Help me break free from Pilsner Urquell
Help a beer novice break away from Pilsner Urquell. I love it, but there must be another pilsner just as good out there! Suggestions? Am I forever stuck in Plzen?!?
waste49
Jun 24, 2006 04:32AM
I drink Summit Grand a Pilsner based on Pilsner Urquel. It is a St. Paul, MN regional brew.
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Plzen is the original and to my taste the best. Even though the new owners (SAB) have changed production a bit, a true Pilsner should be aged more than 2-4 days (as it seems most knock offs are) and should have a great "round" flavor. Most konock off's a thin, pale and sharp. If I could only have one last beer, it would be a fresh, original Plzen.
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There are plenty of beers as good or better than Pilsner Urquell ... which is indeed a good beer!
If you are looking for a lager from a large brewer that is distributed pretty widely, I suggest Stella Artois from Belgium.
Also I would strongly urge you to explore several craft beers at a local, well-stocked beer store. You can do this by picking up a couple of six-packs, and some places will allow you to create your own mixed six-pack. Most good beer stores have people who would be happy to guide you through your selection.
Try a couple of non-pilsner/lager brews, too. During the summer, I like witbiers (Molson Coors makes one called Blue Moon), India pale ales, saisons and some of the German wheat beers.
Who said "research" had to be boring?
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Stella being better than Pilsner Urquell? Surely you must be joking.
Stella is the Bud of European beers.
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Chacun à son goût.
As I said, Stella is a lager from a large brewer that is distributed widely, exactly like Pilsner Urquell -- which I suppose could be called the Miller of European beers, and indeed with more accuracy.
The OP asked for alternatives to PU, not recommendations for the world's greatest beer. What would your nominations be for that, Sir Gawain?
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For staying within the genre - and I am by no means a huge Pilsner fan, not my favorite style - I think you might want to try Czechvar first of all (from a good importer; it's slightly sweeter and lighter but definitely a pilsner), BrouCzech (brewed in Nova Paka and available in the US), Herold as others have said, and the Slovak beer, Zlaty bazant (although it was better pre-Heineken acquisition).
The problem with Pilsner Urquell in the US is that it skunks quickly. But if you're in the LA or NYC area, try to get yourself invited to Czech Consulate events and you'll have good fresh Czech beer - and for free! :-D
If you are EVER in the Czech Republic, the absolute best beer - yes, and that's the objective truth - comes from a little microbrewery in Moravia in a town called Stramberk. The beer, called Trubac/Troobacz (comes in light and dark) isn't bottled and is unpasteurized. THE BEST, and still a secret even to most Czechs.
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Thanks for the recommendations! I've seen Czechvar locally, and will try it and any of the others I can find. Unfortunately, I am not on the invitation list for Czech Consulate events here in Dallas, so I may have to pay my own way to explore these! :-D
But I will definitely put Stramberk on my list of places to visit should I find myself in Moravia.
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In NYC, though I've never been to the Czech consulate, the Pilsner Urquell on tap at the Astoria beer garden (Bohemian Hall) is a dramatically different animal from what you pick up at the liquor store. I imagine this applies to any Czech bar/beer garden on either coast or in-between.
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You are so right about the beer garden. The beer I had there was better than any I have ever had. It was ridiculously fresh. I tried them all. Making it back to Manhattan was tricky after that, but all in the name of research!
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I had a Czechvar last week at a Serbian diner. Quite nice - nice round flavor, not too dry and with a sweet edge (just as you described). I liked it, and like you, I'm not much on pilsners either.
OP might want to try some of the Belgian or Belgian-style ales too. Chimay is quite acessable (Trader Joe's usually stocks them at a good price), and if he picks up one of each of their brews in the 750ml bottles - tripple, red and blue - they are a nice intro to this huge array of incredible beers. And if the OP drinks them in that order (I would suggest with at least one friend), it will be an appropriate progression from light to heaven...
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Bud is better. There was another thread about the marketing ploys of Stella.
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Trumer and Blue Paddle are both excellent pilsners widely available in the Bay Area (often on tap). Trumer is brewed in Berkeley, Blue Paddle is brewed by the New Belguim Brewing Company in Colorado.
