don't like pilsners - why?

[bella_union]

So, every pilsner I've tried (which is only a few, since I don't like them) has this strange (to me) aftertaste that I only encounter when I drink pilsner. I wish I could describe it better, but I think a passable description is a foamy malty coppery taste (coppery or old-coin but not metallic)... Anyone know what I'm talking about? Can't stand it and want to know what causes it...

 

[inhousebrew]

Guessing it's the yeast or hops you're not a fan of. Nothing crazy about the grain bill so it would be one of those two and if you don't like it you don't like it. No big deal.

 

[Denny]

Tell us what pilsners you've tried and where you got them. It could be related to brand or handling.

 

[helibrewer]

So, every pilsner I've tried (which is only a few, since I don't like them) has this strange (to me) aftertaste that I only encounter when I drink pilsner. I wish I could describe it better, but I think a passable description is a foamy malty coppery taste (coppery or old-coin but not metallic)... Anyone know what I'm talking about? Can't stand it and want to know what causes it...

I'm the same; I've tried Pilsner Urquel and most of the renowned German lagers and every craft pilsner I come across...I think it's the hops. I don't think I'm a fan of Saaz.

I know it's not the grain bill because I like Kolsch, Alt, and almost all the Belgians and I make then all using German or Belgian pilsner malt.

 

[ryanmx48]

I dont like them either. Of the ones youve tried, are they all pasteurized. All the big commercial beers to me have an overbearing "sour" taste. It dominates the beer and its all I can taste. I can actually smell it too. Smells like a dirty bar (presumably because most bars spill quite a bit of bud light). Im sure its pasteurization that causes this. One thing ive noticed is that I taste in all of the entry level Sam Adams bottles (boston lager, october, etc), these are all pasteurizred. Their kegs on the other hand are not pasteurized and I still like a boston lager draft now and then. there is not even a hint of that taste off the tap.

 

[Bender]

I dont like them either. Of the ones youve tried, are they all pasteurized. All the big commercial beers to me have an overbearing "sour" taste. It dominates the beer and its all I can taste. I can actually smell it too. Smells like a dirty bar (presumably because most bars spill quite a bit of bud light). Im sure its pasteurization that causes this. One thing ive noticed is that I taste in all of the entry level Sam Adams bottles (boston lager, october, etc), these are all pasteurizred. Their kegs on the other hand are not pasteurized and I still like a boston lager draft now and then. there is not even a hint of that taste off the tap.

My Mom says the same thing about those beers. They have that sour taste. OTOH, she loves Coors Light so she's hardly a beer connoisseur.

 

[bella_union]

hmm, ok, i wish some of these breweries would post their recipes.. ha.

I can't think of many of them off the top of my head right now, but the main one that I've repeatedly tried to like is Steamwhistle - anyone had that? Another one I can think of off the top of my head is Mill St. pilsner.
(I'm in Canada and tend to end up sticking mainly to ontario/canadian craft brewers so this might limit the chances I've tried anything that most people here have). I haven't actually had any of the European imports now that I think about it. Mainly because I don't think I'll like them...

It seems odd that after trying a few different kinds of pilsners I would have noticed the same flavour creeping up. Maybe inhousebrew is right.

What other beers have Saaz hops in them? I'm thinking it might more likely be the pilsner malt, since the flavour I don't like is kind of malty (but then it could just be the malt flavour, and/or the yeast, mixing with a certain type of hops that I don't like). It would be nice to figure this out so that I would know if I could ever brew a pilsner that I would like.
I guess I just have to keep trying them.

 

[Denny]

try victory prima pils

+1.060

If you haven't tried a German pils, then it's too soon to say you don't like pils. As to pils malt flavor, it's not hugely different than pale malt.

 

[CBMbrewer]

I tend to ecuate that flavor to the actual process of lagaring. I've tasted fermented lagar wort prior to lagaring and have enjoyed it. Afterwards however, it has that "cold, crisp" flavor. The last Alt I brewed I kegged right after primary and loved it. Wasn't a traditional Alt of course, but same ingredients.

 

[flyingfinbar]

I'm not a pilsner fan, either. Had Oscar blue's pils. I love their other beers, so if figured that if I'm gonna like a pils, it'll be this one....not so much!

 

[+HopSpunge+]

try victory prima pils

+2 just check the date on the neck before you buy. It's hard to see. Freshness is the key. Urquell is ok, but it comes from a long way to USA usually oxidized.

 

[jonmohno]

It use to be one of my least favorate styles,but recently Ive really been likeing them.Some of them I dont but there are some really good ones, I liked Scimshaw from north coast's pilsner. I would try more of them- I didnt like porters because the handfull I did try are some of my least favorate porters,thats the only reason why. I thought I just didnt like the style until I found ones that were really good to me. That may not be the case for you but, I was kind of narrow minded about it at first because I judged the style for just trying only a few of them.

 

[Willum]

This taste bothers me as well. I have always assumed it was saaz. I enjoy german pils and helles that don't have saaz in them.

 

[tgmartin000]

How about something like Joe's classic American pils from Avery? I love a good CAP. Also, greatdivide makes a great Bohemian pils.

 

[Calichusetts]

I'd say your more of a hop fan if I had to guess. Most pilsners are selling you on a maltier beer with a light noble hop taste. I've always been a fan of them but can see why some people don't like their distinct taste. Try brewing one so you can experience a fresh tasting pilsner and see for yourself. Plenty of great recipes on here.

 

[Padalac]

I know what your getting at and I think it's something to do with the combination of the conmercial lager process as well as the pilsner grain. I find it pretty hard to drink almost any lager these days. I would drink it if there was nothing else but lets face it, there's a reason why lagers trend towards being served ice cold and refined towards having less flavour, and I think it's because the end flavour that a lager ferment of pilsner plus the pasteurisation produces is basically unpleasant. Same goes for the adjuncts found in a lot of lagers, again the trend is to minimise the background flavour of the beer itself. Try drinking a can of Stella Artois (quite a respected lager) at room temperature. It's almost undrinkable. Same goes for the more respected lagers such as pilsner urquell. I like dark lagers better, but I think that's basically because there are other more robust malt flavours going on that cover up the "lager" flavour.

So I think it's a combo of these things, and my acid test of a beer is basically that cold beer is a myth. If you can't enjoy it at cellar temperature, or drink it at all at room temperature then it's **** beer full stop. Sorry lager fans that's just my opinion!

 

[bella_union]

I tend to ecuate that flavor to the actual process of lagaring. I've tasted fermented lagar wort prior to lagaring and have enjoyed it. Afterwards however, it has that "cold, crisp" flavor. The last Alt I brewed I kegged right after primary and loved it. Wasn't a traditional Alt of course, but same ingredients.

By Alt do you mean Altbier? Because I like that a lot (though, again, I've only tried two brands - it hasn't been available around here until recently)

 

[CBMbrewer]

By Alt do you mean Altbier? Because I like that a lot (though, again, I've only tried two brands - it hasn't been available around here until recently)
bella_union is offline

Yeah, German Altbier. I did a clone of Longtrail's double bag, a double altbier or Sticke Bier. Love the beer but I didn't lagar mine. Just kegged after primary. Turned out great. Super malty with a great balance of hops and chocolate malt.

OG 1.074

11 # Marris Otter
1 # c20
.5 # c60
.5 # wheat
.2 # Chocolate Malt

30 IBU's

60 min .75 oz Northern Brewer
15 min .75 oz Mt. Hood
2 min 1.25 oz Mt. Hood

Wyeast 1007 German Ale Yeast

three weeks in primary at 60F

FG: 1.017