Not all that I hoped it would be!
Written: Aug 04 '01 (Updated Aug 04 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Nice herbal hop and dryness
Cons: Doesn’t do enough to back up the hops
The Bottom Line: You’d have to guess that Gordon Biersch would brew a pilsner, but this was disappointing and probably the least appealing of their brews. Not displeasing, just lacking a little something.
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| andaryl's Full Review: Gordon Biersch Pilsner |
Tonight I feel a certain sense of almost boyish achievement. I remember those young days when I used to collect football stickers (similar to baseball cards) and found much satisfaction in finally collecting a full team page of players. Well tonight, I finally completed the epinions section of Gordon Biersch beers. What lengths I go to for you readers, gladly treading and exploring where others dare not go.
There are 5 beers listed here, and I have enjoyed them all, from the refreshing thirst-quenching drinkability of the Export to the full character, body and satisfaction of the Märzen. Did you ever get the feeling that you had one beer too many? That’s a little of how I’m feeling after the Pilsner, which was certainly not a case of saving the best till last.
A Quick Background FYI
Very briefly, Gordon Biersch is a West Coast originating microbrew-pub chain that now stretches the width of the country. They have become critically acknowledged for brewing German style lagers. The pilsner style actually originates form the Czech Republic, but some of the best examples come from the neighboring Germany.
Note: my other reviews of Gordon Biersch will tell you more about the brewer in general, while there is a specific category that explains the pilsner style in more detail. I have included links at the bottom for convenience.
Tasting Notes
This one pours to a pale golden color, with a body that’s pretty thin and clear. There’s a light carbonation, while the foam is a little light and doesn’t last too long.
The nose has a clean maltiness, a little fruity, maybe grapey. A few swirls unleash the hops that provide a Gordon Biersch characteristic that is something of a herbal, almost medicinal aroma. The hops also provide a slight note of peppery spice.
A slight carbonation tingles the tongue at first, but then it runs through fairly smooth and light, not really offering too much along the way. I’d certainly appreciate a few more bubbles and a little more sharp crispness.
Initial malty, fruity flavors greet the taste buds, with very faint signs of apple. The herbs and spice come into play towards the end, but seem a little too brief to really request much attention. The hops do impart a considerable dryness at the back, with a mild tang and a slight sourness. The dryness lingers well into the aftertaste where it meets with a mild apple and slight grassiness, but little attempt at a malty balance.
I’m not sure if it’s just the lack of malt, but I certainly find myself looking for something else in the aftermath.
Verdict
While I was not particularly impressed, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that this is a bad lager. It’s like my dad used to say when I made his tea, “as long as it’s wet…” Well this was wet, and it did have some qualities, most notably, although briefly, the herbal hop aroma and flavor, as well as the long lingering dryness. Furthermore, Gordon Biersch is a caring brewer that adheres to the purity of ingredients defined by the Reinheitsgebot.
However, all through I just felt that the beer was missing a little something, and did not really meet my expectations. As Gordon Biersch beers go, this is probably the most disappointing of theirs that I have tried, and with thousands of pilsners available I find it hard to recommend. I wouldn’t turn it down if somebody handed one to me, but I wouldn’t buy it again.
It’s certainly better than the mass-produced popular all-malt corn fed interpretations of the pilsner style, but then I don’t particularly recommend those either. Of course I will give this beer another try at the source, next time I visit a Gordon Biersch brewpub, but for now it’s filed under ‘not recommended’
Further Reading
For more information on Gordon Biersch and my favorite of their beers:
http://andaryl.epinions.com/content_26605424260/tk_~CB005.1.7
For more information on the pilsner style:
http://www.epinions.com/fddk-topic-Beers-Background_Info-What_Should_You_Know_About-Pilsner
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
andaryl
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Member: Andrew Smith
Location: The Desert, So Cal
Reviews written: 219
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