The clock says 6:45 in the morning but actually it's midnight for me so...

So... A new Grand Pilsener from Hertog Jan. Time to do a side by side comparison with their 'ordinary' Pilsener. Let me start by saying that the description of the brewery and the somewhat higher ABV of this Grand reminds me of the old days, long time retired Hertog Jan Primator. That one also had desciptions of longer lagering time on the label. Although I doubt whether Hertog Jan used mais at that time. Nowadays they do, in both Pilsener and Grand Pilsener, according to the label. Okay, let's compare... Grand Pilsener seems to have 'more ingredients' and a longer lagering time. More ingredients of the same kind, I presume, because the same ingredients are mentioned on the labels. More hop and more malt according to the label. ABV 5.1% / 5.7% for the Grand. Color: Both clear golden, white head. At first I don't see any differences. Second opinion: Maybe slightly darker golden at the Grand. Aroma: Slightly different. Both malty with some hop at the background. Ordinary is slightly more grainy in my opinion, although the difference (almost) seems ti fade away after standing a bit longer. Taste: Starting with the ordinary: Grainy, malty, sweetish (mais) with some grassy hopbitterness. Light to moderate hopbitterness at the finish. Medium body, average carbonation. Very slightly sticky (mais?) palate at the finish. Ok Pilsener. On to the Grand: A little more body, compared to the 'ordinary'. Flavors are practical the same, what doesn't surprise me at all, to be honest. I was hoping for more difference, though. Why introducing a new Grand Pilsener when even side by side it's hard (for me, at least) to find the differences? The mouthfeel of the Grand definitely is somewhat more dense and slightly smoother though. At this time, the price difference is only about 25 Eurocents a liter, with the Grand being more expensive, of course. We probably will know in future what's the intention of Hertog Jan with this new beer, but this Grand update definitely has no added value for me...

Clear golden, white head. Aroma of mash and raw wirth. Taste of mandarin, citrus. A little light on hops, but drinkable. With tb and ch

0,25 l glassje on tap. Clear golden, small short living white head. Not a lot on the nose, some caramel. Taste starts pale grainy, low fruity apple, low hop bitterness. Below average carbonated. Okay, but nothing more.

Klar gyllen brun med hvitt skum. Lukter malt og noe urter. Malt, brød og noe krydder i smaken. Lett bitter avslutning.

Tap at Cafe Sluyswacht, Amsterdam, 14th September 22. Pours clear. Aroma is floral, light hay. Taste is nicely bitter, hay, grass, floral.

On draft in Cochem, Germany. Clear light gold with full white head. Crisp with solid malt on both the aroma and flavor. No noticeable off flavors. Slight fruity esters. Had this during the peak of the summer record heat, so it was a nice refresher.

First time I had this was probably 1983, back then it was already brewed at Dommelsch, and I guess most of it still is. Pours a clear yellow golden colour and a nice white head with good retention. Aroma's: grainsih, fruity, yeasty, sweetish. Flavour is light sweet, light fruity. Light bodied. Nothing extraordinary, but nice enough in hot weather like today.

Recht laues Lager, bisschen Getreide, leicht Hopfen, süß, aber für heiße Tage geht das schon. Vom Fass.