Pilsner Urquell - The Beer Thrillers

Beer Reviews: Czech Pilsner (Pilsner Urquell) and Pils (Laqunitas Brewing)

Let Us Drink Beer — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 03:05:45 +0000

Czech Pilsner by Pilsner Urquell and Lagunitas Pils

Beer Stats for Pilsner Urquell

Container: 12 Oz. Bottle
ABV: 4.4%
Style: Czech Pilsner
Brewer: Pilsner Urquell

LUDB Notes:

Bitterness Level: Medium
Drinkability:
- Would I purchase again? Yes
- Would I stock it? Yes
- Distinguishing Characteristics: Thick foamy head, bitterness consistent throughout

For more information on Pilsner Urquell and how they also do Milk Tubes, you can check out this article on Human Robot (which discusses the Milk Tube technique pioneered by Pilsner Urquell): Human Robot – Milk Tube – Pioneered by Pilsner Urquell.

Beer Stats for Lagunitas Czech Pilsner

Container: 12 Oz. Bottle
ABV: 6.0%
Style: Czech Pilsner
Brewer: Lagunitas Brewing

LUDB Notes:

Bitterness Level: Medium
Drinkability:
- Would I purchase again? Yes
- Would I stock it? No
- Distinguishing Characteristics: Higher in ABV than most Czech Pilsners, slightly higher in bitterness which lingers into aftertaste

Old World Style Beers – Czech Pilsners

You can’t sample old world style beers without going right to Czech Pilsners. As I work my way through these various styles, I like to try an “original” and an American version at the same time. This allows me to compare and contrast using the old world product as a sort of benchmark. Granted, it’s not a perfect way to compare beers; but it’s very helpful to me in learning the nuances of particular breweries. So for this review, what is more appropriate than using Pilsner Urquell as the benchmark! I selected Lagunitas Czech Pilsner fairly randomly.

It’s been quite some time since I have drunk a Pilsner Urquell, with my faint memory of it being that it tasted and smelled a little “skunked”. To my pleasant surprise, this one did not. I noted that it comes in a brown bottle instead of the more familiar green one I remembered. I don’t know exactly when they switched; but I suspect the better taste was aided by the switch to the brown bottle. Anyway, this Czech Pilsner pours a brilliant, golden-yellow with good retention of its white, fluffy head. In keeping with local tradition, this Pilsner begs for a hard pour to produce the desired head. The blossoming carbonation releases subtle aromas of floral hops. That bready malts aroma is there; but barely detectable. Flavors are well-balanced between bitter Saaz hops and sweet, caramel malts (Moravian Barley). The bitterness runs consistently start, middle and finish. Finishes with a medium, drying bitterness – just right. It is crisp and refreshing and leaves no doubt about it being the benchmark for Czech Pilsner.

It’s no surprise, but you get a slightly different experience with Lagunitas Czech Pilsner. It pours with a brilliant, slightly lighter gold color than Pilsner Urquell; but with a similar white, fluffy head and head retention. Now Lagunitas says they use Saaz hops; however, you get a noticeably different, more citrus aroma and bitterness. They obviously accentuate the hops a little more in their process. Malts flavors are not noticeably different. The bitterness is medium, but balanced and lingers into the aftertaste. It completes your journey with a dry, bitterness. All in all, a solid rendition of a Czech Pilsner with enough differences to be interesting.

Beer Reviews

Both Pilsners are crisp and refreshing and fit the bill for a year round beer. One thing I have learned from the brewmaster at Arches Brewing here in Atlanta is that water is extremely important to the final product and sometimes the most neglected ingredient in the brewing process. The local soft water of Plzen gives Pilsner Urquell nice smooth mouth-feel and plays a big role in making it a challenge to replicate the style. But that’s okay because as beer drinkers we often prefer uniqueness. One big thing to remember to truly enjoy any Czech Pilsner is, don’t be mamby-pamby with the pour!

Bottom line: both are very enjoyable beers and would be perfect for hot summer days or cheery Holiday celebrations.

Until next time…Let Us Drink Beer!

