Pilsner Urquell

Pilsner Urquell is billed as "The Original Pilsner from Pilsen". This brew, built in the Czech Republic by Plzeňský Prazdroj, comes in a very handsome 500mL green and gold can. It contains a slightly underpowered 4.4% alcohol.

P.U. pours a crystal clear yellow-gold, amply carbonated, and topped with a cloudy head of bright white. The slightly sweet scent of freshly mown grass and a grainy aroma are present on the nose. It has a crisp, well starched mouthfeel. The flavour kicks off sweetly--notes are grassy and grainy. The finish is slightly dry, thanks to a murmur of hop bitterness.

An archetype of the pilsner style, P.U. frequently shows up in my fridge. It's a great beer to have on hand to offer to lager fans who might be less than keen on some of the darker or more robust brews that I typically have chilling in the icebox. I'd really like to have a touch more booze in this stuff.  While it might be the first word in pilsners, I don't consider it to be the last. Still, Pislner Urquell is an excellently made and refreshing Czech beer, and one that is widely available in a certain class of drinking establishment.  It is definitely nice to enjoy on a hot day.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.