JosephsBrau Hopfest

Brewed by Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
Style: Classic German Pilsener
Palo Alto, California USA

Bottom line: This beer comes very close to a German style pilsner. I gave it a 20/20 since I have not had a better pilsner in the US (All imported beers are pasteurized which makes them loose all their good taste characteristics). Most other reviews disagree but that might be because most people in the US like characteristics of an ale beer. This explains why nearly all "pilsners" brewed in the US taste rather like ales. (Note: This pilsner is rather on the bitter side. Maybe its because the brewery used some male hops)

This is a good beer at a good price. I don’t know, some of these reviewers are a little harsh, if you ask me. It looks good, has a nice aroma and tastes really good. The body is on the heavy side for a pilsner, but I like that. I hate light beers. There is a nice bitter finish and no off flavors. I could drink a bunch of these. I am really impressed with Gordon Biersch products, especially from a quality-to-price standpoint. I know this is not some super-duper imperial pilsner with 9% ABV and 65 IBUs, but hey, it’s a good pilsner that’s way better than the macros and about the same price.

The best American example of German Pilsner that I’ve had. Very similar to some of the Schneider offerings. On the hoppy side for a pilsner, which is great. Good job JosephsBrau, just in time for summer.

Pours a deep effervescent golden with a lasting white soapy head. Aroma is of continental pils malt and a light grassy, spicy hoppiness. The body is med. -lt. w/ a lot of CO2. The flavors are bready malts, a touch of diacetyl and DMS, just a touch though, and a nice dollop of spicy hops. Finish is pleasingly dry with a satisfying bitterness. A wonderful example of a German Pils, if not a bit too full bodied.

Clear gold body, dense stark white head. Very floral aroma. The flavor is full of noble hops and bread. The palate is quite fizzy and rather full bodied for the style. Overall quite enjoyable.

Yellow, small head, bubbly. Looks like a pilsner. Nice aroma, strong floral and spicey hop aroma. Flavor is well balanced, bitter, grainy with a crisp finish. Body is thin but perfectly to style. This is a surprisingly excellent pilsner at a great price. The only trader joe’s beer that’s really blown me away. Knowing the ratebeer crowd there will be a lot of "how is this different from bud?" - trust me it is. Its hoppy but balanced, full flavored, and just the thing on a hot afternoon.

12oz Bottle. A light cusp of hop leaf sugars and settled grain malt build a pilsener nose, a touch hoppy. Pours a middle gold-yellow, faintly translucent with a well-held rim in white. Flavor develops quietly. A medium-bodied grain sugar, with very distant and not distracting metallic and corn notes. Some deeper, toothier sugars show for a bit of complexity. Towards the end the hop finish comes on strong and rich. A good glowing Noble finish for a real crisp, bright smack. Not dusty. This isn’t bad! I think it’s a very respectable German Pils. Not much off-flavor, decent body, great balance and good hop finish. Suprisingly nice work.

Appearance: Pours a clear light gold. Two fingers of fluffy white head which quickly dissipated. Smell: Mild floral hops on a grainy malt background. Taste: Sweet malt with a lightly bready background. Lots of floral hop flavour, medium bitterness. Mouthfeel: Light body, high carbonation. Drinkability: Clean and crisp flavour, very easy drinking.