Pilsener / Pils / Pilsner

The classic “German Pils” - also known simply as “Pils”, “Pilsner” or “Pilsener” - is a light-bodied, highly-attenuated, gold-colored, bottom-fermented bitter German beer showing excellent head retention and an elegant, floral hop aroma. Crisp, clean, and refreshing, it showcases the finest quality German malt and hops. The use of the term Pils is more common in Germany than Pilsner to differentiate it from the Czech style. Lighter in body and color, drier, crisper, and more fully attenuated, with more of a lingering bitterness, and with higher carbonation than a Czech Pilsener. More hop character, malt flavor, and bitterness than International Pale Lagers and more hop character and bitterness with a drier, crisper finish than a Munich Helles although the helles has more malt flavor, but of the same character as the Pils. The style also includes the 2 following substyles. The “Italian-Style Pilsner”, an hoppier Pilsner generally using old-world German hops for dry-hopping. The “New Zealand Pilsner”, a slightly maltier and less crisp take on the German Pils showcasing New Zealand hop varieties.