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UrquellPilsner UrquellABV 4.4% • Vol 330 ml • bottle • Czech Republic • Mid-price • Flavour 6.5
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Pilsners, historically, were the first clear, golden lagers - before this, all beers were dark and cloudy. In Germany, the name pilsner designates a particular style. However, in the Czech Republic it also designates origin - this beer is claimed to be the original pilsner. It is a little darker than most pilsners (golden yellow rather than pale yellow), has a lightly hoppy, flowery, socky nose, a more intense, dry, bitter hop flavour balanced with a hint of syrupy, malty sweetness and some rounded honey notes. The finish is bitter with a slightly cloying vanilla edge and a subtle bite in the back of the throat. A very pleasant pilsner, which works best as a summer session beer. OBBD reviewer: Sparks |
Review updated 20 December 1998
I think that this beer is the best beer I have ever tasted.
Olof Carlstrm
The one and only!
Maarten Geluk
I love the complex chemically lingering hoppiness from the Saaz hops. This is truly refreshing stuff. The whole world has tried to copy it for 100 years but there's nothing like the original. Don't be afraid to try it in cans if you see them, they preserve much of the true flavor quite well even if they add just a hint of metallic flavor up front. In the green glass you'll have to be very lucky to get a fresh tasting bottle.
Alan Moum
Well… this is the one which is very close to Latvian beers. I will give 7 out of 10.
Ivars Krafts
Long ago when I was first married we went to Brno and sampled the local "Black Beer" which blows your socks off. I could only manage a pint & a half (big woman!)
Unfortunately this doesn't have the same effect, but pleasent all the same.
Anyone fancy importing their locally brewed Black beer to get the true meaning of "off your head"?
Paula "Older now to know better" Allum
The best beer I've tasted!
It's subtly unique, v. smooth and a hoppy aftertaste.
James Miller
Best beer.
Goran
The benchmark of the style. Puts most German 'pilsners'(with one or two notable exceptions)in the shade.
Martin Brady
This is the true King of Pils. All others are but pretenders!
Champers Charlie
hop, skip and a jump - this beer. particularly refreshing in the south african climate, least it was before the bastards at sab decided to stop importers from bringing about a month back. [Ah, makes sense now - Ed.]
the beer queer
Sorry, they're not bastards, but I still prefer it if they allowed the guys to bring it in. [Eh? - Ed.]
the beer queer
An exellent beer - probably the best pilsener beer in the World!
Aage
Very nice. As a homebrewer, I have tried to imitate this beer, very close but not close enough. Oh well, I love this beer and it its worth trying to imitate it. Cheers.
Damir Vrkic
Has anyone tasted the SAB "cleaned up" version of this beer? Gone are the vanilla notes - no more diacetyl flavour. The beer retains its overt hoppiness, but to my taste, now lacks character.
Richard
I have had this beer twice and both times it tasted like a skunks ass.
Rosco
After hearing so much about this historical beer, its huge influence, how all modern lagers are based on this and are really just imitators, about how this is one of the great beers of the world, I was looking forward to trying it, but was ready for a disappointment - after all, I am not a big fan of lagers. But, wow! It really is a full bodied and full flavoured beer - very refreshing, well balanced and certainly quite moreish. I really enjoyed Staropramen, but this will now be my lager of choice. I will get some in for (hopefully) a long, hot summer!
Silk Tork
The original. Enough said.
Sigmund
This stuff is stunning. Went to the Czech republic and had some and nothing else even comes close. NOTHING
AB
One of my absolute favorites. That and Staropramen
Curt
Wonderful stuff and even better on draught in the Czech Republic. There may be better beers in the world but I haven't found them. Must keep trying - Budweiser Budvar and Hostan Praga are nearly as good.
Jim Lorimer
Fantastic stuff, just got back from Prague where this stuff, Staropramen and Budvar absolutely rock. Get down your local Tescos where they sell all of these. Also, next time your in Wetherspoons, czech out (excuse the pun) Kozel, another quality Czech lager.
Jim
This is one of the few pilsners I will drink.
