BJCP 2C.  Classic American Pilsner

Examples: Hard to find bottled but look to your local brewpub.
Serving Temp: 35°- 40°
Glassware: Flute, Pilsner, Seidel, Stange or Stein

Aroma: Grainy with a corn-like sweetness with a pronounced hop aroma. No fruity esters or diacetyl.
Appearance: Yellow to deep gold with a white head and crystal clear.
Flavor: Restrained malt flavors that may have a slight corn-like sweetness. The corn-like sweetness will balance the hop bitterness, however, if rice is used the beer will be crisper and drier.  No fruity esters or diacetyl should be present.
Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy with a medium body.  Carbonation will medium to high.

Food Pairings: Choose accordingly depending if it is more crisp like the German or maltier like the Bohemian.

HopHeadSaid:  I am not a fan of the Classic American Pilsner.  I don’t care for the corn-like sweetness and the smooth creamy body only accentuates that.  The rice versions are more agreeable to me but I swear I can taste the rice in those beers. Rice isn’t one of my favorite flavors in a beer, either.

Unfortunately, this version of pilsner has a big hole to climb out of.  It was originally brewed by German immigrants and was nearly wiped out by prohibition.  After prohibition this style started to incorporate adjuncts like corn or rice to lighten the body and decrease the cost of production. This led to the “watering down” of this style.  It has, however, made a comeback with the increase of craft breweries and brewpubs so be sure to try one next time you see it on tap.

BJCP Style 2A.  German Pilsner

Examples: Bitburger, Trumer Pils, Victory Prima Pils,
Serving Temp: 35°- 40°
Glassware: Flute, Pilsner, Seidel, Stange or Stein

Aroma: Light grainy malt aroma is present with pronounced flowery or spicy notes.  No fruity esters or diacetyl should be present.
Appearance: Light straw to gold, crystal clear with a white head.
Flavor: Crisp with a pronounced hop bitterness and a subtle sweet grainy malt flavor. No fruit or diacetyl.
Mouthfeel: Medium light body, high carbonation and dry.

Food Pairings: Cuisine: German. Cheeses: peppery (Monterey Jack).  Meat: pork, poultry.

HopHeadSaid:  German pilsners are drier and crisper than Bohemian pilasters do to the hard water used in brewing which accentuates hop bitterness and drier mouthfeel.

Style 2A: German Pilsner (Pils)
German Pilsners pour light yellow and crystal clear while the all malt recipe produces a long lasting white head. Pilsners have a medium-light body and dry finish.  They are crisp and bitter with a pronounced noble hop -herbal or spicy- aroma and flavor. The low matiness, dry finish and medium to high carbonation accentuate the perceived bitterness of these beers. The German Pilsner is lighter in body and color than the other two Pilsner subcategories.

Information courtesy http://www.bjcp.org

Vital Statistics:                 OG: 1.044 – 1.050
IBUs: 25 – 45                    FG: 1.008 – 1.013
SRM: 2 – 5                      ABV: 4.4 – 5.2%

Commercial Examples: Victory Prima Pils, Bitburger, Warsteiner, Trumer Pils, Old Dominion Tupper’s Hop Pocket Pils, König Pilsener, Jever Pils, Left Hand Polestar Pilsner, Holsten Pils, Spaten Pils, Brooklyn Pilsner

Bolded beers are my personal recommendations.

 

Style 2B: Bohemian Pilsner
Bohemian Pilsners are for people who would like a more pronounced pilsner malt taste yet crave the crisp balance of the noble hop spiciness. The hop flavor and bitterness is present only to balance the perceived maltiness that is accentuated by the medium body and carbonation. The medium to medium-full body and lower carbonation levels allow the sweet malt to coat your mouth before they are cleaned away by the lazy carbonation and spicy noble hops.  This beer should still pour crystal clear and have a long lasting white head.

Information courtesy http://www.bjcp.org

Vital Statistics:                 OG: 1.044 – 1.056
IBUs: 35 – 45                    FG: 1.013 – 1.017
SRM: 3.5 – 6                   ABV: 4.2 – 5.4%

Commercial Examples: Pilsner Urquell, Krušovice Imperial 12°, Budweiser Budvar (Czechvar in the US), Czech Rebel, Staropramen, Gambrinus Pilsner, Zlaty Bazant Golden Pheasant, Dock Street Bohemian Pilsner

 

Style 2C: Classic American Pilsner
Unfortunately, this version of pilsner has a big hole to climb out of.  It was originally brewed by German immigrants was nearly wiped out by prohibition.  After prohibition this style started to incorporate adjuncts like corn or rice to lighten the body and decrease the cost of production. This led to the “watering down” of this style.  It has, however, made a comeback with the increase of craft breweries and brewpubs so be sure to try one next time you see it on tap.

These pilsners will have a sweet, grainy maltiness or sometimes a corn-like sweetness, if corn was used.  They will have a moderately high hop aroma with no fruity esters.  American Pilsners are moderately hopped with noble-like hops that produce a smooth bitterness but not a harsh aftertaste. Generally they will pour crystal clear with a deep gold color and lasting white head.

Information courtesy http://www.bjcp.org

Vital Statistics:                 OG: 1.044 – 1.060
IBUs: 25 – 40                    FG: 1.010 – 1.015
SRM: 3 – 6                      ABV: 4.5 – 6%

Commercial Examples: Occasional brewpub and microbrewery specials

This glass is designed specifically to showcase the clarity of pale colored beers specifically lagers.  These glasses are commonly found in two different sizes (8oz and 12oz) but their geometries are similar. The narrow shape of the glass allows the drinker to see through the beer and enjoy the cascade of bubbles lazily drifting up from the bottom of the glass.  If you are looking for a new pilsner glass look for one that has an etching at the bottom.  The etching will increase the amount of bubbles rising from the bottom and all those tiny bubbles will be releasing small amounts of aroma long after the initial pour. The slight taper at the top of the glass is much smaller than the average pint glass and so it can facilitate a dense head if poured correctly.  These glasses are a little thicker than most and this helps to keep lagers at their optimum serving temperatures longer. Pilsner glasses also have a taper towards the bottom which creates a thicker and relatively heavy “foot” for the glass to stand on.  This foot increases the stability of the glass and dresses up its appearance.