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Yes, Trumer Pils is wonderful. Haven't had it on tap yet, but it is available by the bottle in select locations in AZ. Wow. The same wonderful depth of flavor and balance between malt and hops like Urquell, but (imho) a fresher, more complex taste. I also love pilsners, and this is the first I've had in the US that tasted as good overall as the best European pilsners do in Europe.
ed
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I'm so ashamed! Of course I should be tasting Trumer Pils. I live in Oakland and they're right next door. This evening I'm off to find a bar serving it on tap. I will not rest until sampling the local pils! Thanks Morton and Phoo!
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It's probably hard to find around Oakland, but the Troeg's Sunshine Pils is great. As is the previously mentioned Prima Pils by Victory.
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If you like pilsener and you live in the U.S., your choices will no doubt be disappointingly few. In my experience, there aren't many widely distributed pilseners in the U.S. worth the glass bottles they're in. It is, however, the most popular style of beer in Germany and the Czech Republic (go figure). Becks and Urquell (German and Czech, respectively) have wide U.S. distribution, but brew it here in the States (and have a slightly changed formula, I believe). Moreover, the beer is usually served too cold when had in a bottle at a bar. When visiting the two countries, I found their competitors to offer far more interesting pilseners -- some less bitter, some more malty, some more hops-y. It's a shame that most don't make it across the pond, but you might find a more obscure Pils at a specialty store. Alas, the difference in price versus in-EU on such a bottle is likely to be several hundred percent.
Becks is any easy find, but it's an average German pilsener, though I do like it more than Urquell. Krušovice is my favorite of the easier-to-find Czech beers. Not sure about their U.S. distribution, but it's small if any. Löwenbräu, a Munich pilsener, is easier to find, but really quite bitter. Additionally, my favorite Polish beer is a pilsener called Żywiec, and with luck you can find it in the States. About half the bars in Greenpoint, Brooklyn serve it, owing to the Polish population here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pils#Lis...
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Last I checked, Beck's and Pilsner Urquell are both brewed in their home countries for US sale.
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Krusovice was one of my favorite beers when visiting Prague. Sadly, I have not been able to find it anywhere in Boston, even at the stores that carry a large range or imports. Guess another trip is in order.
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Pilsner Urquell is NOT brewed in the US, but it is true that the US-export formula is slightly different and not nearly as good as the real thing on tap.
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To my taste buds, Pilsner Urguell is very average and, far too often is lightstruck, or skunked, due to the brewery's use of green bottles and poor handling by distributors and retailers who don't know any better. The skunkiness problem is so widespread that many Americans just think that is how an imported Pilsner is supposed to smell and taste.
While I prefer the German Pilsner style to the Czech, a great Czech Pilsner is Herold Traditional Czech Lager. Not sure whether it is available in San Francisco.
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Oh, man! Herold is incredible! One of the best Lagers I've ever had. I buy it through mail order, though, and have to pay a premium for shipping.
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Look for Czechvar (Brewery Budweiser Budvar - the original Budweiser - but that's a whole different topic). Should be distributed pretty widely in the US.
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/304/6715
I've seen this one once in a while also.
B.B. Budweiser Bürgerbräu Svetly http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/...
These beers are probably best if you buy them in an enclosed case or twelve pack. As someone mentioned, green bottles exposed to light will skunk a beer pretty quickly.
If you post the area you live in, I could recommend a locally made pils. For this style fresh is best.
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Pilsner Urquell in the states is a plae version of the real stuff in the Czech republic. It is invariably skunked over here. My opinion is that you should try drinking the local style of beer. Beer doesnt travel well so i generally drink american west coast IPA's as that is the best style brewed in America. There are styles that can travel and they are generally not high in alcohol, hence not pilsners.
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With CA availability in mind, my personal ranking for Czech beer goes as follows. I suspect yours might run in the opposite direction, given the degree of bitterness in Urquell:
Staropramen
Czechvar
Pilsner Urquell
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http://www.lagunitas.com/beers/pilsne...
Have you checked out this offering from the other side of the Bay?
