilsener instead of Pale Lager. The appearance was crystal clear gold color and a reasonable level (maybe 3cm) of white foam. The aroma was malty side of neutral, not much of the skunk I get in Heineken in the US. The taste was same as the smell, slightly malty in a way I wouldn't call rich, less hoppy than the pilsners I've preferred. Give it a try if nothing else is available.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2007 21:05:22 | More by TurdFurgison

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.4/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The Heineken Pilsener is different than the Heineken Lager. The latter is pasteurized and has a different taste. Heineken pilsener is packed in brown bottles for example.

The beer pours a golden color with a settling head that leaves some lacing on the glass.

Smell is nice malty with a light hoppy smell. Some vegetable or corn smell.

Taste is pretty bitter with some very light dextrine maltiness. Yeast is clean and leaves only a light fruity taste. This beer is nicely balanced.
Aftertaste is medium and bitter, no real maltiness.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2008 10:42:47 | More by Absumaster

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

2.78/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Well this one is pretty straight, clear yellow, decent head that quickly disappears, not a whole lot of lacing.

Not very hoppy smelling for a pilsner. More along the lines of grains and a light malt background.

Taste is ok but not in any way special. Slightly skunky, as can be expected. A little bit of buttery grains in there too.

Feel is slightly slick, light bodied and wet.

It'll do when your only other choices are macro-adjunct lagers. Otherwise there are so many much better beers that it's not worth bothering with.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 21:04:00 | More by AlCaponeJunior

Brabander

Netherlands

2.15/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

This is the beer where Holland is NOT proud of. You can see what happens when the richest Dutch brewer tries to conquer the world. The tv commercials however are very good!

I have seen both breweries in 's-Hertogenbosch and Zoetermeer in and out so i can say that what they do is mass production in a poor environment.

Now to the beer. On itself the beer looks average, the head is white as it should be but the head is already the big problem. Too much chemical taste. Low carbonation and the smell is not pleasant.

Whenever you visit Holland, stay off the Heineken. There is more and better to drink than this.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2009 21:23:28 | More by Brabander

beachbum1975

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev +27.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Times are tight at the moment, so I decided to pick up an "Old faithful" beer for a change. 1 pint, 8 fluid ounces with a code of "9345528D0913" in case you were wondering...

Poured chilled into my traditional pint glass aggressively. It yielded a large, 4 inch white head with lots of bubbles. Within 30 seconds, the head shrunk by half. The body of the beer is crystal clear and golden with trace bubbles coming from the base up to the top.

The nose is characteristically "skunk". I actually like this smell. With further sniffing, I get corn, light grains and a hit of light hops, like Saaz in the mix. After the head settled, I sniffer again and it smelled corny at times.

Once the beer hit my tongue, high carbonation and a brief spat of bitterness was evident. The primary flavor of this beer is light grains, delicate hops and creaminess. It's a dry and refreshingly crisp beer. Like the nose, the skunk quality trails in the aftertaste.

Being a macro German lager, I like it. I'd take this over any BMC beer any day of the week. Nice and easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2010 00:18:29 | More by beachbum1975

beerdrifter

Germany

3/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to Nick for picking this up for me while on vacation in Amsterdam. Clear straw yellow pour with quickly fading head and minimal lacing. Grassy, sweet nose with hints of straw and a touch of caramel. The taste is much the same, pretty grassy and grainy with a bit of honey sweetness. Unusual lack of bitterness for a Euro pilsner. Nice crisp, dry finish. Decent drinkability if you're into macro beers. Really thought the Euro version of this would be better than the exports, but nothing special...

