Pilsner Urquell [Archive] - Realbeer.com Beer Community

threecb

11-12-2003, 02:48 PM

Clarks is my favorite in the Armory Square area. More so than the Blue Tusk. It's a cool vibe with great taps. While PU on tap is pretty darn good, they have such a decent selection that i'd be hard pressed to choose that. It was actually the first place I had 3 Floyd's Alpha King on tap. First FFF i'd ever had, actually.

Get a beer and head into the front corner area and chat.

Saint Patrick

11-12-2003, 03:25 PM

threecb, it came recommended by the barkeep so I decided to give it the chug-a-lug. I don't usually go to Clark's all that much, I'm usually down at the Limerick, Blue Tusk or Syracuse Suds Factory if I'm downtown, otherwise I hang out on the west side at Colemans Authentic Irish Pub. I think I'll try what you had next time at Clark's though. chazwicke, yes it was on tap ;)

chazwicke

11-12-2003, 03:42 PM

Originally posted by threecb
Clarks is my favorite in the Armory Square area. More so than the Blue Tusk. It's a cool vibe with great taps. While PU on tap is pretty darn good, they have such a decent selection that i'd be hard pressed to choose that. It was actually the first place I had 3 Floyd's Alpha King on tap. First FFF i'd ever had, actually.

Get a beer and head into the front corner area and chat.

I could really go for some FFF Alfa King on tap. It is a superb beer. I have 2 of the Dreadnaught bombers to sample. If they are as well crafted as the Alpha King I'll be in heaven.

threecb

11-13-2003, 07:38 AM

St. Pat, I haven't been to SYR in nearly a year, but i'm due thru there at the end of december. How are the renovations to the Tusk? I've heard they've changed it around a bit...
And PU on tap is definitely tasty (or in the sealed twelvepacks, right steveh?;) )

Chaz, I can't get FFF beers in my part of NJ. The only distributor is in South Jersey. Hunterdon Beverage needs to get on their list...I think I'll have to do some lobbying. I've heard great things about the Dreadnaught. Let us know how it is!

Saint Patrick

11-13-2003, 05:53 PM

threecb, during the summer I spend my time out front of the Tusk, when I'm inside, I'm usually seated at the bar, the only time I check out the rest of the place, is when I'm running to take a squirt before I blow up ;) (things have looked like they have moved along though) Give me a hollar next time you plan on swingin' up this way ... we can meet up for a few pints, I meet up (for happy hours), with a cool group of lads and lasses when I'm downtown (lots of eye candy as well) they all love their brews as well.

Herb Ninja

11-13-2003, 08:33 PM

Whats tastey about Pilsner Urquell? Tastes like a typical pilsner to me. Fricken nasty. Sorry to rain on your parade but I just don't understand the slightest fascination with that beer. I thought this was a real beer discussion board.... ;)

steveh

11-14-2003, 06:42 AM

Originally posted by Herb Ninja [/i]
[B]Whats tastey about Pilsner Urquell? Tastes like a typical pilsner to me. Fricken nasty. Sorry to rain on your parade but I just don't understand the slightest fascination with that beer. I thought this was a real beer discussion board.... ;)

Yes, it's a Real BEER discussion board, not a Real ALE board - though that does get covered under the heading.

Pilsners, and light lagers in general (and we're not talking macro-swill pretenders here), are sublime drinks that take a little patience and appreciation of the process put into them to enjoy.

Just as a good Pinot Gris is subtly complex, refreshing, and doesn't hit you over the head with its boldness, as a Cabernet might - good Pilsners fit that moment when you're looking for a nice hop/malt balance, with maybe an extra hit of hops. A Pilsner won't fill your tastebuds with overpowering malt or esters or dacetyl as an ESB might, but that's not what it's meant for.

My usual first beer of the evening, when I roll in from work, is a German Dinkel-Acker Pils. I love the Saaz hop nose and flavor bite, and then the sweet, back flavor of the Pilsner malts that balance the drink. It's clean, refreshing, and relaxing. While P.U. tends toward more Saaz, you can taste the nice malty balance it also has, and I often alternate my purchases between P.U. and the D-A.

Of course, I could echo your question with, "What's the big deal with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale? Tastes like a typical Pale Ale to me." The thing is, SN set the bar for American Pale Ales, and everyone has been trying to match it since. Same with Pilsner Urquell and the Pilsner style. Just as some Pales have rivaled SN, some Pils rival P.U. Others have failed miserably, but you can still turn to the original for the satisfaction you're looking for.