Peter L. Berghold
first i tastet urquell, now i only drink urquell
Jesper hansen
premium beer....
very smooth,
Andreas Hartmann
this is how all beers should taste, forget corporate beers like American Bud, Miller and Guinness. Insist on the original Pilsner every time
Murray Henderson (Scotland)
The best lager there is. The only one that runs it close is t'Ij Pilsner.
Martin
I'm lucky enough to have a Czech wife, and so can try lot's of Czech brews... but this is the smoothest, most refreshing, and definitely the best lager in the world!
William Wallace
This is great stuff, bursting with hop flavours and only 4.4%. Many stronger pilsners have far less character than this - in my mind it's a classic and worth at least 8.5
El Tigre Del Norte
Best beers of the world come from the Czech rep. This is one of them. Everybody should try it to admit it's a fact!
Kenny
This is the best beer in the whole world! I LOVE it!
Jordan
Your are lucky. They don't export the best beer in the world to Brazil anymore. Sniff!!!
Rondon
Best beer in the world
William Cohen
Ahhhh...
This stuff was formulated before corporate bean counters were able prevent it, in a simpler time, by true craftsmen, people who obviously had a good idea of how to balance a beer. It is really too bad that hardly anyone outside of Bohemia and Germany knew the difference between this evolutionary, ground breaking Pilsner from Plzn and the sorry, contemptible "Pilsner" or whatever they call the swill passed off by A-B from St. Louis Missouri for the last 150 years or so.
Hopalong
I seek out this beer wherever I go for there is no better brew anywhere, anyplace especially on tap.
Art Novak
PLZEN PLZ
Chris Hutchinson
Apart from your reviewer, who scores this a meagre 6.5, the consensus seems to be that this is THE GREAT LAGER - and I agree !!!!
robberroo
BEST OF THE BEST
The one and only pilsener
A 10 for Urquell
Vali - timisoara, romania
I love this Beer. It is flavorfull and refreshing. My favorite.
Michael Custer
My local discount warehouse (Sam's Club) just started carrying it. Bless them. Unique and great!
Harold J Barton
the few bottles i have drunk here in australia have been less than perfect, please let me taste a fresh bottle:'(
brendan
The reference. I have been all over Europe searhing for a better beer (including seven trips to the Czech Republic) I have not found it yet. In Norway, Aass Pilsner may come close at it`s best, but not from a can. But watch out when in Prague, on Staromestke Namesti at least one restaurant will serve you some sh*t beer in a glass marked "Pilsner Urquell".
Timberwolf
Nutty, creamy and delicious.
Chris from Seattle
I'd almost forgotten how sublime this is until I had a couple of bottles the other night. Intense, but never harsh, bitterness and packed with Saaz hop flavour. More body and underlying malt character than the average premium strength lager. Gives several British pale ales a run for their money. Don't serve *too* cold!
Martin Brady
I had this on draught in Prague recently - the bitterness and maltiness were both more pronounced, and the overall texture seemed more delicate. I would rate this beer 8.5 out of 10 in a bottle, or 9 out of 10 on draught. This surely is still the classic of its style.
Oliver
There is just one real stuff in the world, and it's coming from Czech Rep.! Enjoy !
Jerry
The Best Lager I've EVER Tasted.
John
Drank loads of this in Teplicé, this beer is truly one of the best in the world. Drink this all night and only this, you will not feel hungover in the morning! The "Pod Lampou" in Teplicé serves the best draught!!
Paul Taylor
GOLD ! Good all year round no matter what climate, especially West Australian dry n hot.
People are whinging about the change to steel from barrels but the taste is minimal, and is still better than the next best. But if you go to Pilzen you can still get micro brewed Pilsner from the barrels.
fuzzy
I only tested one beer barely could I swallow the second sip it is nasty. I bought Six pack at liquor store and guess what? I gave out to friends who dont care of taste
philip
I don't think this is as good as it used to be (and not all things in life are like that.) It seems over-bright, over-filtered.
David
if you ever get the chance top visit the brewery ....ask to sample the green lager they cant sell it cos it aint been pastuerised....so its free
T J Karakas
A lovely beer, wonderful really cold.