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #8 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. (As of January 2023.) Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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Beer Review: Everyday Balloons (Milko Pour) (Gusto Brewing Company)

B. Kline — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 18:24:00 +0000

Everyday Balloons (milko pour) by Gusto Brewing Company

The Infamous Milko Pour

Well, we’re finally doing it….. we’re finally doing a milko pour beer review. (And not just one… but two… as another will be coming soon, from Fourscore Beer Co). Is this us jumping the shark? Chasing a fad? A little bit of all of that? Who knows really. Is this just the latest marketing craze or fad or ‘new idea’ in brewing that everyone is trying out?

Its been popularized by several breweries in the area (to us) (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, etc.). Breweries in PA (the page and group) have really tried pushing it as well.

Got to try this one from Gusto Brewing when we had our trip to Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey. This was a great brewery and fun place with a wonderful talkative, upbeat, and cool staff. Outside of the beer I had on the ferry (Cape May IPA) the milko pour was my first of the day, before hitting a few other breweries in New Jersey on our way back to PA. You can read about our trip here: The Trip Home – Delaware, Cape May, and New Jersey. (Make sure to check out our travelogue section for more trip articles.)

So what exactly is the “milko” pour or a milk pour? Well, I covered some of that in a previous article here on the blog – about Human Robot’s 1st Ever Milk Tube Race. You can read that full article here: “Human Robot: The First Milk Tube Race in the World – USA vs. The World – Oktoberfest Invitational World Beer Fest“.

But let’s break it down a bit more for this article as well, and I think a great starting point is provided by Pilsner Urquell. Straight from possibly the best source on the topic:

The Mlíko is a special treat. It’s not the kind of beer you’d order again and again while you’re at the pub with friends. In traditional Czech pubs in the 19th and early 20th centuries it was served as a dessert, or as an elegant drink for women who weren’t big beer drinkers. Sometimes the bartender would give a Mlíko as a nightcap after the bill was paid.
These days, Tapsters at our Tankovna bars often give out a round of Mlíkos at the start or end of a shift. It’s something fun to change the mood, and it’s a different way to enjoy the Saaz hop aroma and the smooth, refreshing sweetness of Pilsner Urquell.
To pour a Mlíko, the Tapster opens the tap just slightly, letting the glass fill to the top with foam. Some of this foam settles, becoming beer – you get a full glass but you only pay for a half.
The History of the Milko Pour – Pilsner Urquell

A fun little discussion forum pop-up on the milko pour, courtesy of the BeerAdvocate’s Forum Pages:

What’s up with the milko (milk) pours?

The person’s post reads:

There’s a new trend in American craft beer: the mlíko (or milk) pour.
I’ve seen breweries from Pennsylvania to Utah promoting these on Instagram in recent weeks, but first encountered the phenomenon at Human Robot, which serves a roughly 95%-head pour of one of their Czech-style lagers in a stange and calls it a “Milk Tube.” It’s meant to be chugged.
Whats up with the milko pours?

The comments on the five page post varies from “no ways” and “f* that” to “I love it, its so creamy, so delicious”, etc. One of the first comments posted in reply reads:

I had my first Milk Pour on a small brewery’s (outstanding) Bohemian Pils last week. Tried it because I knew it was a Czech tradition.
Gotta say, the special tap really makes a creamy and delicious head — not at all like a bad AAL pour with too much foam.
FWIW — I had already tried the Pils with a regular pour and knew it was a great take on the style. Not sure the pours change up the flavor of the beer itself (once you get thru the head), but the mouthfeel of the head was nice.

This is definitely a ‘mileage may vary’ type of thing, especially for the craft beer community at large.

Another interesting article on milko pours is by Atlas Obsucura (Gastro Obscura): Czech Milk Beer Milko Pilsner.

Alright Already… Get to the Beer Review

When will they ever get to the fireworks factory?!!!!? (…..if you get that, you get it, if you don’t, you don’t.)

Ok, let’s finally get to this beer review and tackle it. Firstly, though, let me say, this won’t be quite like a normal beer review, primarily because it was a chug. In the sense, that we both CHUGGED it… because thats “what you do” with this style (the milko pour) – or so we’re told. The bartender told us its best to chug, so chug we did. So I won’t quite be able to give the same kind of review as I do of a normal beer pour and beer review. But lets get down to it!

