{{Short description|Type of pale lager beer}} {{Redirect|Pilsener}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} [[File:Pilsner urquell mug.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Pilsner Urquell, the world's first pale lager and ancestor of today's Pilsners]]
'''Pilsner''' (also '''pilsener''' or '''pils''') is a type of pale lager. It takes its name from the Bohemian city of Plzeň ({{langx|de|Pilsen}}), where the world's first pale lager (now known as Pilsner Urquell) was produced in 1842 by Pilsner Urquell Brewery.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jackson|first=Michael|title=Prague: twinned with Burton-upon-Trent|url=http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000054.html|work=The Beer Hunter|access-date=28 April 2011|archive-date=22 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190722082552/http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000054.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.germanbeerinstitute.com/pils.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019092501/http://germanbeerinstitute.com/pils.html|title=German Beer Institute, PILS|archivedate=19 October 2011}}</ref>
==History== [[File:Feldschloesschen Brauerei.jpg|thumb|Historical examples of German pilsner beer labels from East Germany]] [[File:Belgique - Louvain-la-Neuve - Gare - Quai - Belgian beers - 03.jpg|thumb|upright|Can of Belgian Pils represented on a mural of the railway station of Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium)]]The city of Plzeň was granted brewing rights in 1307.<ref>{{cite web|title=Traces of the Pilsen History|url=https://www.pilsen.eu/citizen/about-the-city/history/traces-of-the-pilsen-history/traces-of-the-pilsen-history.aspx|publisher=City of Plzeň|language=cs|access-date=2021-08-29|archive-date=29 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829165158/https://www.pilsen.eu/citizen/about-the-city/history/traces-of-the-pilsen-history/traces-of-the-pilsen-history.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Until the mid-1840s, most Bohemian beers were top-fermented. The Pilsner Urquell Brewery, originally called in {{langx|de|Bürger-Brauerei Pilsen}} ({{langx|cs|Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň}}, {{langx|en|Plzeň Citizens' Brewery}}), is where Pilsen beer was first brewed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.prazdroj.cz/en/about-the-company/history |title=Plzeňský Prazdroj, a. s. |publisher=prazdroj.cz |access-date=17 October 2009 }}</ref>
Brewers had begun aging beer made with cool fermenting yeasts in caves (lager, i.e., {{langx|de|gelagert}} [stored]), which improved the beer's clarity and shelf-life. Part of this research benefited from the knowledge already expounded on in a book (printed in German in 1794, in Czech in 1799) written by Czech brewer {{lang|cs|František Ondřej Poupě|italic=no}} ({{langx|de|Franz Andreas Paupie|links=no}}) (1753–1805) from Brno.<ref>Basařová G.: Der legendäre böhmische Brauer František Ondřej Poupě (Franz Andreas Paupie) 1753–1805. Jahrbuch 2003 Gesellschaft für die Geschichte und Bibliographie des Brauwesens e.V. (GGB), (2003) 1, 128–146.</ref>
The Plzeň brewery recruited the Bavarian brewer Josef Groll (1813–1887) who, using the local ingredients, produced the first batch of pale lager on 5 October 1842. The combination of Plzeň's remarkably soft water, local Saaz noble hops from nearby Žatec, low-protein Moravian barley malt prepared by indirectly heated kilning, and Bavarian-style lagering produced a clear, golden beer.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
By 1853, the beer was available at 35 pubs in Prague. In 1856, it came to Vienna and in 1862 to Paris. In 1859, {{lang|de|Pilsner Bier}} was registered as a brand name at the Chamber of Commerce and Trade in Plzeň. In 1898, the Pilsner Urquell trademark was created to put emphasis on being the original brewery (''Urquell,'' meaning 'original source').<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Oxford Companion to Beer Definition of Pilsner Urquell |url=https://beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/Z78QwKUrib/ |access-date=2025-07-12 |website=Craft Beer & Brewing |language=en |archive-date=14 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260114125107/https://www.beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/Z78QwKUrib |url-status=live }}</ref>
Some beers are labeled ''Urtyp Pilsener'' (UP) meaning they are brewed according to the original process, although many breweries use this accolade for their top beer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/zipfer-urtyp/9236/|title=RateBeer|website=ratebeer.com|access-date=16 April 2019|archive-date=24 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524003720/https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/zipfer-urtyp/9236/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/jJqEnkSesv/austria/| title = Urtyp on the ''Craft Beer and Brewing'' website| access-date = 23 May 2018| archive-date = 31 October 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181031173749/https://beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/jJqEnkSesv/austria/| url-status = dead}}</ref>
