Rating:

“Crisp, clean and beautifully refined. This traditional German Pilsner is the result of patience and precision. Lagered for 120 days and brewed in collaboration with The Mill Brewery.”

Glassware: Footed flute.

Appearance: Brilliantly clear straw-golden pour capped off by a finger of finely beaded white head. It slowly breaks apart and forms a halo. Scarce lacing as we go.

Aroma: Smells like a proper conventional pilsner. That’s what 120 days of lagering will do! Ultra clean, crisp and refreshing notes of grassy hops, hay, light florals, water crackers, subtle creamed corn and honey. A delicate spiciness developing as it comes up to room temperature. Not much else to say about it really. It’s just a simple yet superb pilsner aroma.

Flavour: As expected, the conventional approach transfers over to the palate. Exquisitely balanced between the grassy and slightly herbal spicy hops and the clean malt bill of rice/water crackers, grains, hay and a hint of mild honey sweetness. A delicate line of bitterness through it all as it finishes nice and neat with decent carry on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, clean AF. Light on. Mild-moderate body. There’s a lovely effervescence to the Co2 and the 5% ABV is spot on for the style.

Overall: We’ve now notched up 5 reviews for Devilbend. They’ve stacked up pretty darn quickly too! But this is actually our first crack at The Mill. Considering the finesse and quality of this pils we might have to give them a run. Impressive interpretation of this Euro classic.

Rating:

“Life’s big events and everyday moments of refreshment are all the more enjoyable with König Pilsener. Germany’s first premium pilsener beer owes its exceptional taste to its high-quality production process. The brand has played a leading role in the German beer market since the 1960s, and is now exported to more than 40 countries worldwide.”

Glassware: Half Stein.

Appearance: Crystal clear bright golden complexion with a big and fluffy three finger head. It’s retained well and weaves a fine lace down the sides of the glass.

Aroma: European pilsener personified! Brewed to the Reinheitsgebot too so you could have 10 of these and not be hungover (we feel that statement should come with some type of health warning). Crisp and clean as a whistle. The balance is exquisite – Noble hop spice, florals and herbs against a backdrop of water crackers, steamed rice and cereal grains. Just the slightest hint of DMS but that’s 100% fine in a pilsener. Superb.

Flavour: Quite similar to Weihenstephaner pils with its slightly sweeter malt profile. It’s interesting as we didn’t pick up much honey-like sweetness on the nose. There’s also a notable black pepper spiciness amongst more Noble hop notes of grass/hay, earthy herbals and florals. A mildly assertive bitterness forms late then delivers a dry, slightly bitter and grassy finish which lingers.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, clean and uber refreshing. As anticipated for the style. Light-moderate body, perfectly carbed. The 4.9% ABV is bang on.

Overall: It’s a damn fine pilsener. Up there with the likes of Radeberger, Warsteiner and Jacobinus. Juuuust missing the last bit of finesse that breweries like Jever and Flensburger possess.

Rating:

“This Pils is a classic, German-style pils with notes of hay, sweet malt, black tea, with a creamy texture and a dry finish. Prost!“

Glassware: Footed flute.

Appearance: Slightly hazy straw-golden pour with a rocky one finger head capping it off. It holds together fairly well and leaves a reasonable lace deposit as it subsides.

Aroma: Mostly conventional vibes from it initially. It doesn’t really strike us as a Saaz-based hop profile. Yeah, it has the typical Noble grassy, floral and spicy notes but there’s something a little different in there. It’s slightly fruitier and displays a notable black pepper spiciness. A wild guess would be Hersbrücker or Hallertau-Mittelfrüh. Clean malt bill… delicate straw, cereal grains and crackers.

Flavour: Excellent showcase of balance. Upfront we get a good dose of grassy, spicy and floral hops against a backdrop of dry cereal grain and straw. There’s almost a hint of citrus rind which is emphasised by a pronounced bitterness that kicks up early in the mid and reaches well into the finish. Again, the grassy and black pepper spice tail in late and helps punctuate it all.

Mouthfeel: Ultra clean, crisp and crushable. A mildly heavier body on this one but it’s still proper neck oil. The 4.8% ABV is spot on for the style.

