Pilsner Urquell

Brewed by Plzensky Prazdroj (SABMiller)
Style: Bohemian Pilsener
Plzen, Czech Republic

Gold body with a quickly shrinking head. Can’t break the smell apart...yet. Thick palate for an abv of 4.4 on a see -through beer. Oily. A nice hoptitude. The taste lingers and lingers and ...lingers..until you put something else in your mouth. My version was Czech and in the evil green bottle covered by cardboard variety. $7.99 a sixer in South Carolina, worth the price for an original, maybe not so for an American of the same ilk.

Pours a beautiful sparkling deep gold with excellent head, and good lace retention. Sweet malty aromas with complex notes of aeromatic hops- suggestions of dusty citrus, anise, and medicinal phenols. Medium bodied with satisfying mouthfeel and effervecence. Sweet malty taste initially, but quickly gives was to a crisp, clean hop bitterness that is very appetizing. Finish is somewhat dry with suggestions of pine, herbs, wet hay, and citrus rind. An important beer for any beer reviewer to be aquainted with; knowing this beer gives interesting insights into how the "pilsner"-style beer has evolved or been interpreted around the world. Sure to remain a beloved world classic, not just because of its historic signifigance, but more importantly because of its truely superb taste. The "Beer of kings" is ten times what the "King of beer" will ever be. Kudos to the marketing team who came up with the six-pack package/box that shields the vulnerable green bottles from damaging light and prevents skunking. Try this beer with a delicate fish plate, or a sophisticated steak dish with grilled asparagus.

I was very impressed. For something that comes in a green bottle, the taste was not skunky at all. White head, light body and a little sting on the back end. I could see myself ordering this in the future.

Bottle. Pours gold with a white head. Malty aroma with a hint of almost herbal hops. Light, body, very crisp and refreshing. Clean malt flavor with a hop presence that shows itself in a rather short finish. Very good considering it’s wide availability.

Bottle. Solid pilsener that seems much improved since they changed the packaging to shield it from light. Clean grain flavor with a light, slighty soapy hop finish.

Draft. Color is golden yellow with a big white head. Aroma is a bit buttery. Flavor is buttery and sweet with a bitter finish of fresh hops.

12-ounce green bottle. Pours a clear gold color with little head but constant bubbles. Immediate hoppy aroma, medium body, soft mouthfeel, mellow, but distinctive hops flavor, slight sulfur character - OKAY though. Nice malty presence matched to the hops. Hops bitterness lingers slightly into the finish. Very nice.

At first this doesn’t seem to be very complex, but there truly is hiding something personal under the bitterness. I could find a creamy and fruity aroma when it wasn’t too cold anymore.