History of Pilsner

A New Beer

When they tapped the cask, they saw a beer unlike any other that they or anyone else in the world had seen. The color of straw, it was light and clear. One could see right through it to the other side of the Bohemian crystal glass. Still cool from the lagering tunnels, this was a surprisingly refreshing beer, not dark and heavy like the ales that they were used to.

The brewers of Plzen knew that they had a great new beer here. Thanks to the Radbuza River, not only did news of this new beer from Bohemia spread, but so did a lot of the beer itself. Plzen, or Pilsner, beer was born.

Many Copies, One Original

Since then Pilsner Urquell has become one of the most copied beers in history. So much so that the brand name – Pilsner - became the name of the new style.

Aside from improvements brought about though advances in refrigeration and sanitation little has changed about the way that Pilsner is brewed. There are many different variations on the recipe but most contain lightly kilned malt and Noble hops varieties, usually Saaz. Often breweries will soften water from their local sources in an attempt to replicate the naturally occurring soft water of the Plzen brewery. Doing so enhances the delicate flavors of the grain.

Other variations have been made to cut costs as breweries allow the bottom dollar to dictate. Such variations include replacing part of the barley with rice. Rice is cheap and contributes little flavor or aroma to the brew. With the flavors contributed by the barley cut the balancing hops can be cut too driving cost even lower. The result is a beer with an equal amount of alcohol but less flavor and aroma making it seem watery when compared to other 100% barley pilsners. Though the breweries that produce these beers continue to call them pilsner, some have assigned a new style category to describe them – American Light.

Whatever you call it – Bohemian Pilsner, German Pils, American Light – Pilsner is easily the most popular beer in the world.

Check out my profile of Pilsner for some commercially available examples of Pilsner.