Here's to variety and diversity in our real beers!

S.

hopjack13

11-14-2003, 07:54 AM

well said! amen brother steveh

chazwicke

11-14-2003, 08:45 AM

Originally posted by steveh

Yes, it's a Real [B]BEER discussion board, not a Real ALE board - though that does get covered under the heading.

Pilsners, and light lagers in general (and we're not talking macro-swill pretenders here), are sublime drinks that take a little patience and appreciation of the process put into them to enjoy.

Just as a good Pinot Gris is subtly complex, refreshing, and doesn't hit you over the head with its boldness, as a Cabernet might - good Pilsners fit that moment when you're looking for a nice hop/malt balance, with maybe an extra hit of hops. A Pilsner won't fill your tastebuds with overpowering malt or esters or dacetyl as an ESB might, but that's not what it's meant for.

My usual first beer of the evening, when I roll in from work, is a German Dinkel-Acker Pils. I love the Saaz hop nose and flavor bite, and then the sweet, back flavor of the Pilsner malts that balance the drink. It's clean, refreshing, and relaxing. While P.U. tends toward more Saaz, you can taste the nice malty balance it also has, and I often alternate my purchases between P.U. and the D-A.

Of course, I could echo your question with, "What's the big deal with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale? Tastes like a typical Pale Ale to me." The thing is, SN set the bar for American Pale Ales, and everyone has been trying to match it since. Same with Pilsner Urquell and the Pilsner style. Just as some Pales have rivaled SN, some Pils rival P.U. Others have failed miserably, but you can still turn to the original for the satisfaction you're looking for.

Here's to variety and diversity in our real beers!

S.

What he said!

fretlessman71

11-14-2003, 09:29 AM

It's quite possible that Herb Ninja has had a similar experience to mine regarding P-U (an unfortunate but sometimes appropriate nickname for this often light-struck beer). There are very few beer sellers in Nashville who know well enough to keep their beer out of the bright light, and we all know what happens to green-bottled beer (heard me rant on this before? ;) ) when you leave it near a flourescent light 12 hours a day for several weeks. I did notice, however, that when I had a sip of a friend's P-U on tap a few weeks back that there was a somewhat similar astringency to the flavor, and I knew that I couldn't blame that on being light-struck. For the first time in my life, I was certain that I was tasting Saaz hops in all of their glory, and I'll never forget it.

I will admit, however, that in a weird way, my taste buds think of it as sort of (you're going to ROAST me for this comment) a palatable, tasty version of skunk smell. Now, skunks don't smell as bad as we think they do... what would you rather smell, live skunk spray wafting through the late evening air or 2 week old garbage doing the same? I think of both Saaz hops and Eau de Pepe LePew as having a similar.... oh, brightness to their aroma. And dead skunk is FAR more potent than live skunk... ever driven by a dead one, or worse, hit one? EWWWWWWWW.... Thankfully, I've never tasted or smelled THAT in ANY of the beers I've had, no matter how old they were or what color bottle they came in.

Herbie (HEY! Sharp nickname!), my advice is to give P-U another chance. Pour it into its proper glass, and give it about 10 min. to settle and let most of the skunkiness disappear if it is light struck. Have a sip with a newly open mind, and just think about how refreshing this would be during March of September in Hawaii. (Yet another reason you're probably getting bad beer - isn't that where you live? Long way for beer to travel if I'm right...)

threecb

11-14-2003, 11:28 AM

Thanks, steveh, for putting the general pro-pilsner arguement in
good words. To me, Urquell is the Czech Pilsner Standard, and it's
much better on tap, IMO. It's certainly no Heineken, and miles from
the big 3.

But hey, to each is own...I just don't think it deserves to be lambasted
as crap beer. The BMC definitely ruined it for all of the other good
pilsners out there...

steveh

11-14-2003, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by fretlessman71
It's quite possible that Herb Ninja has had a similar experience to mine regarding P-U (an unfortunate but sometimes appropriate nickname for this often light-struck beer). There are very few beer sellers in Nashville who know well enough to keep their beer out of the bright light...

NUTS! I should have inserted a fresh bottle of P.U. into that swap we did! Sorry Fret, didn't even think about it. Next time.

