- Germany
- Lager
- ABV = 4.4 – 5.2% (Normal)^
- IBU = 22-40
- SRM = 2-4
A light gold, hop-forward and bitter German lager with a dry, crisp finish.
Lighter in body and colour, drier, crisper, more highly carbonated and with more lingering bitterness than Czech Premium Pale Lager. More hop character and bitterness with a drier, crisper finish than Munich Helles. More hop character, bitterness and malt flavour than International Pale Lager.
Appearance:
- Colour^ = Straw to light gold
- Clarity = Very clear to brilliant
Key Aromas & Flavours:
Aroma
- Malt = Low to moderate; grainy-sweet or doughy, often with a light honey and toasted cracker quality
- Hops = Moderate; floral, spicy or herbal
- Yeast = Clean fermentation profile
Flavour
- Malt = Low to moderate; grainy-sweet or doughy, often with a light honey and toasted cracker quality
- Hops = Moderate; floral, spicy or herbal
- Yeast = Clean fermentation profile
- Perceived Bitterness^ = Pronounced
- Balance = Towards bitterness, with malt in support
Aftertaste/Finish
Dry, crisp finish with bitterness lingering into the aftertaste
Mouthfeel:
- Body = Medium-light
- Carbonation = Medium to high
Characteristic Ingredients/Processes:
- Malt = Pilsner malt
- Hops = German hop varietals
- Yeast = German lager yeast
Historical Development:
Adapted from Czech Pilsner (aka Czech Premium Pale Lager) to suit the brewing conditions in Germany: water with higher mineral content and domestic hop varietals. First brewed in Germany in the early 1870s. Became more popular after WWII as German brewing schools emphasized modern techniques.
Along with its cousin, Czech Pilsner, it is the ancestor of the most widely produced beers today: pale Pilsner-style lagers. The use of the term ‘Pils’ is more common in Germany to differentiate it from the Czech version.
Commercial Examples:
König Pilsener, Paulaner Pils, Rothaus Pils
^Sourced from the Cicerone Certification Program’s International Certified Beer Server Syllabus (Version 5.0)
All other information is sourced from the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines
Discovering Beer is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Cicerone® Certification Program.
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