Everyday Balloons (milko pour) by Gusto Brewing Company

Beer: Everyday Balloons
Brewery: Gusto Brewing Company
Style: Pilsner – Czech
Pour Style: Milko Pour
ABV: 5%
IBU: None
Untappd Description: Crispy, glimmering, and the liquid reward for a lawn well mowed — this is a Czech-style Pilsner brewed with Pilsner malt and hefty additions of Saaz. Upon reaching terminal gravity, it lagered at near freezing temperatures for one month. Notes of unsalted crackers, floral stuff, and earthy noble hop jazz.

As per Untappd, Gusto Brewing Company is a nano brewery in North Cape May, New Jersey. They have 148 unique beers and a total of 15,600 ratings as of 1.7.22. They have a global average rating of 3.91. Their Untappd description reads: We aim to cultivate something truly unique, to give like crazy, and whip up really swell beers. [something small + something weird].

Lets jump into this with the aroma, it smells malty, pilsner like, and beer like. There’s not a whole host of descriptors I can give for the aroma on this beaut, because I think its pour style kind of dilutes it all. The foam certainly changes a lot of aspects of this beer I imagine (really makes me wish I had gotten it regularly afterwards for a style comparison). This smells like a malthouse but muted a bit, or dampened (but obviously not wet dampened, just like a lesser version).

Appearance is… foam. Ever been to a foam rave? Where they just douse you in foam and its everywhere, and it comes up to your knees, then up to your chest, and everyone is partying and jumping around, losing their ever loving minds? ….Just me? …Nobody else? No… well… ok… but anyhoo….. the appearance is similar to that. You can see why it has the nickname ‘milk’ or ‘milko’ pour, because the foam legitimately turns the beer into looking like your drinking a glass of milk. (Though if you notice, you can still see some of the regular pilsner looking liquid at the bottom, which looks like your typical pilsner – clear, golden light yellow, blond, beer looking beer).

Like I said, we both picked up our glasses, and chugged! I was able to completely down mine in the single chug, my friend had to do it in two. (Not bragging…. just stating). It goes down pretty easily, but it goes down like foam too, not like a pure liquid, so it kinda goes down ‘weird’. It tasted like what a good pilsner (a well crafted pilsner by a craft brewery, not like a Miller Lite or Coors or the similar) but doused so heavily in foam, that it tampers it so greatly. I could taste the pilsner while chugging, but the foam just overwhelmed everything. And here is where I will admit to not understanding the craze behind this, other than what certain groups and parties and pages have put out to make people more interested in them. I feel like its more ploy and noise than bang for your buck or interest. Yes, the pour was cheaper than a regular of the pilsner, and it was certainly a different style, and interesting to try something ‘new’ or innovative (even if it its an old technique brought back), but it just… felt more novelty than good, and was not my cup of tea (or beer if you will). I’d love to be able to talk to people back in the Old Countries and see their perspectives; both as customers and as brewers; about this style, and what their thoughts are on it. I believe some people and pages have a vested interest in trying to make it more of a thing than it is, and therefore the popularity explosion (especially in Pennsylvania), and especially when novelty for novelty’s sake is more important than the quality. But then again, I think its a case of mileage may vary and can be different dependent on the person. As seems to be the case with that BeerAdvocate’s discussion forum post on the subject. Personally, I don’t think its my cup of beer. Personally, if I’m gonna drink a Pilsner, I’d rather have it the way I’ve always drank it – like a normal beer. But, I also think Pilsner is on the lower side of the spectrum of beer styles that I enjoy, so there is that as well. I’m much more of a stout, porter, and barleywine kind of guy than the light, lite, airy, summer time mowing the lawn style beers. So take it for what its worth on that alone. I do think this somewhat contributed to me getting a bit sick later in the day; doing a chug of this straight foam side-pull milko pour with nothing else in my stomach after riding a ferry (where, admittedly I did have a small can of Cape May IPA, and I did take a single sip of my friend’s wine at the winery we visited); but I think filling my belly with a chug of pure foam, certainly did it no small favors. But I don’t know nor really worried about it now anymore.

I do think it would be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison with the same beer, one with the side pour milko pour, and one regularly. I imagine I will like the regular better, but don’t know for sure.

My Untappd Rating: ***.75
Global Average Untappd Rating: 3.87 (and this is for all pour styles of the Everyday Balloons) (as of 1.7.22)

Your Thoughts?

Whats everyone else’s thoughts on the milko pour? Enjoy it? Hate it? Keep it? Leave it? Let us know in the comments section below. Or let us know on our social media pages!