Overall: The brewer(s) clearly have extensive brewing experience. Their repertoire and the quality of their range speaks for itself. Their sour, IPA, pale ale and now their pilsner are all highly enjoyable and on-point expressions.

Rating:

Introducing Mikkeller Brewing New Zealand – a collaboration between Garage Project and the legendary Mikkeller Beer from Denmark. “Mikkeller is a kindred spirit of brewing creativity and we’re thrilled to be working together on a range of beers. These beers will be popping up in their venues throughout Asia, and we’re also lucky to have secured limited amounts for enjoyment closer to home. Mikkeller works with select top breweries across the world, and we’re stoked they have chosen us as their partner for Asia Pacific. These are Mikkeller beers and their recipes brewed in New Zealand by Garage Project, with our own input, specially selected hops from Nelson Lakes, local Gladfield malts, and sprinklings of our lot selected YCH hops.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: A sight for sore eyes! Pours a gloriously bright and translucent gold capped off by a finger of white head which holds its shape. Excellent lace deposit in its wake.

Aroma: Hoppy pilsner, west coast pilsner, India pale lager, cold IPA. Whatever they want to call it…as long as it smells this good we don’t care! The Kiwi hops shine in all their luscious green and resinous glory. A touch of candied lime, vines, juicy green grapes and a hint of dark currants just to add some depth. Super clean and grainy malt profile; hints of cereal, crackers and mild honey. Chefs kiss!

Flavour: So pleasant yet full flavoured. It presents as a crisp, ultra sessional pilsner but the Kiwi hops add so much character that it tastes like a session west coast IPA. Just without the caramalt sweetness and hop bitterness. All the fan-faves are here – gooseberry, white wine/green grapes, mojito (lime and mint), lemon zest, subtle lychee and passionfruit on a clean malt base. Beautifully crisp and green finish that lingers.

Mouthfeel: Clean and refreshing. Light-moderate body, very finely carbed. The 4.7% ABV is spot on for this style.

Overall: We might have to go back and get a 4 pack of this. Don’t know if it’s the unseasonably warmer weather but it went down like it was going out of fashion. Superb drop.

Rating:

“We have been tossed about by the mega corporate brewers in our past lives, and have escaped to brew something different (and better). Our only beer. It’s what gets us up in the morning. Slow-brewed over 12 weeks, this German-style Pilsner is crisp, clean, refreshing, and crafted in the heart of Brunswick East at our brewery.”

Glassware: Footed flute.

Appearance: Pale light-golden pour with 100% clarity. It forms two fingers of fluffy white head which holds its shape. Nice wavy lacing clings to the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: Smells really good. Ultra conventional. Exquisitely balanced between the crisp pilsner malts and the spicy/herbal Noble hops. Mild suggestions of honey, rice crackers, maybe a hint of umami, then the alluring scent of herbal spice, earthy florals, wet grass and wood shavings. Very classy stuff.

Flavour: There aren’t many other beers that can satiate better than a well-brewed pilsner. It’s the balance they’ve struck here that makes this so good. From start to finish it’s this lovely amalgamation of crisp, semi-sweet pilsner malts with the fresh and green, herbal, spicy and grassy Noble hops. A delicate bitterness creeps in late then it all rolls into a crisp and clean finish that lingers.

Mouthfeel: Light on and immaculate. Mild-moderate body, lightly sparkling Co2. The 4.7% ABV is spot on.

Overall: We were lucky enough to visit the actual brewery down in Melbourne a few weeks ago. That’s where we got our hands on this tinnie. Interesting operation. They literally brew this pilsner. Only. They may only brew one beer but this one beer is absolutely superb. Up there with Australia’s best pilsners.

Rating:

“Matured for many months in tank, usually over 90 days, this naturally lagered and unfiltered Pilsner has a rich malt character with supporting noble hop flavour and bitterness. Gold Medal, Perth Royal Beer Show 2022.”

Glassware: Footed flute.

Appearance: Clear and strikingly golden complexion capped off by two fingers of loosely packed head. Gradual reduction and scarce lacing in its wake.