Ashley Rollinson
my dad said that this stuff tastes like the beer his father use to brew... this stuff tastes good and i also get a good feeling knowing that my grandfathers drank stuff like this
american-bohemian
I recently had Urquell that wasn't light struck and it was damn good. Fuller bodied with a hoppy zing.
Rosco Metz
Gold!!
Robyn
Still the best!!! But the SAB ownership does raise worries - it seems to me the taste has been changing, but I am not an expert.
And I agree with other people here in adding that Staropramen is my next favourite!
Juraj
You can see why the american breweries always TRY to copy this style. It's damn tasty when done right.
T. Johns
Its a great beer, and they have an amazing game on thier website. Catch the bottles in the six pack, the girl takes off clothes. AMAZING!
Brando
I enjoyed the frothy head
Kevin Murphy
Quite simply amazing. A good head from a good Czech. There's nothing quite like it. Iwent down so smoothly and the fact that it was warm didn't really bother me.
Paul 'the weasel' Burdett
I first tasted this deliciously golden brew when presented with a large set of jugs from a strapping lederhosen donned barman in a small back alley taverna in deepest, darkest Bolton. Have been a fan ever since...
Pat Van Den Barton
If you like beer, but don't like Urquell, you don't know beer. This is my number one choice. In general, the Czechs do beer better than any other country.
G Bert Tyner
My local Safeway is selling these for 55p for a 330ml bottle. I have drank my way through about 3 cases! It has got so much flavour for a beer at 4.4%. Highly recommended by me!
Bert Bassett
Consistently, the cheapest and best massed produced beer in the world. When there's little all else'- grab an Urquell. (5.5)
HopsHappy
It's okay for a Pilsner.
Richard Oliver
It is probably the best export beer you can buy in the US. But nothing beats local southern bavarian beer!!!
zman
The best beer in the whole world. End of discussion.
Randy King
Ah dear Randy and especially G Bert Tyner. I think you guys need to get out more. For starters Tyner, I know beer very well, but Urquell is not a beer I like that much, so your comment is not only wrong and narrow minded, but just plain arrogant. Ever heard of freedom of choice. Don't label me. As you have written "If you like beer...", then WE obviously "know beer"!!! Tyner, stick to reviewing beers and not beer drinkers, till you think you're mature enough to say something sensible. Sparks review is spot on. For "me personally" just a bit too bitter at the end, but still in my top ten, just.
Daz Down Under
Wonderful flavour for a 4.4% lager, fully deserves its classic status. I love the hoppy aroma and bitter finish.
Mike
Oh yeah this is one hell of a good beer, English beer is not in the same league. Give me a pilsner urquell anyday, The best Beer i've ever tasted.
Steve Sneyd. England
A classic - the original lager that conquered the ale world. Surely rates more than 6.5 in regards to flavour. More like a 8.5, in my opinion. Mustn't blame Pilsner Urquell for all the insipid imitators.
Mark, Australia
I bought a six pack of this on a whim last night and was astounded at how wonderful this is... Pilsner Urquell is simply the best beer I have ever had the pleasure to have known. Try it NOW!
DT Rogers, Memphis, TN
Since being taken over by a global brewer, Urquell has unfortunately gone downhill, as its lagering time has been heavily cut. While still vastly superior to most, it is no longer as good as Budweiser, which maintains the traditional long lagering, and is to my taste more subtle and flavoursome because of it.
"Beardy" Mike
I tasted it off the tap in US last year and haven't looked back since. A Pilsnerage (A constant journey around the Bottle Shop looking for new Pilsners) hasnt found anything to match it. Clearly deserving of the aphorism "The original and the best".
Cam, Melbourne Australia
beardy mike: please Budweiser it is not even a real beer its a malt beverage that imitates beer, don't disgrace us all
bear doc
best beer that money can buy. and thats about 50p sterling a pint in Prauge. HEAVEN!
luke
This Pilsner has it all...Great Hop aroma, great hop taste balanced by stunning malt backbone. The best!
steasa
I discovered Pilsner Urquell a few years ago when my liquor store started to carry it in 22 oz bottles. It'd been my daily beer ever since, having gone through many of those large bottles and 6 packs! I always drink it from a glass, I love the golden color. I'd rather have it a little warm instead of ice cold.