Thank You For Reading

Thank you for reading everyone. Hope you enjoyed reading, let us know if you have any thoughts, questions, comments, or concerns. We got a lot of stuff coming here on the blog, so make sure to follow, like, subscribe, and keep tuned for what we got to show!

-B. Kline

Human Robot: The First Milk Tube Race in the World: USA vs. The World – Oktoberfest Invitational Beer Fest

BKline — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 12:59:00 +0000

Human Robot presents: “USA vs. The World” An Oktoberfest Celebration, including the World’s first Milk Tube Race

Oktoberfest

Ahhhh, its that time of the year again! Oktoberfest time! And many breweries across the country (and the world) are starting to do their big celebrations. Most being in September and October. Human Robot in Philadelphia Pennsylvania is doing their own unique take on an Oktoberfest on September 18th, 2021.

Obviously, most know Oktoberfest for Germany’s Oktoberfest, the largest in the world, or even Cincinnati’s Oktoberfest due to their strong German heritage and traditions. But, Human Robot wants to take that concept of Oktoberfest, and ramp it up, and throw in the Czech pouring tradition of the “milko” or “milk tube”, which has become the latest craze and fad in the craft beer industry.

The Milko aka Milk Tube

“Milktube” by Human Robot

So what exactly is the “milko” or the “milk tube” or the “milko pour”? Why does it look like a badly tapped keg and poured beer at a frat party? Pilsner Urquell has a wonderful article on their site / blog about the milko pour: “The History of the Milko Pour“. Its a one minute read, but very informative, I highly recommend checking it out and reading it (obviously after reading this…. or go there, read that, then come back here, either way.)

Quoting from their article:

Mlíko, which is the Czech word for ‘milk’, is one of the classic Pilsner Urquell pours. It’s probably unlike anything you’ve ever seen or tasted.
……
The Mlíko is a special treat. It’s not the kind of beer you’d order again and again while you’re at the pub with friends. In traditional Czech pubs in the 19th and early 20th centuries it was served as a dessert, or as an elegant drink for women who weren’t big beer drinkers. Sometimes the bartender would give a Mlíko as a nightcap after the bill was paid.
…….

To pour a Mlíko, the Tapster opens the tap just slightly, letting the glass fill to the top with foam. Some of this foam settles, becoming beer – you get a full glass but you only pay for a half.
The History of the Milko Pour – Pilsner Urquell

It has certainly become the ‘in’ fad right now in the craft beer world. First, you had New England IPAs, then Milkshake IPAs and heavy fruited smoothies, then hard seltzers, now, its the milko pour!

Several breweries across Pennsylvania have latched onto it and started doing it. Most notably Human Robot. Breweries in PA did an article discussing the technique and some of the breweries that do it in PA, another notable brewery (and local to the blog here) is Wolf Brewing out of Mechanicsburg PA.

Human Robot

Human Robot has become notable for being one of the first breweries in the area and first in Pennsylvania to be doing the ‘milko pour’. So with all the popularity and the craze going on, it’s perfect timing to do their Oktoberfest Celebration, and to include the milk tube as a big part of the festivities.

Human Robot has been a premier brewery in the Philadelphia beer scene since their opening in 2019. Well known for their fantastic beers, wonderful brewery, and fantastic ownership and staff.

An Oktoberfest Celebration

Human Robot is celebrating their Oktoberfest on September 18th, 2021. Hopefully this will become an annual tradition. The press release for the event reads:

Human Robot is set to host the inaugural USA vs. The World Oktoberfest Invitational on Sept. 18th, 2021 at Sunflower Philly, featuring breweries from around the globe doing their best take on classic German styles of beer. The beer fest will feature the host brewery’s celebrated lagers as well as a Sitchfaß of Oktoberfest beer, which will be available in limited supply during the event in addition to elusive offerings from notable American & European breweries.

Live music will be provided by local favorites Snacktime Philly, Grave Bathers for metal-flair, and DJ The Touched spinning a twist on tradition with German house and metal. Not only will there be a sampling of some of the best lager beers made in the US and Europe, the event will feature friendly competitions including The World’s First Milk Tube Race!

USA vs. the World offers FREE admission, though guests can attend and purchase beer tokens on a pay-as-you-go basis for $7 a piece. Discounted token packages plus limited edition Beer Steins can be purchased online ahead of the event and are available now at humanrobot.com. Food trucks will also be available pay-as-you-go with a diverse selection of tasty German culinary favorites to pair with all that great beer.