Aroma: Quote a robust malt profile to it. We’ve just noticed that the brewers used a Belgian malt for this so that explains the extra depth, sweetness and overall richness. The glorious Noble hops are layered over beautifully with their spicy, floral and grassy undertones. Mild orchard fruit esters, subtle buttered corn and bread crust filling it all out. Really solid aroma.

Flavour: Notably bigger and more rounded than other pilsners we’ve tried recently. Due to the Belgian malt in our opinion. The Noble hop spice, florals, grass and mildew balance the malts out really well. A mild bitterness helps to dry it out further as it sets up for a bone dry and slightly bitter finish that goes the distance on the back palate.

Mouthfeel: Bulbous, clean, crisp but with a bit of chew to it. Mild-medium body and perfectly carbed. The 5% ABV is on par for this style of pilsner.

Overall: We dig it. We’re aware that this brewery focuses primarily on Belgian styles so it was cool to see the Belgian malt put its influence on the beer as a whole. A Czech pilsner at heart but with a Belgian spin. Solid drop.

Rating:

“Eagle Bay’s West Coast Pilsner draws from their 90 Day Pilsner while adding a distinctly West Coast USA twist, namely Cryo Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe hops. Beyond a whack of candied grapefruit peel, a teasing dank aroma dances into the clear golden liquid.”

Glassware: Tulip.

Appearance: Bright golden pour with a fluffy two finger cap. Decent head retention and healthy lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Exactly what we were hoping for – super crisp and fruity, providing a nice touch of resin and pine needle as well. Subtle hints of herb and light florals also getting a look in. Very clean and biscuity malt bill…sitting back and letting the aromatic hops do most of the talking. Diggin it.

Flavour: It has all the fun of an IPA but with a far cleaner and crisper malt bill. A far lower ABV too, it must be said. The American hops – once again – take the limelight with their fruity, piney, slightly resinous and herbal overtones. The crisp and clean pilsner malt offers a mellow backbone of water crackers and barley which rolls into an effortless finish.

Mouthfeel: Light on, crushable and clean AF. Mild-moderate body, perfectly carbed. The 4.5% ABV is a tad under our expectations but suits the beer as a whole.

Overall: Although we’ve tried a collab beer that included these guys before, this is our first crack at a beer solely brewed by them. We must say we’re pretty impressed. It does all the right things. Tasty little number.

Rating:

“Pacific Tides is a graceful melding of Pacifica, Motueka and Riwaka. A true expression of New Zealand character in one of our hoppiest lager renditions. This is a clean pilsner, with a wild aromatic and flavour from these NZ varietals lovingly supplied by Clayton Hops.” 

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: Bright golden-yellow complexion capped off by a wispy overlay which quickly forms a collar. Nice webbed lacing clinging to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: We love the unique and quirky nature of NZ hops. One could use them in almost any style of beer and they’ll bring it alive. One of the styles we think they pair best with are pilsners and just as this interpretation shows, it provides fruity white wine, lime juice/zest, herbal spice, unripe passionfruit, peppermint and yellow grapefruit.

Flavour: More of the pilsner qualities come through which we expected. Those hops still shine bright though… displaying slightly sweeter citrus, lemon/lime zest, passionfruit, herbals and pine needle. There’s a fine pilsner malt base that lays down cereal grain, water crackers and a very mild hint of honey. A delicate bitterness develops late and rolls into a semi-dry finish which lingers.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, dry and clean. Light-moderate body and a lightly sparkling Co2. The 5.1% ABV is tucked away nicely.

Overall: This would have to be near our 15th review of King River this year. Still, we haven’t tried one beer that has scored less than 8/10 and that record continues after this very pleasant NZ pilsner.

Rating:

“Italian Birra and King Valley go hand in hand. This crisp, pale easy drinking Italian Lager has proven extremely popular in our region and beyond. Refreshing all year round and the lighter style is great for accompanying most foods.”

