Pilsner Urquell
75 / 100
Pilsen, Czech Republic is the birthplace of the pilsener. The world's first pilsner and one of Europe's most exported lagers, Pilsner Urquell is still made there today.
Very few drinking establishments in Los Angeles have decent beer. So often I end up having to grab something that, in other circumstances would not be my first choice. Such is the case with Pilsner Urquell.
A proper fresh serving of Pilsner Urquell in a pilsener glass at an above-freezing temperature is great. Fine beer. That's another thing that's rare in LA. Generally you're served it in a pint glass (if you're lucky not frosted) or with no glass at all - straight from the bottle. Czech Pilseners are not the most durable beers and that with the fact that if drinking from the bottle - the green bottles are poorly designed for proper shelf life.
The one I happened to be having was not terribly fresh but it wasn't terribly old either. I was at the Hambuger Hamlet on Hollywood Blvd, in the thick of the Hollywood bullshit. They served it in a goblet, for whatever dumb reason. It was too cold. I tried to enjoy the beer for what it was. It did that quite well.
It's a remarkably refreshing beer - light, crisp and quenching. The Saaz hops are omnipresent providing most of the flavor. The finish is clean and slight bit sweet. This is a great gateway lager to try to get those so used to the American macros to see that beer can have flavor and not be intimidating.
