One of the most common beer styles in the world is the Pilsner. It comes in several varieties but is primarily characterized by a golden color and a very even balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness.
There’s still plenty of nuance among pale lagers, and occasionally an Aussie brewer will release a beer called a Helles or Pilsner. But since they’re mostly loved for drinking, not thinking, it’s common for all kinds of pale lagers to be simply labelled as ‘lager’.
In 1842, in the city of Pilsen in Bohemia (in modern day Czech Republic), a brewer called Josef Groll made the first truly pale lager - the beer we now call Czech pilsner. His goal was to rival the lagers of neighbouring Bavaria, but his new style of beer became even more popular. Using new malting technology that allowed for paler malts than before, local Saaz hops, yeast from neighbouring Bavaria, and the extremely soft water of Pilsen, Groll made a delightfully bright and clean beer with a spicy hop bitterness - and the people loved it.
Example: Six String's Urban Bohemia. A light biscuity and bready malt character from the German malts join with a medium bitterness and subtly earthy spice notes from the Saaz hops.
You could also try the non-alcoholic Parc Pils by Monceau. An ultra-low-alcohol yeast makes this a Czech style pils that’s infinitely sessionable.
Pilsner
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Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Smooth / Velvety
- Delicate
- Clean
Tasting notesPerfect food pairing: Burrata, shellfish and seafood -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Light
Tasting notesSuper crisp, light & easy drinking Lager -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Dry
Tasting notesCool fermented with European yeast for a dry, crisp finish but with flavour and aroma imparted through delicate use of New Zealand Motueka hops, this pils has plenty to interest craft beer enthusiasts yet is accessible to all. Just like the famous Jervis Bay climbing mecca it’s named after, this beer is straight up and heaps of fun. -
Flavour ProfileHopsMalt
- Delicate
Tasting notesHoppy with good finish. Lingers on the tongue.