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: Gorgeous pale golden pour with full transparency. It forms a wispy white head which settles to a collar. Minimal lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Italian pilsners rarely make it into our fridges and we don’t really have a worthy explanation as to why. For all intents and purposes they look, smell and taste like a Czech pilsner except for one small difference that sets it apart. That is a dry-hopping process which gives the aroma a bit more rizz. In this case, a slightly lifted floral, spicy and herbal hop bill on top of a semi sweet, cracker malt base.

Flavour: Hits the spot on this 35° Sydney arvo. The most significant difference between say KR’s Czech pils and this is the much drier and crispier texture. Also the old world hops punch a bit harder with spice, herbals, florals and a notable bitterness from start to finish. The malt profile is crisp and clean AF with rice crackers and water biscuits into a dry, peppery and floral finish.

Mouthfeel: Clean, light on and refreshing. Mild-moderate body, perfectly carbed. The 4.6% ABV is right on the money.

Overall: This is the first time we haven’t been blown away by one of their beers (wild considering we’re up to like our 10th review). It still has a solid foundation and it’s proper neck oil it just didn’t really have much of a point of difference. Semantics really. All in all, it was a decent drop.

Rating:

“Flensburger Pilsener is a crisp, no-nonsense German lager that knows exactly what it’s doing. Brewed up north in Flensburg, it hits you with a refreshing snap of bitterness right from the start, balanced by a clean, dry finish. There’s a subtle grassy and floral hop note that keeps things interesting without going overboard. And let’s not forget that signature “plop” from the swing-top bottle—it’s practically a ritual. Whether you’re grilling brats or just kicking back after a long day, this pils is a dependable classic that always feels just right.”

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: Cool bottles. Short and stubby-like with a swing top which always adds a bit of extra pop. Literally. Pours a stunning pale golden hue with a thumb of finely beaded head. Good retention and excellent lace work down the sides of the glass.

Aroma: Smells truly incredible. Peak European pilsner. So clean, crisp and hoppy with a delicate yet distinct semi sweet and grainy malt structure. The fusion of Noble hop spiciness and the “Küstengerste” (coastal barley) along with the nearly 140 year old recipe makes this a highly sought after pilsener. One we’ve wanted to try for a long time. Keen to crack on.

Flavour: In our opinion there aren’t many other beers that can quench a thirst quite like a trad Euro pilsener. The finesse and the crisp refreshing nature puts it at the top of the list for (one of) us. Equal only to a fruity/citrusy Berliner Weiss. Again, Noble hop spice, herbals and some zesty citrus working in pure harmony with the semi sweet and grainy cereal malts. Clean bitter finish that begs for another sip.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, dry and light on. Mild-moderate body. Perfectly carbed. The 4.8% ABV is right on the money.

Overall: It’s everything that it was cracked up to be. Every aspect from the shape of the bottle to the finish was 10/10. That’s all that needs to be said.

Rating:

“Is an excellent Pils, brewed with the world-famous Saazer hops. Hopfenkönig has a bright golden colour, a dry, hoppy nose, and aromatic flavours. This beer is brewed strictly in accordance with the purity law from 1516….. Carefully-selected raw materials combined with the finest art of brewing make this a beer to fall in love with. Bright as it is crisp, and refreshing as it is flavorful, this is the picture of a pilsner you’ll be hard-pressed to stop coming back to.“

Glassware: Footed flute.

Appearance: Nice and bright golden pour with a soft hop haze. It struggles to produce much head as it almost immediately forms a thin halo. A decent wavy lace is left behind on the glass.

Aroma: Very high quality stuff. Euro pilsners have one of the most satisfying aromas in our opinion. So clean and direct, basic yet offering plenty of depth. The Saaz hops shine in all their glory – grassy, spicy, herbal, a flutter of mildew and hay. Extremely clean and bready malt bill…hints of water crackers and cereal grains. Phenomenal.

Flavour: Absolutely hitting the spot on this sunny winters day. Clean and refreshing with a moreish simplicity. Pretty much a mirror image of the nose with its focus on the brilliant Saaz hops upfront and the clean malt structure at the base. A delicate bitterness tacking on midway then everything finishing in harmony and drawing out nicely.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and clean AF. Also a very soft water profile. Finely carbed, light on and the 5.1% ABV is bang on.