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2011 17:21:17 | More by beerdrifter

Douberd

Netherlands

2.9/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I just realised I've never reviewed this one, although is one of my favorites when I want to drink quite a few beers in just one afternoon. I am going to assume that everyone (almost) is familiar with this one, since it's so highly advertised. Bottle of 300 ml, in a brown bottle. Golden yellow colour, with a two finger head, average retention. Smell is not that good, as a matter of fact smells a bit skunky. Taste is better, quite close to the average pilsener. Medium thin on the body, average carbonation, some dryness left behind on the palate. Overall an average beer, praised by many mainly because of the advertising and loathed by many others because of how mainstream it is. I see 20 something guys writing on the internet "Oh, Heineken, this sucks, you should try the -enter name of a shitty beer-, it's great, but lacks the advertising that's why not many people know it". Yeah, right. Anyway. Oh, I also had Heineken many times in Greece where its made locally and it's not imported, and I consider it to be far better than the original!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 17:47:15 | More by Douberd

CaptJackHarkness

New York

3.1/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The most exciting thing about this beer is it's advertising!

Pours a nice straw yellow, the head starts decent, but very rapidly dissipates. Hardly anything to lace the glass. Not as bitter as other European pilseners.It may possibly be "off" due to its being in a green bottle, that said; I would not go out of my way to buy this, but would drink again if offered.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2011 00:48:56 | More by CaptJackHarkness

ExtraStout

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this one in Aruba. Quality ingredients, smooth malt flavor, and sharp hops. This is slightly better than the US imported Heineken. Usually the beer is skunky and it just makes me blanche but this one had much less of the skunky smell. When it's not skunky, an above average lager. It beats the hell out of any US production beer though, except for Sam Adams.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2009 21:23:16 | More by ExtraStout

IPA35

Netherlands

2.65/5  rDev -5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this beer any times, had it again today so I will add a review.
Had it from the bottle so I did not see the actual beer. I know it is looks like any other macro pilsener.

It doesn't smell too good to me, but it can't be skunk because it comes in brown bottles over here.

Taste is reasonable, it does not taste too bad but the aftertaste is wierd and bad in my opinion. The beer is a bit sweet which is good and it has an unpleasant bitterness.

Overal an average lager, certainly not the best of the Dutch macro lagers.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2011 18:23:52 | More by IPA35

PapaEugene

Netherlands

2.68/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Unfortunately the only beer available yesterday in my parents place. A Dutch standard too many people.

A: Yellow color and a decent 3 finger white head.

S: Well, some grains, some hops.

T: Grains, very light hops and a hint of tobacco and grape sweetness.

M: Medium/heavy carbonation

D: Not bad for a summer thirst and to flush away pizza's.

Serving type: can

10-18-2009 09:48:13 | More by PapaEugene

katybee

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev +34.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Okay, I like dry beers. I see other reviewers are downgrading the brand for the same qualities I'd give it high marks for.

Average appearance, even paler yellow than PBR. White dense foam pured 1/4" but quickly disipated with residual carbonation. Very little smell if any, slightly bitter hops. Overall, a dry taste, similar to a lighter beer like PBR, but with more pungent flavor, an emphasis on rye, grassy elements rather than hops, perhaps also rice or wheat or malts. Very clean and crisp and drinkable; very light bodied; no residual aftertaste. Very similar to Sessions beers. More character than other light beers, with little hoppiness. A good mixer if followed by other drinks. Very good with finer foods.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 07:29:56 | More by katybee

FatSean

Connecticut

3.33/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Serving Type: 16oz can from the front fridge of the Albert Hein around the corner.

When we travel to Europe we usually stay in apartments, as it is much cheaper and we can pretend we really live there. In the Netherlands, my go-to beer is the Heine Pilsener. I buy a big shrink-warpped brick of tall-boys and stash them in the fridge for the duration. They don't sell it in the USA, nor in the duty free. If you want to bring some home, pack it!

It's cheap and a more pleasant experience than the American Heineken Lager.

Smells similar to an Heineken Lager from the US, but has a lighter crisper taste. Slightly less skunk, and the usual watery body makes it a great affordable session beer.

Serving type: can

02-09-2008 21:22:46 | More by FatSean

BarryNL

Netherlands

2.3/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Hmm, not much to say about this one.

A: Pale gold filtered lager - reasonable head which collapses quickly but never entirely disappears.

