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Pilsners
Until
the 1840s, most beers were top-fermented, dark and cloudy (dark ales). The taste
and standards of quality often varied to the worse, and in 1838, consumers even
dumped whole barrels to show their dissatisfaction.
Bohemian (Czech Republic) brewers set out to create a new beer style that would
be commercially successful, beginning with a study of available styles and
brewing techniques. Bavarian brewers had already begun experiments with the
storage (lagering) of beer in cool caves using bottom-fermenting yeasts, which
improved the beer's clarity, flavor, and shelf-life and this technique seemed to
lend itself to the creation of an entirely new beer style.
Eventually, Bohemia produced the first Pilsner beer soon to be followed by the
German and Classic American Pilsners.
As a marketing technique, some brewers, particularly
in North American, call their premium beers “pilsner” whether they are true
Pilsner beers or not.
German Pilsner
The German version of the Bohemian Pilsner is an
imitation of its Bohemian cousin, but has evolved as a distinctly different
style due to the different brewing conditions found in Germany. Harder water
created a beer style that is actually complemented by the high sulfate content
of Bavarian water.
German Pilsners usually taste more bitter or earthy
than their Bohemian counterparts.
Bohemian
Pilsner
In
1839, the citizens of Pilsen decided to found and build a brewery of their own,
called Bürger Brauerei (now Plzeňský Prazdroj). They then recruited the Bavarian
brewer Josef Groll (1813 – 1887) who, using new techniques and the newly
available paler malts, presented his first batch of modern Pilsner on October 5th,
1842. The combination of pale color from the new malts, Pilsen's remarkably soft
water, noble hops from nearby Saaz and Bavarian-style lagering produced a clear,
golden beer which was regarded as a sensation.
Improving transport and communications also meant that this new beer was soon
available throughout Central Europe, and the Pilsner Brauart style of brewing
was soon widely imitated. In 1859, “Pilsner Bier” was registered as a brand name
at the Chamber of Commerce and Trade in Pilsen. In 1898, the Pilsner Urquell
trade mark was created to put emphasis on being the original brewery.
Classic
American Pilsner
This Pilsner style was brewed successfully by many
German immigrants into the United States in the late 19th and early 20th
centuries, but it largely disappeared after Prohibition. It is occasionally
brewed in brewpubs and as a home brew recipe.
Cuisine
Pilsners pair well with curries, Thai food and other
spicy dishes. Earthy cheeses
Drink
Pilsners in a pilsner glass.
Questions, complaints or compliments? Email me at:
beergeek@worldclassbeverages.com |
