Pilsner Urquell
When I first had this about 1999, it was, perhaps not surprisingly, my first actual Czech pilsner. While I have since moved far beyond where I was then, I still find this to be a very good, tasty, exceedingly drinkable beer, even if there are other Czech pilsner I now like more. Deep, yet bright golden, it has a big, fairly dense white head that slowly dissipates to a thin, lasting head, and leaves a little weak lace. The aroma is quite malty, bread and grain with hints of nuts and grassy, herbal hops. The taste has a firm base of lightly toasted grain, bread, a hint of sweet apple, with grassy, herbal hops and a faint citrus hint. The light malty sweetness is balanced by the hops, giving a tingly, zesty bitterness that lingers and a feel that is very full, almost thick, yet fairly lively and light, a quality I really enjoy in Czech pilsner but which others do even better. it's exceedingly drinkable and engaging.