Emerson’s Pilsner

Brewed by Emerson’s Brewing Company (Lion Brewing)
Style: Pilsener
Dunedin, New Zealand

Serve in Flute, Footed Pilsner

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it was good for a pilsner. best one i’ve had. perhaps damned with faint praise, but it was a bit better than that even. very fruity with a refreshing bitterness. the nose especially was something to behold. not really all that keen on the genre but this is a great example.

Clear crisp golden beer with a suttle hint of hops. Some malt balance but relatively easy drinking.

Probably the best example of a New Zealand style Pilsner available. Something of a classic and one I have tried many times. Very delicate earthy nose typical of Czech Pilsners. Light straw colour with light white lasting head. Taste is a master class in balance; beautiful pale malt followed by fruity hoppy bitterness. Perfectly balanced. Easy to drink. Fantastic beer.

aroma very subtle grain, grass maybe lemon. Taste is an initial hit of the ghost of passionfruit essence, which immediately disappears to be replaced by honey which quickly evolves into a lemon and honey custard which is then elegantly slammed down your gullet by a burst of medium hop bitterness. Refreshing.

On tap @ Eureka Bar and Cafe, Dunedin. Also quite widely available bottled in NZ. This is certainly a uniquely Kiwi take on the Pilsner style but it works really well. There are heaps of robust tropical fruit and grape aromas from the Nelson hops on top of a smooth honey malt base and the palate is accurately described as crisp and refreshing. It is certainly not as dry or bitter as most German-style pilsners. My sessionable beer of choice whilst visiting NZ.

Bottle from Earl. Thanks! Pours mostly clear golden with white head that disappeared quickly. Aroma is grass, hops, honey and a hint of pine. Flavor is malt, hops, grass, earthy. Dry aftertaste.

Keg at Palate, Hamilton
Floral grapefruit nose, custard cream biscuits, sweet malt, some hop bitterness and medium carbonation. Much more interest than your common or garden pils.

In the past I was critical of this beer as it had the makings of a glorious smelling pint, but was served way too cold and with little discernible head. In the bottle and some years removed, I had another go but this time with the non-organic version. Pale gold colour with coarse carbonation and a temporary white head. Aromas of passionfruit and lemon all over. A fine example of local hops but also carried with it a slightly funky signature Emerson’s yeast smell. This was also apparent upon tasting: a sort of locquot smell. A long finishing beer, but not a bra-off show stopper.

Bottled. A golden beer with a white head. The aroma has notes of malt and straw. The flavor is sweet with notes of malt, straw, and lemons, leading to a bitter finish.

Nice beer, but not a Pilsner. The style is very well defined by flavour and aroma from the specific use of Žatec hops. This beer uses New Zealand hops, which gives it a nice fruity, grapey touch, more appropriate to an IPA than a "Pilsner". Good appearance for a Pilsner, but with a fruity, floral, hoppy nose, far from anything vaguely resembling a Pils. The flavour is indeed crisp and pleasant, very Kiwi, but far from Bohemian. Pilseners are very well-defined and the style is narrow. Pale lager would be more adequate for this pleasant beer.