Pilsner Urquell

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

Serve in Flute, Footed Pilsner

UPDATED: AUG 6, 2011 Original rating, 2011-03-04: 3-3-4-3-8=2.1
Ever since i snatched one of my father’s Carlsbergs from his cellar some 25 years ago, pale lagers and pilsners have been what I think of as "beer". Only recently my eyes (and mouth) have been opened for the incredible variety of more exciting beers that can be found other places than in my local grocery store. However, even though I’ve been drinking these rather taste and aroma less beers for close to two decades I still find it extremely difficult to differentiate e.g. an Urquell from a Heineken, Carlsberg lager, Tuborg grøn or any of the other usual suspects. The Urquell is of course clear, pale yellow, with a fizzy, white, fully diminishing head. There might be some faint traces of grass or other hoppy notes in the aroma, the taste is light bitter and I can’t really pinpoint other flavours than "typical pilsner flavour". And that’s about it. It’s nothing wrong with the Urquell: It’s a nice, easy-to-drink beer, but it’s far from special (even though it’s the original pilsner). I think I’ll leave these kinds of beers to tasters with a more fine-tuned than my own nose from now on...

Re-rating, 2011-07-04, 4-3-5-4-10=2.6
So, having gained a bit more self-esteem after rating a few macro lagers, I give the Urquell another chance. The aroma is still rather lager-ish, but it’s not a 3: up to 4. The taste is medium sweet followed by a medium bitterness. Crisp, clean flavours. Spicy hops, sweet malty caramel and honey, quite nice! Up from 4 to 5. Very nice palate: medium bodied, not overly carbonated: up from 3 to 4. The overall is up from 8 to 10. A decent pilsener.
[50 cl can, from Kiwi, Valle, Oslo]

2. re-rating, 2011-08-05, 5-3-5-4-11=2.8
This beer keeps getting better and better… The malty sweetness of this beer is really unusually nice for a lager! The subtle caramel hints in the aroma and the caramel heaven in the flavours are remarkable! The aroma is up from 4 to 5. It’s a bit too much to award a 6 for the Taste, so it stays at a very solid 5. Instead I up the Overall from 10 to 11.
[50 cl can, from ICA Hasle, Oslo]

500 mL bottle at home poured into a pint glass. Dark golden pilsner with a slightly washing up liquid head. Smells very Czech, malty but ok. first taste a bit metallic and weak. I’m a bit disappointed by the original pilsner. It’d be alright on a cold day but otherwise its shandy fodder.

The original pilsner. Doesn’t quite do it for me, perhaps I expected too much. Glad pilsners have improved what since 1842.

It’s hard to comment on the flavour because there really wasn’t any. Had a slight sweet finish and was smooth and drinkable, but otherwise boring

Pours golden with a white head. Aroma is hoppy pilsner-like, light grass and citrus. Taste is add some light bready notes, a malt profile and some lime.

Flaske 50 cl. Mørk gul gylden hælde, med et stort hurtigt forsvindende hvidt hoved. Aroma malt og græs klædt humle. Smagen som næsen med en let bitter mundfornemmelse og finish.

Cheap, and a classic, get it fresh in the paper 12 pack. It pours a deep gold and has a mellow malt and hop balance.

Smells and tastes skunked. Watery, slight bitterness, honeywater, sour apple. Not very good.