Overall: Perfection in a bottle. Without a doubt it sits up the top amongst other world class pilsners like Jever, Rothaus and Weihenstephaner. Faultless.

Rating:

“Pivo, quite simply means beer in Czech. This refined beer is a typical example of a crisp lager finished with the very well known noble Saaz hop. Expect a refreshing beer with clear malt notes and a spicy hop aroma. Bronze Medal 2025 Australian International Beer Awards.”

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: Darker than we’d anticipated. Light golden amber with a thumb of bright white head perched on top. Steady reduction with wavy lace work on the glass.

Aroma: We’re back for another KR beer.. and right off the bat it’s smelling mighty fine. Quite a robust sweetness to the malt – honeysuckle and golden raisins but there are also notable savoury scents including rice crackers, corn and cereal grains. Definitely picking up the Noble hop spicy/black pepper notes as they cut through the malts. Impressive, once again.

Flavour: Ultra clean and refreshing. The sweetness to the malt has taken a back seat and upfront it’s just all about those Saaz hops, the delicate bitterness and cereal grains. Hints of rice crackers and fresh herbs like parsley and coriander get a look in as it all powers forward into a long, slightly dry and bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, clean and effortless. Really well rounded. Mild-moderate body, perfectly carbed and the 5% ABV is bang on for the style.

Overall: Pretty sure this was our 11th KR review and dead set we don’t think there’s been a score under 8/10 yet. That’s wild. Every beer these masters produce is top shelf. This one included.

Rating:

“A Northern German (Friesian) Pilsener that is characteristic of the style. It is a little more hoppy than Czech pilseners giving it a more bitter (“herb” in German) flavour.”

Glassware: Stein.

Appearance: Bright golden-yellow pour with two fingers of snow-white head perched on top. Good retention and healthy lace work on the glass.

Aroma: Smells of pure German brilliance. Ultra crisp and clean with superior contrast between the spicy, herbal and earthy Noble hops and the biscuity and semi-sweet honey malts. Soft notes of rice crackers and umami also getting a look in. This is just pilsner perfection. Absolutely flawless aroma.

Flavour: Follows on from the nose with its excellent balance between the hops and malts. Coupled with a tempered bitterness and crisp dryness. It mellows into a bready and crackery mid palate then it rounds off on a dry, mildly bitter and grassy finish which hangs around for days on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, clean and refreshing. Perfectly carbed. Mild-moderate body and the 4.9% ABV is bang on for the style.

Overall: As far as high quality trad pilsners go, this is right up there. Easily on par with the likes of Weihenstephaner, Warsteiner or Rothaus so it seems crazy to us that we’re only being introduced to this now. Top shelf stuff.

Rating:

“This classic German-style lager is brewed with traditional European hops, delivering a refreshing dryness, with a spicy herbaceous bitterness. Paired with a nasi goreng or green chili taco, you’ll be in palate cleansing heaven. But this brew can also be enjoyed by itself, savoured with the ideal balance of hop and malt.”

Glassware: Footed flute.

Appearance: Hazy golden-yellow body with a fluffy white head capping it off. The head retains well and weaves a healthy lace down the glass.

Aroma: We recently reviewed the American amber ale, only to find out it was eight months old, so we thought we’d check this can and whaddya know…canned on the same day (12/8/24). Eight months on a pilsner isn’t as bad as an American amber but it’s still enough to take some shine off it. We get a pleasant yet tired Noble hop profile of herbal spice and earth over a grainy, cracker malt base.

Flavour: We can tell it’s a damn good pilsner at its core but the age on it unfortunately gives it a flat and lifeless character. The remnants of Noble hop spice and herbals linger while the strong malt structure holds it together. Semi-sweet honey, grains and water crackers are underlined by a discernible bitterness that runs through to the dry and spicy finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, slightly dry and effortless in the swallow. Perfectly carbed, mild-medium body. The 5% ABV is right on the money.

Overall: As we eluded to earlier, the BBD on a pilsner isn’t as much of a net negative as an American amber so it was still an enjoyable drop. We’ll still most likely re-review a fresher can in the near future though.

