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What's your favorite pilsener?

My all time favorite is Brand Urtyp: a hoppy beer with lovely aromas of flowers. Strong but refined.

Not very exciting, or rare, but a pleasant drink, very chilled,


Alan

I used to drink Holsten, the one with the yellow label. I remember enjoying many hundreds (or was it thousands ) of these throughout my youth.



I must get some and try it again.

Derek

Equally boring I like Grolsch, especially in the old-fashioned flip-top bottles.

I like grolsch as well, even in the new bottles.

I'm never sure if the new ones are brewed in this country in some god-foresaken hell-hole like Luton. The flip-top ones I'm pretty sure are real.

I like the Stella Artois, and Pilsner Urquell. I don't think I have had to many more than that.

Jay

Chimay also produces a really good pilsener. It's called Chimay Doré and it's anly for sale at the Auberge near the abbey. If you are ever in the area, make sure to stop there for lunch or dinner. It's a great place.

Checked - the standard Grolsch that we get here is brewed in the UK under licence. It has a lot of Dutch stuff written all over the packaging and small writing on the base saying it's not actually Dutch.

That's why I prefer the proper stuff, it's not made from acid water in an ugly town... and has a cute top.

Oh, it's Burton. Burton's OK. Except for the giant gas-works that passes for a lager brewery.

So, where is it brewed in The Netherlands, is it a pretty little village that has somehow avoided acid rain for the past 40 years?

Its actually a little Dutch village called Chernobyl! Thats why its luminous Green.

Almost. Enschede, the city where a whole neighbourhood was blown up by fireworks (including parts of the Grolsch brewery).

Chernobyl, Enschede, explosions whatever.

Stella Artois has my vote . Hieinneken anyone ?

Singha

But only when in warmer climes...

Tom

When in London this week and last I have mostly been drinking Asahi - yummy



Derek

Luc wrote:Hieinneken anyone ?

Definitely not.

Much better than the Pilsner Urquell I have for this evening.

The brown bottle NL versions of Heineken or Grolsch are my favorites.

Grolsch recently changed their bottle to a fancy green one.

The selection of beers that we are able to get here is actually pretty good. Can get most international brands, including Grolsch and ok German brands like Bitburger. But I must admit that the warm climate here has an inviting effect on the Corona's and Sol's of this world. Beers that I wouldn't want to be caught dead with back home, but very refreshing here. Including the slice of lime...

Jupiler, Belgium's best and biggest pilsener!

Just spent a month in Damascus, and survived on Alzama.



Lebanese beer that is apparently owned by Heineken. Rather light (only 4%), but great in the summer heat, especially when served ice-cold.

The Syrian beer tastes just like the murky water of the river after which it is named, looks: Barada. Very cheap, but best to avoid.



Now back in Oman, where we are currently mainly drinking Stella Artois.

I think the last time I was in Syria, there wasn’t any water at all in that river...is the Syrian beer still brewed by the government? If I remember correctly, they do a second type, mostly available around Aleppo, which is much more pleasant.

There was also a dark version of Barada, but after having tasted the pilsener, we didn't feel the urge to try it. The only water in the river seemed to be sewer water, not really attractive. Draught and dams are the major cause I believe.

RonnieRoots wrote:There was also a dark version of Barada, but after having tasted the pilsener, we didn't feel the urge to try it. The only water in the river seemed to be sewer water, not really attractive. Draught and dams are the major cause I believe.

I think I was probably thinking of Al-Sharq if they still make it. Incidentally, the Wikipedia article on Syrian beer is one of the best I’ve encountered:

Barada beer is more popular, yet only by the virtue of availability. The quality of bottling is highly variable and frequently poor. However, the taste compensates for the poor bottling. It is 3.4% alcohol and has yellowish hazy color, fruity aroma, mild, light and fresh body.

Al-Sharq is frequently rated superior. It is slightly higher in alcohol (3.7%) and more delightful than the former. It is complex beer with medium malt body, yet fresh and distinctive.

Interestingly, both beers come in a one liter bottle.

Sadly, I think you’ve got it about right with the Barada and, unfortunately most of the other rivers in the region.

I just spent 2 weeks in St Maarten in the Netherlands Antiles where the beer selection in most establishments consisted of the following in reverse order of undrinkableness:

1. Coors Light
2. Carib
3. Presidente

Please note that I have not included the also available Budweiser or Bud Light for obvious reasons.

Derek

I like Moretti but not sure it qualifies as Pilsener, especially as it is Italian. Nice fruity characteristics and great on a hot day stright from the fridge.

KillerB wrote:I like Moretti but not sure it qualifies as Pilsener, especially as it is Italian.

I think the name of this thread should perhaps be "What's you're favourite beer that comes in a bottle and isn't brown?"

A simply delicious Pils I had recently is this one. Rothaus Pils Tannenzäpfle. It's from the Black Forest. "Tannenzäpfle" is Swabian and means fir cone.





A full-bodied Pils with a big finish. The astonishing strong aftertaste reminds me a little bit of Bockbier (perhaps you know Einbecker Bockbier). But it's not a bruiser at all. It also has a slightly smokiness which is rather attractive. However this Pils has real character!

As a bonus this beautiful girl on the label! Reminds me of the brawny female (?) swimming athletics of the former GDR. So much grace although definitely one to lean on.

You can buy this girl in the UK too .http://www.veesand.com/where%20to%20buy.html