To threecb, I enjoy P.U. on tap, but I find it more subtle, smoother than the bottled variety - less hoppy. I don't know if that's a result of kegging vs. bottling, or maybe even Pasteurization.

Aside from all that, Golden Pheasant is a great one on tap too - great on a hot Summer afternoon.

S.

fretlessman71

11-14-2003, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by steveh
NUTS! I should have inserted a fresh bottle of P.U. into that swap we did! Sorry Fret, didn't even think about it. Next time.

Don't fret about it, steveh... I never do! ;)

steveh

11-14-2003, 02:00 PM

Originally posted by threecb
But hey, to each is own...I just don't think it deserves to be lambasted
as crap beer. The BMC definitely ruined it for all of the other good
pilsners out there...

Thanks for all the back-up on this subject. And it's not like I don't care for any opinion but mine, I'll stick up for anyone's opinion of good, real beer anytime - even if it's a style I don't care for (yes, there are some). But the bad rap lagers sometimes get really bugs me.

I started off drinking German lagers when I first got into good beer, then migrated to ales for the same reason many here sing it's praises - the complex flavors, bold hoppiness, big body (on some). And I still enjoy them at times (many times).

But I turned back to (light) lagers at a time when I sort of burned out on the heavy, thick flavors of a warm fermented beer. The clean flavors - and hey, sometimes complex too - of the lagers lured me back and I started taking note that they weren't necessarily bland and characterless if you took the time to pay them attention.

That said, I'm heded to an Irish pub in Chicago with friends tonight - guess what I'll be drinking? Ales. ;) It's all about the variety!

Cheers!
S.

chazwicke

11-14-2003, 02:14 PM

I hear ya Steveh. I am an ale man myself, however, there was a time when I turned back to lagers as well. A fine, precision tuned lager is often just what the doctor ordered. Lagers are harder to make as all the home brewers will testify too I'm sure. A dense stout can cover up mistakes but how are you gonna cover up a problem in a delicate pilsner? The Summer is my time for lagers. Clean, crisp pils or a northern German Hefe, Yum. Again, If I had to choose between either drinking only Ales or Lagers for the rest of my life, I would not hesitate to choose Ale but like Steveh said it is all about the variety. Fortunately I will never have to make that choice. There are other fine Czech beers as well. If you don't like PU, try Czechvar (Budvar) or Staropramen. (And for the record when it comes to hefeweizens, I adore the Bavarian version. The Northern variety is good too. Especially in the summer. It is good that I will never have to make that choice either.)

chazwicke

11-14-2003, 02:18 PM

Oh Yeah, All that said, I am still extremely envious of Richard and Stronk. They have the wonderful world of cask ale at their feet!

Fast_Eddy

11-14-2003, 02:33 PM

Originally posted by chazwicke
I hear ya Steveh. I am an ale man myself, however, there was a time when I turned back to lagers as well. A fine, precision tuned lager is often just what the doctor ordered. Lagers are harder to make as all the home brewers will testify too I'm sure. A dense stout can cover up mistakes but how are you gonna cover up a problem in a delicate pilsner? The Summer is my time for lagers. Clean, crisp pils or a northern German Hefe, Yum. Again, If I had to choose between either drinking only Ales or Lagers for the rest of my life, I would not hesitate to choose Ale but like Steveh said it is all about the variety. Fortunately I will never have to make that choice. There are other fine Czech beers as well. If you don't like PU, try Czechvar (Budvar) or Staropramen. (And for the record when it comes to hefeweizens, I adore the Bavarian version. The Northern variety is good too. Especially in the summer. It is good that I will never have to make that choice either.)

And let's not forgot that the wonderful Oktoberfests/Marzen/Viennas, Schwarzbiers, bock, mai/helles/bock, and doppel bocks are all lagers and all crammed full of delicious malty goodness ;)

I love lagers every bit as much as I love ales. Having to pick between the two would be like having to pick your favorite child...you love 'em equally but for slightly different reasons.

chazwicke

11-14-2003, 02:44 PM

[i]
I love lagers every bit as much as I love ales. Having to pick between the two would be like having to pick your favorite child...you love 'em equally but for slightly different reasons. [/B]

Well Put Fast Eddy! A perfect analogy. Don't forget the amazing Rauchs as well.

Saint Patrick

11-14-2003, 04:04 PM

steveh, thanks for your original response.

