This is not to say that all American made pilsners are brewed in this fashion, for Miller Brewing Company continues to brew it beer in the German style using pale malt and Saaz hops, among other ingredients key to that particular style. And while the American pilsner was derived from the German style, the style has evolved more along the lines of the European style, for some American brewers add rice to the mash producing a sweet, extra pale, and lighter bodied pilsner due.
While each stay true to the original recipe such as the use of Saaz hops and pale malt, they are all unique in one way or another.įor example, the German style features a more earthy taste and is considered the most bitter of the four due to the use of additional bittering hops during the brew process, while the European is on the sweeter side and can be made with ingredients besides barley malt. Today, four distinct styles of pilsners have come into being: Czech, European, German, and American. Over the last two centuries the pilsner style has spread throughout the world, first in Europe and then North America with German brewers such as Frederick Miller in Milwaukee and Adolph Coors in Colorado. The result was a mild flavored pilsner with a transparent pale gold hue. The style evolved with the hiring of Bavarian brew masters who introduced the use of pale malt and the lagering process through the use of caves. The style was eventually named for the city because the officials of Pilsen founded a city-owned brewery in 1839 (now known as Pilsner Urquell). Notes: This American hopped pilsner forgoes the traditional pilsner hop method using Noble Hops, for Chinook, Cascade and Centennial giving it a piney, citrus punch.While many of the major American brewing companies such as Coors and Miller were founded by German immigrants brewing German-style pilsners, the pilsner style actually evolved in the years after in the city of Plzen, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) began brewing beer in 1295. Recommended by The Growler Guys – Bend East & Richland Notes on this beer include fresh grass, flowers, lemon zest with a touch of honey.
Notes: Several locations recommend this 2015 Great American Beer Festival award-winning pilsner by Hood River’s up-and-coming pFriem. Look for floral aromatics, spicy herbal nuances, and bergamot zest and lemongrass notes. Notes: This classically brewed beer ends with a twist … dry hopping with German Saphir hops. This German Pilsner has won two Great American Beer Festival Medals Silver 2009 and Bronze 2010! Notes: This award-winning Washington brewery’s pilsner features golden, dry, bitter, floral and snappy notes. Recommended by The Growler Guys Richland Pilsners suggested by our local beer stewards: Notes: Enjoy a creamy lager that goes down smooth with notes of gentle sweetness, malty, caramel, toffee, and butterscotch. Notes: A fresh and clean lager with notes of caramel, bready with a grass finish. Recommended by The Growler Guys Spokane Newport Notes: A fun twist on the traditional lager with the sweet finish of honey. Notes: Zwicklerbier, an uncommon pilsners style, breaks the mold from the traditional lager. Notes: Enjoy a malty flavor and aroma that’s crisp and hopped with Hallertaur and Mt. Great American Beer Festival winner Gold 2009, 2011 and Silver 2010, 2012. Tasting notes malty, toasty, toffeeish with a crisp finish. Notes: If you’re looking for a little maltier beer from Chuckanut, this lager promises that and more. Notes: This Great American Beer Festival gold award-winning lager (2011, 2016) features tasting notes of dry, bitter, floral and snappy with a subtle maltiness. Lagers suggested by our local beer stewards: In the 1840’s, this “pale lager” began to take off in popularity. Pilsners originated in Bohemia which is now in the Czech Republic. These brews may be pale, golden, amber, or dark in color.
Lagers date back to 15th century Germany. Warmer summer nights call for lighter beers, and our staff throughout our network of stores in the Pacific Northwest have a few suggestions for craft beers to pick up a growler of next time you stop in at The Growler Guys or out and about!