For the longest time, I avoided Pilsner Urquell (PU) like the plague because PU used to ship their product to the US in green bottles. I do not know if they thought that Americans were stupid or they were just attempting to cash in on the green bottle beer craze, but most Americans were getting a flawed product. The modern bottle is less green, but it is not the dark brown in which American craft beer is shipped. That means getting fresh, non-skunked PU is still the luck of the draw. I used to be able to walk into the cooler at a beer store and pull a 6-pack of PU out of a case box, but today things are little more complicated. All I can say is that when PU is fresh and non-skunked, it is one the most amazing beers I have ever tasted. It is no surprise to me why this beer set the brewing world on fire. What has been your experiences with PU?
I can attest that the canned PU is excellent. Worth a drink by anyone. Malty, bitter, and hoppy.
I have had some that were skunked and some that were wonderful. It can be a crap shoot when getting green bottles and I usually pass because of this. I haven’t seen it in cans and I would definitely feel more comfortable about buying it packaged that way.
For lack of a better description, PU has this fresh mown hay thing going for it.
With the canned packaging, the opportunity to experience the true essence of that beer is much higher.
I’ll have to try to find cans. I did not understand why everyone was so gaga about PU when I tried it from a bottle.
I now regret not traveling to the Czech Republic when I was stationed in Europe.
The unfiltered unpasteurized version straight from the wooden Lagering vessel was one of the best beers I’ve ever had.
I can find it in sealed cardboard six packs, so in that case bottle color doesn’t matter.
+1 - As long as it is closed off from light it should be fine regardless of color. That said, the cans are great. Wish we could get them locally here.
I had it on draft a few years ago here in Hsv,AL and it was so chock full of diacetyl I couldn’t drink it. High end restaurant too.
Yes, I noticed a few years back, maybe a bit more, they began importing it enclosed within cardboard and it seems I recall reading from PU directly that the objective was to better preserve the beer by eliminating light exposure given the journey overseas, etc. I used to grab a 6 now and then and enjoyed it but the light-stuck issue was noticeable. I became less skeptical about buying it when they started the cardboard thing and do believe it’s consistently better/fresher. PU holds a place of fondness for me because it was the first “premium” beer I ever had - visiting a girlfriend when I was maybe 18 her dad gave me one. I think I liked it (?).
I just looked at the local grocery and they had green glass bottles in regular six pack holders. There was not complete coverage over the bottles as I imagine the ones Denny gets has.
Fresh PU is my favorite beer, and has been for 35 years. There was a German restaurant in eastern PA near the Delaware River that had PU on tap. My first pint, when I was in my mid twenties, was a life-changing experience. I no longer purchased the cheapest beer i could find.
I agree with Jeff, fresh PU from the wooden lagering tank in Pilsen is about the best beer in the world.
Fortunately where I live, there’s a fine beer store that sells bottles of PU in 12 pack cartons, so no need to worry about skunked beer. I do agree with Martin, though, the cans are slightly better than the protected bottles. But what I really wish is for a tavern to have PU on tap.
I’ve enjoyed the PU on the brewery tour, from tankovna and kegs in Czech bars and from bottles and cans in the US. Diacetyl seems to be more prominent in the versions from tap but also with it there is this slight sour note that seems to take the VDK’s from something ordinarily objectionable to something that is quite tasty. Very odd synergy but it works.
Yeah, what I see looks kinda like a tent with a flat top.
Bummer I was going to look. You can get Bittburger in 16oz can in a few places.
Bitte ein Bit!
I’ve never seen Pilsner Urquell in cans, and wish I could find it that way. But as it stands, the light brown bottled PU that started showing up ballpark 4-5 years ago is mighty good beer. A big step up from the old green bottles.
Trader Joe’s for one. Its a summer staple for me.
We’re supposed to be getting a Trader Joe’s here in Huntspatch so maybe we can get it then.
I see it in cans, 16 oz 4 packs here and there and get it when I can. A big package store that I can get deliveries from carries it and I got a case of cans this past fall. I love it. A place near my father in law who lives on a lake has PU, bitburger, konig and other imports in cans. Great beers to take on a kayak ride.