I'm really a Harp Lager guy but I am always willing to try new brews when I'm out with friends and there is no Harp to be found or if we are just experimenting with beers on a particular occasion.

ron

11-14-2003, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by threecb
[B]To me, Urquell is the Czech Pilsner Standard, and it's much better on tap, IMO.

Where did you have it on tap?

Herb Ninja

11-14-2003, 04:59 PM

Originally posted by fretlessman71

Herbie (HEY! Sharp nickname!), my advice is to give P-U another chance. Pour it into its proper glass, and give it about 10 min. to settle and let most of the skunkiness disappear if it is light struck. Have a sip with a newly open mind, and just think about how refreshing this would be during March of September in Hawaii. (Yet another reason you're probably getting bad beer - isn't that where you live? Long way for beer to travel if I'm right...)

My experience: Skunky piss like, maybe your right a side effect of long travel, hawaiis warmth, and too much exposure to light. Herbie, thats fine you can call me that, *laugh*. I pour all my beers into a beer glass but not always give it 10 minutes to settle. Ohh and as you may have guessed, I didn't have much of an open mind, just as I don't expect to enjoy SN pale ale(even though I enjoy the SN pale ale allot more.) I guess you could call me a beer snob, or at the least a person who thinks PilserUrquell makes me wanna go P U this stinks. Ive had Czechvar in good condition and it was infinitely more tastey and drinkable then PU was. ;) I know you guys love having me put down your Peeee U so you can show me why i'm wrong, and have something to talk about other then just I agree and, ya its good on tap. Ohk ill try and shutup now.

Originally posted by steveh
Here's to variety and diversity in our real beers!

Amen! ....and uh... *looks around jokingly* I love you too.

hops99

11-14-2003, 05:43 PM

The pilsner that made me rethink pilsners was Penn Pilsner, out of Pittsburgh (whew, using Pilsner three times in a sentence, that's pretty good...). Nice, soft malty flavor with just the right hop profile - I've never thought it smelled or tasted skunky in any way, and it's a damn fine beer.

I will say this: If stranded on a desert island with a choice between an unlimited supply of SN Pale or say...Spaten Okto, it would be a much tougher choice for me than it would be for others. I might pick the Spaten.

skahtboi

11-14-2003, 06:25 PM

That steveh is one eloquent mother....(hush yo mouth!)

What...I'm just talking about steveh!

chazwicke

11-14-2003, 07:01 PM

They say that cat steveh is a bad mother....

Shush your mouth!

Herb Ninja

11-14-2003, 07:14 PM

I will say this: If stranded on a desert island with a choice between an unlimited supply of SN Pale or say...Spaten Okto, it would be a much tougher choice for me than it would be for others. I might pick the Spaten.

Id probably pick the Spaten if for no other reason then ive had so much SN Pale Ale that id want something different. In reality id have to drink them side by side to see which one id really want. Ohh and if I was stranded on a desert island, I don't think id want beer for two reasons 1) It basically dehydrates you. 2) The beer would get sooo fricken warm in the desert it would be undrinkable. Since I imagine getting fresh water on a desert island is impossible id try and drink myself to death as quickly as possible because I wouldn't survive long anyway.

b3s

11-14-2003, 07:17 PM

just not a fan of pils. not just the crappy american macro form, but i've had urquell and quite a few others....even a brewpub one here locally...just not my, um, glass of ale ;)

Fast_Eddy

11-14-2003, 09:14 PM

If you're ever in Austin, TX and you want an idea what PU tastes like in the Czech Republic - try Live Oaks Pilz. If you don't like it, I'll send you a sixer, for free, of any beer that you want(that I can get my hands on). Standing offer - limit 3 people.

b3s

11-14-2003, 09:22 PM

heh...sounds like a challenge ;)

Fast_Eddy

11-14-2003, 09:44 PM

Originally posted by b3s
heh...sounds like a challenge

Course I'll have to present and sampling along side....just 'cuz I like it soooooo much ;)

b3s

11-14-2003, 10:06 PM

heh...now i gotta figure out to get to austin....hmmm, a $150 plane ticket for a $20 six-pack...that doesn't economically scale! :)

Fast_Eddy

11-14-2003, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by b3s
heh...now i gotta figure out to get to austin....hmmm, a $150 plane ticket for a $20 six-pack...that doesn't economically scale!

You know you have to hedge your bets.....

steveh

11-15-2003, 09:13 AM

Originally posted by chazwicke
Well Put Fast Eddy! A perfect analogy. Don't forget the amazing Rauchs as well.