S: Buttery malt - little hop aroma detectable - I mean, it's a Pilsner - where's my hops?

T: Weak, a balance of alcohol and light malt. Very little hops flavour detectable, not enough bittering to balance the malt.

M: Clean; failrly refreshing. Little finish.

D: Nah, too boring. I don't think I'd want another. This is more a lager for people who don't really like lager, but don't want their mates seeing them drinking alcopops. Give me something with flavour next time.

It's really difficult to understand why this seems to be the biggest selling of the Dutch lagers when, to my mind, it's probably the most dull and flavourless of them all. Try a Grolsch, or even better a Brand instead.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2009 20:39:03 | More by BarryNL

sdj5

New York

3.25/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured into a pils glass. Light yellow with a 2 finger head that dissipates quickly.

S: Smells quite skunky which to me is pleasing.

T: At first seemed very harsh, but actually overall was quite crisp and refreshing. Somewhat like mineral water with weak hop flavor and then tons of skunk. I like the skunk.

M: Surprisingly good mouthfeel. A ton of carbonation which suited it quite well. Goes down with a bite.

D: If there is little else except Bud, Miller or Coors, Heineken is the next step up. Because I like the skunk taste, it's a good option.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 21:29:19 | More by sdj5

echdk3

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev +22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from 30cL bottle into a glass stein, purchased in Steenwijk, Netherlands (non-imported)

A_Light golden honey color, completely translucent, one fingered white bubbly head that quickly dissipates into a thin top. Tiny bit of lacing

S_Trademark bitter bite, sweet and fishy, tiny notes of citrus

T_Tangy seafood, small fishy aftertaste, very refreshing

M_Greatly carbonated, thin body, very refreshing. Rinses and cleans pallet

D_Extremely easy and refreshing. Bitter part of taste does take away from complete repeatability, but this is not filling or mouth-coating

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2008 02:18:12 | More by echdk3

johnnybravo

Netherlands

2.53/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I couldn't resist. Just had to review this one as it's so immense popular here in the NL. But to me there are much better ones around. Even in the NL. I rated it from the tap as that's much better than the bottle. Actually bottled it's near undrinkable to be. If it's tapped fresh it looks not bad at all for a lager. Nice golden color with tiny bubbles and a firm head. The aroma is ... uh ... no there. Flavor is ok, at least your not thirsty anymore and you can drink a lot of it I guess if you like lagers but I do not. I know some guys at the brewery and they tell me the Pilsener (Dutch labels say Pilsener) is bottled as Lager for export. So it's the same beer. Why are there 2 entries here then? Don't know.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2008 08:55:59 | More by johnnybravo

RossPeterson

Minnesota

2.03/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A- One finger head which dies quickly. Good tracing.

S- Skunky, slight malt and grain smell but nearly untraceable.

T- Unfortunately the skunky smell lead to a skunky taste. Very dry and watery.

M- Very watery with a very bitter aftertaste, so at least it has a lot of hops; still very dry and a horrible finish.

Not amused overall with this beer. I could see this being a crowd-pleaser for the dry-beer crowd and for those who prefer a more hoppy beer, but this beer is one of my opposites.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 09:43:23 | More by RossPeterson

dbedway

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 4 | smell: 1 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: A nice head, good lacing and promising color. Appearance rivals any good lager!

S: Who let the skunk in? Beer should not have to smell this way.

T: Bitter..hops do not come through

M: Murky, not clean or crisp

D: Could drink a few if nothng else is around

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2009 15:50:51 | More by dbedway

Press195

New York

3.55/5  rDev +27.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

My go to classic beer when the craft is not available. Suck this down with a Jack on the Rocks and all is good. It's got the European skunk funk to the nose and the bitter mouthfeel that we all love. Then again Dennis Hopper did say as Frank Booth "Heineken? Fuck that shit! Pabst Blue Ribbon! " So maybe I should reconsider....nah drink this beer and enjoy. Best sipped when kicking back with some vapes in the Dam!

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 05:04:42 | More by Press195