Alex
Came across this one in Prague for between 50p and £1 a pint (500ml) on tap. What a beer! Doesn't bloat you and doesn't give you headache. Probably the main reason I only slept for 8 hours in the 3 days we were there! Can be a bit gassy from the bottle though, drink it from a glass.
Rob on the Merrie City Boys Run
Dear "bear doc", I think "beardy Mike" was referring to the Czech "Budvar" or "Budweiser" [or, at least I hope he was :)]of which the American namesake is a very pale and far removed imitation.
It is a crying shame that so many inferior pilseners rate more highly than Urquell on this database. 6.5! Mon dieu...the injustice of it! And I am not even a lager fan!!
Mark, Australia
This beer is one of the best Czech beer I like it more than any other beer. The taste is unbeliveable. I am from Slovakia and we have many lagers here but I think this is better and cheap 30p.
Michael
I have been to the Beer Fest held in the Brewery in Plizen (Pilsen)and found this beer very much to my taste, I'm now looking to buy it in the UK. (Am going back to next years Fest)
Ken Blackman
This really is a very good beer, one of my favorites. It is better on draft, but in the bottle is still great. Of the "name" exports, this is THE lager. It is my favorite "everyday" beer and definitely better than a 6.5 rating.
Clyde
Pilner Urquell Je Nejlepsi! so they say in Czech! I was lucky enough to go to Plzen and drink it fresh, bottled is good, tapped is great fresh from the brewery is like heaven! this brew gets a 10 for me, the best beer i've tasted, just cant find it in Australia!!!
Lee Nagle
In Canada, each weekend I try new beer, ever searching for best beer. Got Tuborg Pilsner, thought it is the best. But I was wrong, the king of beers, the only original Pilsner was to be discovered in my beer world.
Aplus Sati
6.5 in flavor is ridiculous. It lke saying "the pieta is a fairly good sculpture. I'll give it a 7 on a scale of 1-10". This is one of the worlds great beers completely uncompromising and one of my favorites.
Kevin
SIMPLY BEST, SO TAKE A TEST
KAMIL
I am an absolute fan of this beer. Quotations : "...it tasted like a skunk's ass" (Rosco) ; "barely could I swallow the second sip it is nasty" (Philip). Could you please be more specific about that? In which context did you taste that beer (wasn't it too warm, too cold) ; what beers do you like?
ben
Pilsner Urquell is the "King Of Beers" for those that actually know what good beer tastes like. It overshadows Heineken greatly. Most folks that say it sucks have never had good beer and think that Budweiser or Coors are the benchmark. Pilsner Urquell is the best tasting, most drinkable beer I've ever encountered in my thirty-plus years of beer enjoyment!
Kawika Kahili
Lee Nagle,
Looking for Urquell in Oz?
Try Dan Murhpy's or First Choice, or really any decent bottl'o in a major city.
It is widely available, but those two have the best prices. In fact, sometimes it is absurdly cheap, making it the best value beer around. I can get it for $12 a six-pack or $44 a carton sometimes. Consider that many quite average English ales retail for around $7 a pint bottle (!) while a very decent US lager like Sam Adams goes for $24 a six pack and you see what I mean about value. I know it's like comparing apples and oranges, but really there is no contest.
Mark, Australia
Re Richard's Comment way above. When I first came across Urquell, it was still independent, not part of the SAB Miller hegemony. I was always bewitched by the incredibly persistent hoppy aftertaste, long after I had swallowed the liquid gold. It became one of my all-time best beers. Recently, SAB Miller has been marketing it heavily (together with Nastro Azzuro, another acquisition) and, unfortunately, my experience has been similar to that of Richard. The characteristic, refreshing hoppiness seems to have been somewhat lost; no long finish any more. I have seriously thought that SAB Miller has been brewing it here in South Africa. A different beer here? Reluctantly it is no longer my first choice in a pub. How long before it becomes further 'tamed', turned into an anonymous, industrial adjunct lager (maize), a clone of the SAB Miller best seller here in South Africa: Castle Lager.