I concur, you took the words right out of my mouth!

S.

steveh

11-15-2003, 09:21 AM

Originally posted by Herb Ninja
Ohh and as you may have guessed, I didn't have much of an open mind, just as I don't expect to enjoy SN pale ale(even though I enjoy the SN pale ale allot more.) I guess you could call me a beer snob, or at the least a person who thinks PilserUrquell makes me wanna go P U this stinks. Ive had Czechvar in good condition and it was infinitely more tastey and drinkable then PU was. ;) I know you guys love having me put down your Peeee U so you can show me why i'm wrong, and have something to talk about other then just I agree and, ya its good on tap. Ohk ill try and shutup now.

Well, that certainly explains a lot...I think?

I guess you didn't understand that I was trying to enlighten, not condescend. While there are many beer styles I don't care for, I understand them and their draw and would never call them "piss."

Budwesier, on the other hand...well, we were talking about real beer.

S.

"I don't expect to enjoy SN pale ale(even though I enjoy the SN pale ale allot more.)" Wha..?

steveh

11-15-2003, 09:25 AM

Originally posted by b3s
just not a fan of pils. not just the crappy american macro form, but i've had urquell and quite a few others....even a brewpub one here locally...just not my, um, glass of ale ;)

How do you like SN's Pale Ale? Ever try it alongside a Pilsner Urquell? I think you'd be surprised...

S.

L.H.H.H.Brown

11-15-2003, 09:59 AM

I concur. How can one like SNPA and talk about how terrible PU is? Apples and oranges. What is great is that there are so many styles that we can all be happy:) L-O-V-E B3, it's all about the beauty of beer. I'll throw this out cuz I wanna get blown up; I smile when I read all the love for Guiness on these boards because all I've ever had tastes like dirty water BUT I now know to get the Irish or the Belgian version. Pilsners are a fine brew and I've had a use for them, rarely, but I could never deny a man his pleasure ( in beer ). Peace.

b3s

11-15-2003, 10:10 AM

i said i didn't particularly care for it...not that it tasted like goat piss. and yeah, i do like snpa...and they may be similar, but they are not the same exact beer, are they? ones an ale and ones a lager....and my palate tends to prefer ales.

Herb Ninja

11-16-2003, 04:02 AM

ones an ale and ones a lager....and my palate tends to prefer ales.

Yep, me too.

"I don't expect to enjoy SN pale ale(even though I enjoy the SN pale ale allot more.)" Wha..?

Ya thats why I said I should try and shutup now, I just wasn't making as much sense as I wanted, I suppose the not making sense part was obvious.

How do you like SN's Pale Ale? Ever try it alongside a Pilsner Urquell? I think you'd be surprised...

Maybe. Maybe the problem was the condition of the PU. I'm usually one to enjoy beers with less alcohol, so it hardly made sense that I enjoyed the SNPA a good deal amount more then the PU, isn't the SNPA 6% and the PU4.2%? I know ethanol isn't the main taste of beer but its there and its a variable of the beer. Maybe the SNPA uses cascade hops and the PU doesn't which I tend to like the cascade more then the other ones. Forgive me if I sound like an idiot, i'm no beer expert, ive had allot but when its comes to talking about it, hops, yeasts, ect... i'm reasonably ignorant. I haven't had lambic in too long I think its effecting me subconsciously. :p

fretlessman71

11-16-2003, 10:43 AM

Herbie, your last post shows that you are anything BUT ignorant.... as a matter of fact, everything you're saying makes total sense to me. And how can anyone NOT like Cascade hops, anyway? SNPA is one of the finest beers on the planet if you ask me - no other american beer has quite matched it (many have made incredible pales of their own right, but SNPA still gets the credit for starting the ball rolling).

I would say that Saaz hops for me are certainly an acquired taste, especially because, like you, I'm a big ale fan. I was drinking a Bell's Two Hearted Ale IPA last night, and when I held the beer up to the light I SWEAR I could actually SEE the hop juice from the finishing hops kinda swirling around in the rest of the beer like wisps of smoke. Amazing beer.... the point I'm getting at is I love big, hoppy, malty, bittersweet beers, and PU just doesn't do it for me in that regard. Next time I find one and it's almost 100 degrees out, I'll give it another try. If you get your hands on a fresh, unspoiled one (and you're SURE it's been handled properly), please do the same - I bet you'll be surprised.