Rating:

“Pioneered by Richard Emerson in 1995, New Zealand Pilsners are a Kiwi twist on a traditional Pilsner – herbal, spicy hops are replaced with Tropical, fruity NZ hops! Bouncing with citrus, passionfruit, hints of gooseberry, a touch of bready malt sweetness, this NZ Pilsner has a refreshing bitterness and a dry crisp finish!”

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: Pale light golden pour with a two finger crown. Good retention but only patchy lace work clinging to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Kiwi hops are such a great option for this style. The delicate crusty malt profile practically sits back and lets the hops do all the talking. Intense “greenery” is the best way to summarize it. Packed to the brim with lime juice/zest/candy, gooseberry, green grapes, pine resin, tomato vine, white wine and unripe passion fruit. Diggin’ it!

Flavour: Pretty much a mirror image of the aroma – awash with piney, resinous and evergreen notes. The light malt body providing the platform for the hops to work off. A gentle bitterness pushes its way in around the mid palate, leading into a slightly dry, grassy and medium length finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and clean with mild-medium body. Vibrant Co2 and a well placed 5% ABV.

Overall: In our last review of Stoic we touched on how the new brewers have vastly improved the quality of their beers. This NZ Pilsner only reinforces that belief. Onwards and upwards.

Rating:

“Crowned the official drink by King Friedrich August III of Saxony, Radeberger, a pilsner style beer brewed near Dresden, is characterized by its dazzling and refreshing taste and has long been enjoyed by German nobility.”

Glassware: Stein.

Appearance: Slightly pale golden complexion with a light and fluffy two finger head. Good retention and oodles of lace on the glass.

Aroma: We’ve been on somewhat of a side quest recently (if y’all haven’t noticed) listing a bunch of OG beers we started our craft journey on that we were yet to review. This is another staple from back in the day. Smells like pure German goodness. Noble hops are front centre – herbs, spice, light florals and mildew. Grainy/crackery/biscuity malt profile. It’s crisp, clean and super savoury. Hasn’t changed one bit!

Flavour: Displaying a bit more malt here. Pronounced cereal grains, slight biscuity/water cracker notes upfront with the spicy and herbal Noble hop notes tucked in neatly behind. A delicate bitterness midway sets up for a fairly dry, crisp and herbal finish which offers pretty good legs for a Pilsner.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and clean but with decent grip on the way down. Mild-medium body and the 4.8% ABV is right on the money.

Overall: One of the best aspects of Euro beer in our opinion is that they hardly ever change. This is tasting just like it did back in the early 2000’s when we first tried it. Delish!

Rating:

“Let your taste buds take a trip. Sichuan Pineapple – ma la spiced pineapple pilsner, delivering a mind bending blend of spicy chilli, numbing Sichuan Pepper and ripe pineapple. Sweet heat, numbing warmth and juicy fresh cut pineapple aromatics, interwoven in a beautifully crisp, clean golden base. Mind blown.”

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: Clear golden pour capped off with a fizzy two finger head which gradually peels off. It forms a collar with scarce lacing left in its wake.

Aroma: We’re suckers for any beer with chilli in it. Even more so when it’s a chilli/sweet combo as the two ingredients compliment each other so well. With sichuan being such a potent spice there are no surprises the spicy, slightly citrusy and peppery qualities are direct and balance the sweetness of the pineapple really well. It’s a fun and unique spice and one rarely seen used in beer so full points to GP on this one.

Flavour: Classy. We’d totally forgotten this was a Pilsner until the first sip. Initially we get a hint of sichuan and chilli and then the clean and crisp Pilsner malts wash over. A subtle heat from the chilli returns mid way along with a very delicate pineapple sweetness. That numbing effect from the sichuan also kicks in late before the semi sweet but ultimately crisp and spicy finish.

Mouthfeel: Light on, clean and warming (from the spice). Light-moderate body with the 5.8% ABV well hidden.

Overall: It’s certainly an enjoyable drop on this hot late-Spring arvo. A good hit of chilli heat and spice, it’s crushable, it just lacked that knockout punch for us though. Not bad.

Rating:

“Brewed with pale pilsner malt for light body and hopped with traditional German hops.”

