Pilsner is a type of pale lager recognized by the use of noble hops and bottom fermenting. It was invented in Pilsen, Czech Republic in 1842 by Josef Groll. Pilsner Urquell is still brewed today and the name has become associated with a wide range of lagers.
A pilsner is a type of pale lager that is generally recognized by the use of noble hops in brewing, as well as the use of bottom fermenting and cold storage. This type of beer takes its name from the city where it was invented, a Bohemian city called Pilsen, now called Plzn and located in the Czech Republic. The name typically refers to a lager that is pale yellow or golden in color and often has a more subdued, approachable flavor. A pilsner from Germany will often taste a little bitter, while Czech pilsners are lighter in taste, and some Belgian and Dutch varieties taste quite sweet.
Before and during the 1840s, most of the beer brewed in Bohemia – what has become the Czech Republic – was brewed by a top-fermented method which produced a fairly cloudy beer with somewhat unpredictable results. There was so much discontent and noted outrage at the poor quality that the Pilsen City Council ordered a number of beer kegs publicly dumped in protest. In 1839, city officials decided to start their own public brewing company that would produce a new, higher-quality beer.
This company, originally called Bürger Brauerei, contracted a Bavarian brewer named Josef Groll to create its new beer. Groll used noble hops, a type of European hop with more pronounced flavor qualities, and employed new techniques to use a bottom-fermenting method that would produce a paler, more controlled type of lager. He also used German cold storage techniques by allowing the beer to brew and ferment in barrels that were placed inside cold caverns. The end result was first served on November 11, 1842 and was an instant success. They named the beer Pilsner to indicate where it came from, and later trademarked the name Pilsner Urquell, which means “original pilsner” in German.
Today, the name pilsner has become associated with a wide range of different lagers, although Pilsner Urquell is still brewed, bottled and made available around the world. Noble hops are generally used in most European pilsners, although American brewers may not always use these traditional hops when making pilsners. Many American breweries use the name “pilsner” to denote a higher level of quality, although they are still generally a light golden or amber color with a lighter taste than heavier beers.
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