===Modern developments=== The introduction of modern refrigeration to Germany by Carl von Linde in the late 19th century eliminated the need for caves for beer storage, enabling the brewing and storing of cool fermenting beer in many new locations.<ref>"Altbier im Alltag" by Genno Fonk, 1999, page 11</ref>
Until 1993 the Pilsner Urquell brewery fermented its beer using open barrels in the cellars beneath their brewery. This changed in 1993 with the use of large cylindrical tanks. Small samples are still brewed in a traditional way for taste comparisons.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
A modern pale lager termed a ''pilsner'' may have a very light, clear colour from pale to golden yellow, with varying levels of hop aroma and flavour. The alcohol strength of beers termed pilsner vary but are typically around 4.5%–5% (by volume). There are categories such as "European-Style Pilsner" at beer competitions such as the World Beer Cup. Pilsner style lagers are marketed internationally by numerous small brewers and larger conglomerates.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
==Styles== ;Czech-style Pilsner : Bright golden colour, moderately bitter and distinct aroma, brewed with malt and Saaz hops. In the Czech Republic, only Pilsner Urquell is named as "pilsner". However, outside of the Czech Republic, Czech-style Pilsner is synonymous with any such lager beers (including any Czech brand) – for example Pilsner Urquell, Budweiser Budvar, Gambrinus, Kozel, Radegast, Staropramen, Starobrno and Krušovice. [[File:Bitburger Glass.JPG|thumb|A mug of Bitburger, a German-style Pilsner]]
;German-style Pilsner :Light straw to golden colour with more bitter or earthy taste – such as Beck's,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Beck's Beer - 12pk/12 fl oz Bottles |url=https://www.target.com/p/beck-39-s-beer-12pk-12-fl-oz-bottles/-/A-13391826 |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=www.target.com |language=en-US |archive-date=15 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251015025948/https://www.target.com/p/beck-39-s-beer-12pk-12-fl-oz-bottles/-/A-13391826 |url-status=live }}</ref> Bitburger, Flensburger, Fürstenberg, Holsten, Jever, König, Krombacher, Radeberger, St. Pauli Girl, Veltins,<ref>{{Cite web |title=PILSENER |url=https://www.veltins.com/veltins-range/veltins-pilsener/ |access-date=2026-02-17 |website=VELTINS}}</ref> Warsteiner, Wernesgrüner and Einbecker.{{cn|date=October 2024}}
;European-style Pilsner :Has a slightly sweet taste, can be produced from grains other than barley malt – such as the Dutch: Amstel, Grolsch and Heineken<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biernet.nl/bier/merken/heineken|title=Heineken bier – Pils gebrouwen door Heineken Brouwerij|website=biernet.nl|access-date=10 May 2017|archive-date=18 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518121634/https://www.biernet.nl/bier/merken/heineken|url-status=live}}</ref> or Belgian: Jupiler, Maes and Stella Artois.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000225.html|title=Michael Jackson's Beer Hunter – Belgium's Great Beers|website=beerhunter.com|access-date=10 May 2017|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724035342/http://www.beerhunter.com/documents/19133-000225.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
;American-style Pilsner : German immigrants brought pilsner style beers to America in the mid-19th century. American pilsners{{which|date=January 2024}} today are still closer to the German style, but a traditional grist may contain up to 25% corn and/or rice. American pilsners have “significantly less flavor, hops, and bitterness than traditional European Pilsners,” according to the Beer Judge Certification Program.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vinepair.com/articles/czech-german-american-pilsners |title=The Differences Between Czech, German, and American Pilsners |date=26 September 2017 |access-date=13 May 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807130003/https://vinepair.com/articles/czech-german-american-pilsners/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
;West Coast-style Pilsner : Modern iteration, light to golden color brewed with American or southern hemisphere hops, possibly dry-hopped. Developed on the West Coast of the United States. Clean and light, with more pronounced hop flavor and aroma.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bernot |first1=Kate |title=Writing the Rules of West Coast Pilsner (So They Can Be Broken) |url=https://www.beerandbrewing.com/writing-the-rules-of-west-coast-pilsner |website=Craft Beer & Brewing |date=2 October 2023}}</ref>
;Australian-style Pilsner : Light straw to golden colour with more crisp, clean earthy taste.
==See also== *Beer by region
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.ggb-berlin.de/de Gesellschaft für Geschichte des Brauwesens e.V. (GGB)] *[http://www.brno.cz/index.php?nav01=2222&nav02=2220&nav03=2447&idosobnosti=196 Die Kunst des Bierbrauens]
{{beer styles}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Beer styles Category:Beer in the Czech Republic Category:German beer styles Category:Plzeň Category:Types of beer