Beer lovers, you cannot miss this article! Because surely on more than one occasion, especially now in summer, you have had a Pilsen craft beer. But, did you know what are the characteristics that define this style? How much of their popularity do they owe to the glassware industry? And what in New Zealand have their own Pilsner ?
At BeerSapiens, we love to spread beer culture and make it accessible to everyone, which is why we are going to tell you everything -curiosities included- about this very popular style.
What does the name Pilsner mean?
To better understand Pilsner beers, it's important to know their historical context. This denomination, with its ending " -er ", refers to its origin in a specific town in Central European countries, such as the Czech Republic or Germany. We could say that it resembles the "Designation of Origin" of the wines. When we talk about Pilsner , we are referring to the pale, blonde style of beer known as lager, which originated in the city of Pilsen in 1842.
However, some confusion arises because the word Pilsner is also used to describe the type of very light base malt used in brewing this style, as well as many others. In addition, it is used to describe the commercial standard of light and blonde beers preferred by large brewers worldwide. Although, as you can already imagine, this style that you can find in supermarkets bears little resemblance to the original, despite using its name.
True Pilsners were created in the mid-19th century in the Czech Republic and remain the most popular style in that country. We will refer to them as Bohemian Pilsners, since that is their region of origin. There is a slightly different German version, lighter, drier and slightly less bitter, known as German Pilsner or simply "Pils".
Lastly, a few decades ago New Zealand Pilsners were added, created in our antipodes by craft brewers from 1990 and which also have similarities and differences with the original European styles.
Origin and history of Pilsners
The birth and development of pale lagers is closely related to the Industrial Revolution. Although dark lager beers have been brewed in places like Bavaria for centuries, it was at the beginning of the 19th century that the development of kilns allowed for the first time the production of low-roasted and low-color malts.
This gave rise to the British Pale Ales, which became the favorite beers of the English and caught the attention of Central European brewers, who traveled there to learn all the secrets of their recipe.
Josep Groll belonged to this new school of master brewers, hired in 1838 by a brewery in the city of Pilsen to produce “Bavarian-style” beer. And it was here that he developed the first Pilsner ever: locally very lightly roasted malts, soft water and Sanz hops were the key ingredients for the palest lager recipe ever made, and it was an immediate success! !. Other factories quickly copied the style.
The secret of Pilsner: trains and crystal glasses
But the resounding fame of this style of beer also had to do with two external elements to it. At this same time, the railway lines connecting the European capitals were introduced, allowing the new blonde lagers to travel the continent and achieve a popularity that other styles, limited to their geographical area, had not achieved before.
On the other hand, in the Bohemian region a fruitful glassware industry also developed at that time, which allowed the middle classes to buy crystal glasses (a luxury object for the rest of Europe). The new golden lagers, served in fine crystal goblets, looked irresistible, further enhancing the success of this regional style.
The Pilsner style: a beer with its own glass
That is to say, at that time, Pilsner consumers looked fascinated at the pale, transparent and light blond color of their beer through crystal glasses. And it is that you have to think that something that may seem obvious to us today, was an innovation two centuries ago.
And not only that, but in the Bohemian region a type of glass especially suitable for this style was designed: the Pilsner glass. It is tall and thin, with little curvature as it rises, and was made from a special glass, called, of course, Pilsner glass.
There are usually a variety of pilsner glass sizes, but for the most part they all hold slightly less beer than a pint glass. The slim design still allows you to appreciate the colors and carbonation bubbles inside the beer today. The slightly wider top of the glass also helps retain the beer's crown of head and brings out its true flavor profile and aromas. The only drawback is that they usually hold less beer than other types of glasses, but there is a reason for this as well, which is that this style should be consumed quite cold. It's better to stuff than let it get hot!
Our recommendation: three Pilsner-style craft beers
After this journey through the history of this popular style, and with the heat that it is, don't you feel like a very cold glass full of Pilsner ?
We leave you here three suggestions that you can find in our Beer Sapiens store:
- a classic that never fails, even in its canned presentation, the Montseny Lager German . A low-fermented blonde beer, with a light body, very drinkable and very elegant. The best of a traditional style with the character of a craft beer.
- If yours is more the bottle format, be sure to try a La Brava Pilse n very cold. It is a recipe from the Costa Brava brewery with a fermentation time three times longer than the beer from the big brands and a graduation slightly above that of most pilseners.
- Finally, if what caught your attention in this article was that in New Zealand they also developed their own Pilsner… You have to try a pilsner with this recipe! A beer that honors the Maori culture: Aotearoa New Zealand Pilsner from the Naparbier brewery.
Ready to enjoy a unique beer experience? And remember, friend Beer Sapiens, Remember, beer is much more than a drink. It is an art, a passion that unites us all. So keep exploring, trying new brands and styles. The brewing world is full of surprises waiting for you! Health!
