Day #316 – Pilsner Urquell

Got a big one on for today, and that’s big as in fame and not necessarily alcohol content.

Pilsner Urquell

Here we have the original, yes the original pilsner and pale lager. It was first brewed in the mid 1800’s and first took the form we knew it today in 1842. The company that brewed it at the time was Plzensky Prazdroj out of Plzen, Czech Republic. It is now owned by the SABMiller company. It is classified as a Bohemian Pilsener and holds a 4.4% ABV.

Would you believe I JUST picked up this glass yesterday? How could I not feature this beer now?!?!

This beer pours a light golden color with a foamy white head. The head fizzes for a bit and then subsides after awhile.

The aroma is very minerally I would say. Like mineral water, bitter grains, a touch of hops and grass. Grainy for sure.

The flavor is almost metallic but not so much. Grains again come into play with a sharply bitter finish. Not my favorite but it’s nice to try the original!

Day #30 – Samuel Adams Noble Pils

30 days have come and gone, and yet here I am…still writing….still drinking beer.  Good to know I’ve made it this far.  Only 11 months left to go right?

Samuel Adams Noble Pils

Well I’m still working on polishing off that Samuel Adams mix pack I picked up a few weeks ago so here comes another one from Boston Beer Co.  This one is called Noble Pils, which is a Bohemian Pilsener brewed using only noble hop varieties.  What are noble hops you ask?  That’s a good question, I’m glad you asked.  Noble hops come from a certain portion of Europe which covers parts of Germany and Czech Republic.  Only 5 of the hop varieties in the world are labeled “noble” and this beer uses all of them.  These varieties are: Hallertau Mittelfrueh, Tettnang Tettnanger, Spalt Spalter, and Hersbrucker Hersbrucker; from Germany. The Noble hop variety from Bohemia in the Czech Republic is Saaz.

This beer is classified as a Bohemian Pilsener which is basically a light lager with a higher level of bitterness.  They are all usually brewed using some portion of the noble hop varieties.  It should be served in a flute or a footed pilsener.  I have chosen the footed pilsener glass.

This beer pours a very clear light golden color with a small white head.  There is a bit of carbonation emanating from the bottom of the glass but not a whole lot.

The aroma is dry/tart grain that is pretty present.  I also want to say a “peanutty” aroma, but when I say that I don’t actually mean a nutty smell, but heavy in protein like peanuts.  Also a heavy earthy hopped aroma.

The flavor is bitter, biting hops with some dry grains.  Bit of protein flavor also as well as the smell.  Dry finish and metallic flavored.

This is much easier on the palate than a sharply hopped IPA or even a pale ale, and the grain level helps to balance things out a bit.  This is an interesting beer for having all 5 noble hop varieties in it.

Cheers!