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If you're trying to break free from Pilsner Urquell, why not expand your palate to something other than pilsner?
The world of beer is vast, waste49. Here's a suggestion of some beers you should try, all of which should be readily available:
Import:
Samuel Smiths - Nut Brown Ale, Oatmeal Stout, Taddy Porter
Young's - Special London Ale
Fuller's - ESB, London Porter, London Pride
Chimay - Cinq Cents (White label)
Hoegaarden
Saison Dupont
Marston's - Pedigree
Orval Trappist Ale
Paulaner - Marzen
Domestic Craft Brew:
Anchor (should be easy for you to find, eh?) - Liberty Ale, Steam Beer, Porter
Ommegang - Hennepin
Avery - White Rascal
Victory - Prima Pils (this is a great pilsner that will make you forget Urquell existed)
Stone - Levitation, India Pale Ale, Smoked Porter
Deschutes Brewery - Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Black Butte Porter
Russian River Brewing - Damnation
AleSmith - Anvil ESB, IPA
Rogue - Morimoto Soba Ale, Morimoto Black Ale
That's a good start - many great beers in that list. Happy drinking!
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Orval is my favorite beer in the world but is very sensitive to storage, as well as really expensive. From US beers, I love hennepin.
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If you like Orval and are in the midwest, see if you can find Goose Island's Matilda.
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Have to second The Redoubtable Jim Dorsch's endorsement of Jever Pils from Hamburg.
It is a revelation...if they haven't dumbed it down as was done to so many.
The hops are extreme but entirely within the experience.
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It may be a bit hard to find, but it does have some distribution in the U.S. - Jever Pils. It's one of Germany's favorite Pilsners. It is a bit bitter.
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Although the name makes me chuckle, Golden Shower Imperial Pilsner shows once again that Dogfish Head is one of the top breweries in the US:
http://www.dogfish.com/brewings/Limit...
I tried some the other night and I now know why Pilsner is such a popluar style in some of the best beer countries in the world.
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Rogue's Imperial Pilsner is also quite good. Comes in a giant ceramic bottle. Avery in Colorado makes one too, called the Kaiser, but it's only available in Colorado.
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The Kaiser has been sold in Northern Virginia.
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Lucky Virginians!
Actually, come to think of it, I have seen it at one place here in SoCal. I guess the distro is just really limited.
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where is it sold in northern virginia?
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I'm not sure it's available now (can never remember this stuff), but it can be found at the right time at better shops. Call the wholesaler, Hop & Wine, at 703-550-2010.
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I had a bottle of the Dogfish Imperial Pilsner last night - pricey (I paid almost $10 for a 750 ml bottle here in Seattle), but good. Changed my impression of what a pilsner could be (although I'm pretty new to the pilsner thing).
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tough to beat pilsner urquel for a good pilsner. i have tried many and always go back. i have drank them in the states and in prague - both are delicious.
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About a decade ago the Urquell brewery made an important alteration in their fermentation routine. Need we note that it was a step forward in modernity and three back in quality?
Yes, you will always fine geezers avowing, "Ah! If you coulda only had the real Boddys. That WAS a beer!"
But it is generally true. Many, many brewers slide toward that big, broad trough in the center where th $$ are.
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If you're able to find Ayinger Jahrhundertsbier, it's a Munich light lager, not a Czech Pils, but I've found it a deliciously drinkable summer discovery. It's light with subtle flavors, not skunky like so many green-bottled European lagers. Now if only I could find it by the case...
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In Minnesota, we can get Staropramen, another true Czech pils. When I was in Prague, it was more popular that Urquell or Budvar (sold as Czechvar here in the states). Very tasty.
And what's wrong with liking only Czech pils? Some people like only British pale ales. Others like only yankee lite 'beers'. Some don't like beer at all.
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The same thing that's wrong with only liking pepperoni pizza.
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If Czech pils were the beer equivalent of Wonderbread, I might buy into that, but it's not.
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k, I updated my metaphor. Happy?
Also I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Czech pils. But, if you're getting tired of Pilsner Urquell, jumping to another pilsner seems a strange concept. Considering all the truly amazing beers out there, many of which offer substantially more complex palates than pilsner, why limit oneself to what is arguably one of the least engaging varieties of beer that's produced?
