Holsten Premium
Holsten-Brauerei
- From:
- Holsten-Brauerei
- Germany
- Style:
- German Pilsner
Ranked #837 - ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 69
Ranked #39,391 - Avg:
- 2.93 | pDev: 19.11%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 94
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Nov 06, 2025
- Added:
- Feb 11, 2002
- Wants:
- 5
- Gots:
- 31
SCORE
69
Poor
69
Poor
With its bitter and refreshing character from top-class ingredients, the cold-fermented Holsten Pilsener is an example of how a pils should be like. Holsten is an authentic German beer brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot tradition from 1516. Holsten Pilsener was first developed and produced by the Holsten Brewery in Northern Germany in 1953. With its robust character and striking appearance, Holsten successfully bridges the gap between tradition and modernity. Today - as in the past - great importance is placed on the careful use of resources and the gentle processing of natural ingredients.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by talisen-crw from Canada (ON)
3.5/5 rDev +19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev +19.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
At my lady Pamela's house; canned and chilled, 473mL in a pint glass. From my favourite LCBO at Tecumseh Mall in nearby Windsor. Best before February 1/26. My third beer from the Altona-Nord, Germany brewery, and for 2025. Respected by Gracie the cat...
Nov 06, 2025
Reviewed by Ant777uk from England
2.53/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4
2.53/5 rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4
So reviewing Holsten Pils that is brewed under licence by Carlsberg in Ukraine (it also seems to be brewed by Carlsberg in other countries also), and costs around 50 pence/60 cents ; ) BA told me to review it here, though I doubt it particularly resembles German Holsten, if it is brewed by Carlsberg. In Ukraine ; ) But if I am honest, I have already tried Staropramen, Miller, Tuborg and actual Carlsberg that were all brewed by Carlsberg Ukraine, and in my opinion they were all far better than the original versions.
Contains real hops and not hops extract. And corn! Totally respectable smooth head and colour, lots of life. Aroma is full of flavour...corn is noticeable, and there is banana too. Aroma is almost like a wheat beer. But complex and inviting with some musky hops.
Taste does have a slight resembelance of how I remember the German one to be, in terms of the hops profile. Considering this is basically the cheapest beer that I have ever drunk, it's absolutely phenominal. No off flavours, reasonably full and complex mouthfeel, with a noticeable aftertaste with corn and banana being the dominant flavours. It out performs 80% of other Ukrainian brewed pilsners that I have tried. Carlsberg in Ukraine really are impressive. And I never liked them before in any other location. Criticisms? Banana taste is a little strong, and it's kind of sweet. And the hops are not quite strong enough to call it a pilsner. It tastes like a light wheat beer. The hops are noticeable, just not bitter. A little too much Isoamyl acetate for me.
The more I drink it, the more sweet it tastes. Which makes me not want to drink it again, even for 50 pence for a 500ml can. So it gets a fairly low mark for taste, but an amazing overall mark as it's pretty great value. Just needs less sweetness, and maybe some extra hops or hops extract. This is great value, though some of Carlsberg Ukraine's other offerings are even better.
Feb 21, 2025Contains real hops and not hops extract. And corn! Totally respectable smooth head and colour, lots of life. Aroma is full of flavour...corn is noticeable, and there is banana too. Aroma is almost like a wheat beer. But complex and inviting with some musky hops.
Taste does have a slight resembelance of how I remember the German one to be, in terms of the hops profile. Considering this is basically the cheapest beer that I have ever drunk, it's absolutely phenominal. No off flavours, reasonably full and complex mouthfeel, with a noticeable aftertaste with corn and banana being the dominant flavours. It out performs 80% of other Ukrainian brewed pilsners that I have tried. Carlsberg in Ukraine really are impressive. And I never liked them before in any other location. Criticisms? Banana taste is a little strong, and it's kind of sweet. And the hops are not quite strong enough to call it a pilsner. It tastes like a light wheat beer. The hops are noticeable, just not bitter. A little too much Isoamyl acetate for me.