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: Slightly pale golden pour with a light and fluffy two finger head nestled in on top. It steadily peels off and leaves an absolute smattering of lace on the glass. Looks the goods.

Aroma: Smells the goods too. Lagers and Pilsners are one of many styles SR excel at and those maestro skills are on full display here. Semi sweet cereal malt structure with the spicy and floral Noble hops icing the cake. Impeccably balanced. Old herbs, vines, a good (small) dose of DMS, an earthy minerality and rice crackers filling it out. Absolutely superb.

Flavour: Not as perfectly refined as the aroma but still very good. The semi sweet and grainy/cereal malts plus the Noble hop qualities hit the taste buds simultaneously. Coupled with the right amount of bitterness and the crispiest of textures. Excellent carry through the mid palate and landing on an ultra clean and moreish finish.

Mouthfeel: Light on, refreshing and effortless. Light-moderate body. Co2 is spot on and so too the 5% ABV.

Overall: Top shelf stuff from a top shelf brewery. These guys have firmly planted themselves in our top 10 best Euro-style brewers in Australia. With interpretations this similar to their German counterparts how could they not be?! Magnificent.

Rating:

“Staropramen Unfiltered was envisioned as a Czech version of wheat beer – distinguished by unique taste coming from a hint of coriander. Though it goes best with lighter foods like poultry and fish, the richness of flavour unleashed in each sip makes Unfiltered a perfect companion for all sorts of gastronomic explorations.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Wow! Pours like a Hazy IPA. Kinda golden orange with a heavy haze. It caps off with a thumb of snow white head which slowly peels off. Nice wavy lace clings to the glass as it subsides.

Aroma: Quite a ways different from the original filtered version. Our first thoughts are that it’s much more yeasty, the malt profile displays a lot more sweet doughy qualities and the hops, although the closest component to the filtered version, offer soft orchard fruits and a fresh herbal scent. Reminds us of fresh squeezed apple juice. Pretty much smells how it looks we guess.

Flavour: We can taste the original filtered version in it. That classic crisp and clean base seems, well, not destroyed but certainly tampered with when the yeasty, juicy sweetness and doughy malt is thrown over the top of it. Call us purists but the original is always the best. The finish is just too yeasty and funky for our liking.

Mouthfeel: Much fuller, chewier, but still super smooth. Still has a nice crispness to it. Moderate-medium body, good Co2. The 5% ABV is nicely positioned.

Overall: It’s a pretty solid no from us. It’s just not what we’re after from a Euro Lager. We’re not even sure what kind of Lager drinker would prefer this over the original. We just don’t understand it. Baffling.

Rating:

“The pleasantly smooth taste and well-rounded flavour of Staropramen rewards your palate with a soft malty flavour, before finishing off with gentle bitterness. Coming from a city of lovable sins that knows everything there is to know about great beer and enjoying life, Staropramen has many stories to tell you – stories about life well spent. Staropramen – taste the pleasure from Prague.”

Glassware: Footed flute.

Appearance: Deep golden pour with full transparency. It forms two fingers of creamy and finely beaded head which retains well. Healthy lacing weaves its way down the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Pure Czech goodness. We can’t actually believe it has taken us this long to review this absolute beauty. We’ve been putting them back all summer without even realising. What we love the most about this Pilsner is its impeccable balance while still providing a robust malt bill of honey, white bread/doughy sweetness and a distinctly spicy and grassy hop profile. Supoib!

Flavour: Drinks exactly like it smells too – chock-full of semi sweet honey, white bread/dough, light cereal grains and rice crackers. Straight up Noble hop crispness cuts through the malts beautifully. Just that little bit of extra bitterness which makes these traditional Pilsners so much more appealing than standard Lagers. Nice easy, tidy finish to round it out.

Mouthfeel: Clean, crisp, yet providing a bit more resistance than other interpretations. Moderate-medium body. Perfectly carbed and the 5% ABV is right on the money.

Overall: Pilsner perfection. It’s a tough decision between this and Urquell which is better. Both are as good as each other it’s just Urquell is the more widely known. This is still a brilliant beer though.