Anyone who's a lambic fan (wish I was one; can't quite get the taste for them) is capable of appreciating the subtleties of a good pils. Let me know when you get a chance to get that second impression!

steveh

11-16-2003, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by b3s
i do like snpa...and they may be similar, but they are not the same exact beer, are they? ones an ale and ones a lager....and my palate tends to prefer ales.

That was the point - they are similar - very similar. Saying one's and ale and one's a lager is no true comparison. If you sit two identical glasses down, side by side, filled with each beer (no bottles around), you would truly be amazed at the similarities.

Yes, the SN has the Cascade hop character in its nose, but not overpoweringly so as some, but the hops in the flavor of the beer are Magnum and Perle. Perles are also used in lagers. And the beer is very clean in flavor for an ale - some esters in the back from the yeast and warm fermentation, but nothing compared to a Fuller's ESB. And a malt sweetness comes through in a subtle balance to the hops. Indeed, classic.

Pilsner-Urquell takes on a similar bouquet of hops with the Saaz it uses, tending toward a little citric fruitiness that can be compared to the SN's Cascades and esters. A drink fills your mouth with spicy hops at first, then balances with subtle Pilsner malt in the end. Again, classic.

If I were in the mood for a light, crisp, refreshing beer to drink, I wouldn't make a conscious choice between ale and lager, I'd think about the characteristics of a particular beer, and make the choice from that point.

S.

Herb Ninja

11-16-2003, 05:48 PM

Pilsner-Urquell takes on a similar bouquet of hops with the Saaz it uses, tending toward a little citric fruitiness that can be compared to the SN's Cascades and esters.

Well, when you put it that way its starts to sound good. I'm one for the citric fruitiness even when its subtle, although when its distinct its probable that ill be saying "Another pint please." Lambic.... *homer dreul* The only problem with real lambic, a couple glasses and the aciditiy starts to effect your throat, not the best getting drunk drink if thats your thing.

MmmBeer

11-18-2003, 01:39 PM

I cannot say that I agree with you guys that SNPA and Pilsner Urquell are similar. I have had good PU, on tap and in the bottle, and same with SNPA. PU has a very distinct saaz character to it while the cascade in the SNPA (it is cascade right?) is very noticeable. PU has that malty-slightly-cereal flavor (aftertaste really, it is so fresh and so clean in the mouth). I actually really enjoy Bitburger to, I find it slightly more (not kidding) saazy than PU and I have never had a skunked bottle of Bitburger.
SNPA and PU do represent two completely different standards (I'd throw Liberty Ale in there anyday as well) as two fairly different kinds of beer. Unfortunately the american "pilsners" (AB Miller etc.) take the subtlety of the Pilsner and tune it so far down that it's not fit to be judged by proper pils standards; unless you consider the subtle nuanced differences between a bud light and water.

steveh

11-18-2003, 02:26 PM

Both light colored and bodied, hoppy beers with nice malt back in their finish? We were saying they were similar, not identical.

The draft P.U. is much smoother in hoppiness than the bottles version, I sampled one the other night. SNPA is cleaner and a lot less estery than it used to be (in the bottle), I sampled one of them the night after the P.U.

SN uses the Cascade hops for the finishing hop (nose), not for flavor - although you're right, the flavor does penetrate through the beer. They use Magnum and Perle hops for bittering/flavor. Yes, Saaz has a different nose than Cascades, but I still find them both to give off citrus-like aromas.

SN uses two-row and caramel malts for their grain bill, Pils is a caramel style malt.

Guess it's all down to yeast and fermentation temps, and I feel that the SNPA doesn't taste as effected by those factors as it used to be. But I still say it would be a toss-up between the two if I was looking for a light, crisp, quenching beer.

S.

Herb Ninja

11-22-2003, 04:09 AM

Well.... I went out and got a well treated bottle of Pilsner Urquell and what can I say.... It was pretty darn good for a mass produced pilsner all the way from the czech republic. (I didn't have respect for the fact that the bottle was clear, although it was protecting by cardboard from light.) I suppose I got a really crappy one that was sitting in the Sahara desert for 3 months last time. Nothing much to say about the taste but that id drink it again and I apoligize for insulting a decent beer. I thank you for letting me know that the last time wasn't a good impression and I was wrong about it being terrible. Who knows if its on sale maybe ill buy it again some day... ;) Peace, HN-

fretlessman71

11-22-2003, 10:04 AM

See, I feel the same way you do... WHY take a wonderful beer with such a rich history and expose it to the possibility of being light struck like that? It's like taking the Crown Jewels for a joyride in a radio flyer... I don't care if the green bottles are prettier or NOT, you know... I just want good tasting beer! Is that really so much to ask?