South Africa
A beer i have been drinking since i was a teenager. Thats 35 odd years. It always has a wonderfull clean distinctive flavour and colour. It may be my fancy ,but I do feel that the larger bottles are better than the small. Draught Urquell is superb. No other lagers come close for style flavour or finish.
simon
Go to Plzen and drink it unpasteurized from the pub next to the beer museum; or better yet, unfiltered and unpasteurized from the lagering cellars at the brewery while on the tour. You will forget about every pilsner you ever drank. The original is still the best. It will be a sin if SAB Miller ruins its heritage.
John Arce, Prague
Simply Marvelous.
Eric the Red
A wonderful lager, I don't feel that it has suffered from being bought by SAB/Miller (though Beardly Mike's comment on shorter lagering time is worrisome). I think that detractors are generally those who are not used to hoppiness balanced with malt and a lingering dry finish - if you were weaned on American bud or the many crappy lagers from all over the world you might not be ready for a lager with flavor. Pity for you. I think that is why a few say it tastes skunky. The other reason may be the green bottles (which let in more harmful sun, flourescent and other light), while these can harm this beer over time I feel that its hoppiness allows it to cross the Atlantic pretty well (and yes I have tried it on tap and in bottle both here and in the czech republic).
Gil's swills
I think that you have rated this Pils too low. I'd rate it as an 8 or 8.5 at least. This is my favourite lager bar none and it comes in a can which means that it doesn't go off as quickly although at $2.45 a can it is a little expensive as are all the beer out of the Czech Rep here in Canada.
Oskar (London, Canada)
What can you say it is the original and there are none which are better. I love this beer (in the can it is much fresher)and although it has rapidly become expensive, I still buy it and enjoy it. I would love to know if it is available on tap in Ontario. I would rate it at about 8 because as yet i have not tasted a better lager (Pils).
The prussian
Don't worry it was invented by a Bavarian brewer freind of the brewer in Austria of which Pilsen was a part of at that time.
the prussian
Fantastic
steve
Too bitter
Richard G
Love this stuff. Hugely refreshing and great in Britain's (brief) barbecue months. Shame nobody ever has it on draft.
Vaivai
One of my favourite beers. It has rich and natural taste. The after taste is also quite good.
MetalMilitia
This beer and the original Budvar (the Czech Budweiser--the German-Americans took the name)are the best beers in the world...does anyone know the secret as to why these Czech beers are so great--the water?
Petey
the Prussian knows his stuff--All beers that are decent are good because of German Brewmasters: whether it be Alsace, Flanders, the Czech Republic, or South America for that matter--look it up.
Petey
This is my favourite lager. The 660 ml bottles (priced at a good value £1.79) are disappearing from my local (London)supermarkets and corner shops. Does anyone know why?
LondonBeerDrinker
Just back from Prague and paid a few visits to U Zlateho Tygra - if you know Czech beer you may have heard of it. Serves ONLY Pilsner Urquell and is a great place to go for a genuine Plzensky Pivnice experience! Also a must for all fans of the great Bohumil Hrabal. Man, I love Prague.
Ally
Had it again recently...not the same stuff--missing the aroma, the bitter character it once had...it was missing Czech characteristics; doesn't seeem to be the beer I enjoyed long ago; a shame--have big beer manufacturers ruined another once-great beer?
Petey
Super beer. Very flavoursome and complex. One of my favorite Czech beers along side Budvar and Staropramen, But since this was the original, it deserves to be rated higher. Score 8. I'm probably the only boy of 16 that loves urquell.
Kieran Brooks
I love beer! Pilsner Urquell is all that I now drink. It is perfection.
Richard Seitzinger
This beer only being 6.5 makes a mockery of this whole site!
If you are ever in the Czech Republic seek out the unpasteurised 'tankovna' Pilsner Urquell available on draft in many pubs, nothing I have ever tasted comes close to it. From an Englishman brought up on bitter, with a lifelong distrust of lager.
Matt Denning
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