Breweries include: 2nd District, Bonn Place, Burial, Folksbier, Human Robot, The Seed, Threes, Von Trapp, Ettal Dunkel, Hofstetten’s Kuebelbier, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Maerzen, Mythos Spezial Maerzenstyle plus more to be announced. Check Instagram for updates.
Press Release for Human Robot’s Oktoberfest Celebration

This looks like an amazing event. Food trucks, milk tube race, breweries that are hard to get and all kinds of fun activities. What could be better? Add in that its Human Robot, so you know the event will go smoothly and be lots of fun, and will have amazing brews on hand. This definitely sounds like one event you don’t want to miss.

“We are stoked to have such a high calibur lineup of breweries joining us for our first Oktoberfest. Our friends in the industry are sending us incredible beer from all over the world – some new ones, some old favorites – and we can’t wait for everyone to come try them at Sunflower. Philly is a lager town and we want to keep that tradition going. We’ll have Tin Hoagie, Polotmovy, Czech 10 and our new Oktoberfest at USA vs. the World. We’ve got a mix of everything for you that day – oompa music plus metal, you know? You won’t want to miss it.”
Jake Atkinson (co-owner of Human Robot)

About Human Robot and this article

A word about this article – this is a sponsored article from Human Robot via House of Hobbs Brewery Marketing. The Beer Thrillers was contacted by House of Hobbs Brewery Marketing to do a press release for this event. The information provided above was given by the brewery through the marketing for the press release and for the purposes of this article.

For more information on Human Robot:

Established in 2019 by three industry veterans—Kenny Correll, Chris Roller, and Jake Atkinson – Human Robot brews both traditional European-style beers as well as experimental, flavor-bending, IPAs, stouts, and “splash” ales, with fruitful aromas, full mouthfeel, and tons of flavor. Human Robot is making waves in the Philadelphia beer scene and has been rated in the top-10 Pennsylvania breweries on Untapped. Human Robot, located at 1710 N. 5th Street in Philadelphia, PA, is a destination for day-drinking as well as lively night-time activity. Human Robot has also quickly become one of the most-frequented meeting spots for industry comradery. The brewery often collaborates with Sunflower Philly, a venue and park located across the street from the taproom, offering a large variety of bands throughout the summer months. Human Robot offers outdoor seating on its wooden deck, referred to as “the Pirate Ship” and is available for semi-private events.
About Human Robot – Press Release

For More Information:
INSTAGRAM @humanrobot
WEBSITE www.humanrobot.com
1710 N. 5th St. Phila, PA

Extra Links / The Beer Thrillers

Thank you for checking us out here at the blog. Be sure to like and subscribe to our social media pages. (Links provided on the side and below.) I would like to thank Human Robot and House of Hobbs Brewery Marketing for reaching out to us to do this article. If you would like to contact us for writing and other information, you can use our Contact Us page and I will respond as promptly as I am able to.

There is a lot of exciting stuff coming down the pipe lines here at The Beer Thrillers. Podcasts, streaming, videos, more and more articles, beer reviews, brewery reviews, book reviews, hikes, and so much more planned. So be sure to be on the lookout and make sure you check everything out!

There is quite a few other celebrations in the area coming up. On October 2nd – Boneshire Brew Works is hosting their annual Pigtoberfest. Make sure you check that out, and on October 3rd – Rubber Soul Brewery is doing their “Year One Anniversary Bash“. Be sure to check that out as well.

Links:

Thank You For Reading

Thank you for reading everyone. Enjoy the upcoming Oktoberfest season! Cheers!

-B. Kline

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The Beer Thrillers are a blog that prides itself on writing beer reviews, brewery reviews, travelogues, news (especially local to the Central PA brewery scene), as well as covering other topics of our interests – such as hiking, literature and books, board games, and video games which we sometimes stream with our friends over at Knights of Nostalgia. We are currently listed as #7 on FeedSpot’s “Top 100 Beer Blogs” and #9 on FeedSpot’s “Top 40 Pennsylvania Blogs”. Thank you for reading our site today, please subscribe, follow, and bookmark. Please reach out to us if you are interested in working together. If you would like to donate to the blog you can here: Donate to The Beer Thrillers. Thank you!

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