Pilsener
|
|
Pilsener or pilsner is a type of beer, developed in the city of Plzeň (Pilsen in German), Bohemia (now Czech Republic). It is generally distinguished from other lagers by a more prominent hop character, particularly from the use of Saaz (pronounced "zot-za") noble hops.
Origin
Until the 1840s, Czech beers were all top-fermented, dark and cloudy, although Bavarian brewers had begun experimenting through "lagering" beer in cool caves using bottom-fermenting yeasts, which improved the beer's clarity, flavour, and shelf-life.
The Mestansky Pivovar (Burgess Brewery) recruited the Bavarian brewer Josef Groll (1813 – 1887) who, using new techniques and the newly available paler malts, created the first batch of modern pilsener on 5 October 1842. The combination of pale colour from the new malts (aided by Plzeň's remarkably soft water), noble hops and Bavarian-style lagering produced a clear, golden beer which caused a sensation. Improving transport and communications also meant that this new beer was quickly available throughout central Europe, and its style was soon widely imitated.
Modern Pilseners
The invention of modern refrigeration by Carl von Linde removed the need for caves in which to store the beer, however even until recently the Pilsner Urquell brewery still fermented their beer using open barrels in the cellars underneath their brewery. They also have the unique claim to being "the world's first golden beer."
Other well-known pilseners include:
- Beck's
- Budweiser Budvar, also marketed under the name "Czechvar"
- Dos Equis Special Lager
- Grolsch
- Holsten
- König Pilsener
- Krombacher
- Radeberger Pilsner
- Steam Whistle
- Utica Club
- Zywiec