The more I drink it, the more sweet it tastes. Which makes me not want to drink it again, even for 50 pence for a 500ml can. So it gets a fairly low mark for taste, but an amazing overall mark as it's pretty great value. Just needs less sweetness, and maybe some extra hops or hops extract. This is great value, though some of Carlsberg Ukraine's other offerings are even better.
Reviewed by monkist from Hungary
3.25/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
This is a quite mediocre German pils, with lots of flat bitterness. Lacks everything that makes a beer interesting. Quite disappointing compared to how outstanding German beer can be…
Jul 15, 2023
Reviewed by Bitburger from Vermont
3.02/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.02/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Average pale lager with slightly metallic aftertaste. Steady foam head. Some strange hops. Crystal clear and crisp in the glas. Medium carbonation and thin, watery mouthfeel.
May 08, 2023
Reviewed by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)
3.56/5 rDev +21.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.56/5 rDev +21.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours crystal clear gold colour with a thick white fluffy head. Corny and grainy on the nose. Clean and crisp but plain taste, o thing out of the ordinary. Nicely carbonated
Jan 16 2023
Jan 16, 2023Jan 16 2023
Rated by Lindy__C
5/5 rDev +70.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +70.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
In my humble opinion the best beer on planet earth right now. Cracking one of these yellow and green cold ones is a privilege not a right
Sep 30, 2022
Reviewed by LampertLand from Canada (BC)
3.62/5 rDev +23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev +23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Holstein 'Premium' @ 5.0% , served from a 500 ml can
A-pour is a light gold from the can to a clear gold in the glass with a medium size white head leaving a spotty lace along the pilsner glass
S-Saaz hops . earthy
T-crisp & clean German pilsner , watery finish
MF-ok carbonation , medium body
Ov-not a good beer
prost LampertLand
Sep 23, 2022A-pour is a light gold from the can to a clear gold in the glass with a medium size white head leaving a spotty lace along the pilsner glass
S-Saaz hops . earthy
T-crisp & clean German pilsner , watery finish
MF-ok carbonation , medium body
Ov-not a good beer
prost LampertLand
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
2.77/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
2.77/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Nov. 2006. 500 ml can, as Holsten Premium Lager. ABV is 5.0%. Golden colour, moderate head. Standard pale lager aroma, grassy notes. Flavour has first some sweetness, then a certain bitterness takes over, metallic notes. Not a great beer by any means, but as international pale lagers go: I’ve had worse.
Jul 27, 2022
Reviewed by Tony787 from Canada (ON)
2.86/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
2.86/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
I had this a long time ago it was ok as I remember bought it again today at the lcbo in Ontario 500ml at 5%.
poured a 1finger head into glass that quickly evaporated leaving almost no lace taste of sweet pale
apple malts with a medium bitterness.
beer looked kinda flat as I was drinking it.
cheers.
Jun 29, 2021poured a 1finger head into glass that quickly evaporated leaving almost no lace taste of sweet pale
apple malts with a medium bitterness.
beer looked kinda flat as I was drinking it.
cheers.
Reviewed by elnachooo from Spain
2.25/5 rDev -23.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
2.25/5 rDev -23.2%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
De color dorado, con un dedo de espuma aireado de baja retención. De cuerpo ligero y baja carbonatación. Aroma lupulado y herbáceo. Sabor ligeramente dulce.
Oct 22, 2020
Rated by eatsluggs from Florida
3/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I remember I dravk this one once. But when? Where from? And why? Some things will always be forgotten.
Jul 28, 2020Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia
3.25/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.25/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
From the can, it pours a lovely golden color with a modest head that rapidly shrinks to a small size but does continue to replenish. Lacing. In the nose, bready malt with a slight hint of hops. In the mouth, malt with a slight bit of bitter.
Jun 20, 2019
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