Sure, Czech pils blows American macro away, no question. But that's not really such a tough competition, is it?
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Yes, I like the new metaphor, and points taken on limiting oneself to a single style.
I think a pils drinker might consider Koelsch, Munchener Helles, Oktoberfest/Maerzen, for example.
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You know Josh, the patriot in me (I'm Czech and from a family of beer FANATICS) doesn't like what you are saying, and frankly it seems to me that you don't 'get' pilsner. It is NOT "one of the least engaging varieties of beer" - that is only your opinion. I suspect that your palate simply prefers other kinds of beer and that's fine, but don't dismiss an entire style of beer based on your limited understanding and/or experience. Perhaps you have never had a good Czech (or German, whatever) pilsner - unpasteurized, fresh, at the source. And Czech pilsner being good is NOT just a matter of being better than the yellow water that Anheuser Busch sells, but then again I suspect you haven't had much experience with truly superb European pilsners, probably knowing just the bottled imported (old... improperly stored... skunked) or American stuff.
The OP wanted recommendations for another PILSNER (and he's not getting "tired" of Urquell - reread the post) but you gave him anything but, with one exception.
Personally, my favorite beers are Belgian trappist ales (Orval is my absolute favorite) and I really, really, really can't abide Guinness, but I don't go around telling people who like it that it's a boring beer (though to me, it sure is - might as well be drinking molasses) and they really need to move on to Chimay. 'Coz I realize that I just don't 'get' Guinness.
There should be an interesting article on Czech beers in the WSJ sometime in July, in case you get it. Written from a drinker's point of view.
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You may not need to draw such fine distinctions. Remeber, pils had its initial ascedancy as an eye-delight after centuries of murky and problematic ales.
It is "appetizing," intended to sharpen the palate and the mind.
Many Americans confuse BIG AND CLUMSY beers with a proper beer experience.
All beers have a place in the firmament.
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Sir Gawain, sorry if you're offended, but as someone who has consumed a great many beers from all over the world, it's my informed opinion that pilsner is not as interesting as some other styles of beer that exist.
While the OP did indeed ask for suggestions of other pilsners, there's no law that says I can't offer the suggestion that he broaden his horizons beyond one style of beer!
I don't think I dismissed an entire style. It's funny that you would say that considering I even recommended a couple of other pilsners. But are you really going to sit there and argue that there are pilsners that even approach the complexity of a good Belgian ale? Let's get real here!
The method of production differs dramatically between ales and lagers. Lager yeasts produce a more refined, cleaner flavor than ale yeasts do. I have nothing against lagers, and lager is one of my favorite kinds of beers. It's the best on hot days, and goes really well with certain kinds of food.
I pretty much agree with you about Guinness. It's a decent enough stout, but there are a lot of stouts and porters out there now that I think are more interesting.
I don't think it's a matter of you not "getting" Guinness. You seem to be arguing that it's inappropriate to have opinions!
I've exposed a lot of people to Belgian trappist-style ales, and traditional lambic, and the results are mixed. They usually find them too strange, too sour, or just not tasting enough "like beer". Pilsner, on the other hand, is much more straightforward and easy to appreciate.
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You must drink it as they serve it in Praha.
In a huge Pilsner mug shaken to make a huge head.
That is the only way.
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I love Czech Pilsners. I have been drinking Pilsner Urquell forever and find that it is actually fresher the last couple of years probably because they changed distributors. I like 2 better. Rebel, and my favorite Vysckovske.
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As far as German Pilsners, Spaten is distributing Dinkel Acker which makes it fairly available at least here in the Boston Area, its also fairly inexpensive. PU would sell more, so some risk of it being skunked (green bottle), but I have had pretty good luck. Brooklyn pilsner is pretty good, but a bit difficult to find (the lager is everywhere)... and Victory is starting to be distributed and is excellent. All of these are a bit hoppier than the PU
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I like Scrimshaw, made by North Coast Brewing in California.
http://www.northcoastbrewing.com/scri...
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