Herb Ninja

11-22-2003, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by fretlessman71
I don't care if the green bottles are prettier or NOT, you know... I just want good tasting beer! Is that really so much to ask?

Totally, exactly, brilliant! Id rather give my money to those breweries that do put their beer in green, brown, or darker bottles. The way I see it, if your going to charge a little more for a darker bottle thats ok with me, in fact ill gladly pay it and thank you in the process. Beer is too precious to be treated like coca-cola.

chazwicke

11-23-2003, 03:30 PM

I had a PU on draught a couple days ago. Has the recipe maybe changed? It was draught and it looked, smelled and tasted slightly skunked. I'll bet they poured it from a bottle. Either that or the beer has gone down a bit in my estimation.

wortchillergoal

11-25-2003, 05:51 PM

Hey St. Patrick, aside from all the other talk here, have you tried Brooklyn Brewery's Lager. I like ales more myself but I find this to be a vwery enjoyable beer. It can be tough to find in Syr., but the Tusk has it often and I think Limericks gets it in bottles.

steveh

11-27-2003, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by fretlessman71
PM steveh and tell him I'm not nuts, ok?

I had it on draft the other night and it was fine (less hoppy than the bottle, but fine) - so you are nuts Fret! ;)

I don't know how any beer from a keg can get light-struck, thus skunked - you sure it came off the tap Chaz?

And Herb, glad you found some fresh P.U.!

Sorry to be quiet this past week (I hear you guys moaning who thought it was a reprieve!), I had it off. Just stopping in to delete 90 SPAM e-mails on my way to t-day dinner (and a few good brews, of course).

Have a good holiday everyone!

S.

chazwicke

11-27-2003, 12:33 PM

I suspect it was from a bottle rather than draught. Although the waitress said it was on tap when I ordered. This was a restraunt and not a good beer purveyer. I'd be willing to bet it was out of a bottle and she didn't tell me. I was not really expecting them to have any good beer anyway.

chazwicke

11-30-2003, 05:27 PM

I am currently drinking A DeGroen's Pils Pale Lager. (Sorry Steveh this is one I picked up for you but somehow it never made it into the box. Same with the DeGroen's Maerzen). This beer is bottle conditioned and thus not totally clear as I disturbed some of the yeast not knowing it was there. I think it has all the nose and flavor profile of PU only heavier on the hops. It is crisp, dry and clean. The saaz hop taste is classic. It is like drinking a PU only the hops are more prevalent. The finish is more hoppy than PU. At 5.3% by vol. it comes across as easily drinkable and there is no real alcohol taste. I wish PU would be as fresh as this. I like this Pils just fine.

steveh

12-01-2003, 06:17 AM

Sure, go ahead - DRINK my beer! Guess I'll just have to guzzle that six pack of Batch 5000 I bought! ;)

It's odd to hear someone talk of a Pils that's actually hoppier than P.U. I can remember a time when Urquell was huge in hops from the bottle. It has steadily become smoother over the years - the last 12 pack even seemed less hoppy than the one before. A result of being absorbed by the Big Beer Conglomerate? Dunno, but I miss the old Urquell.

S.

threecb

12-01-2003, 07:36 AM

I'm surprised that DeGroens has such a Czech-y Pils, since they are usually in the German arena style-wise. I have to admit that, although I've defended PU, it's been a while since I've had it (probably close to a year). I hope that it's not getting "dumbed down"...

steveh

12-01-2003, 01:10 PM

Originally posted by threecb
I have to admit that, although I've defended PU, it's been a while since I've had it (probably close to a year). I hope that it's not getting "dumbed down"...

I hope not either - it may be that I've been drinking a lot of real hoppy and spiced beers lately, with all of the seasonals out, and my taste-buds are growing too accustomed.

IMO the draft P.U. got smoother in hops a few years ago, and now the bottled version is similar to that. Again, that's the latest 12 pack I bought, and the 12 pack I had about 4 weeks prior was pretty hoppy. Odd that it could change that fast, but who knows?

The hops are still there, and the nice maltiness - they're just more balanced than they had been.

S.