Spring Break
Pilsner? I barely know her!
Tom Goodwin
Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: Focus
They are everywhere, and have been for the last 150 years or so. Like an invasive species, they crop up in a country and slowly take over, running the local ecosystem into the ground.
Their uncomplicated and readily appealing nature gives them a great advantage in replacing the existing natives. What could I possibly be referring to? Ale's long term nemesis, the European Pilsner.
Originally invented in the Czech Republic around 1840, pilsner is by far the most popular style of beer ever. The secret to a wonderfully clean, quenching, and refreshing light lager is the amazingly soft water of Plze?, the town it was invented in.
The Germans tried to copy the style, without access to similar brewing water, their first attempts failed. They had to change a basic facet of the beer to successfully brew it. So they increased the hops, and voila, the German pilsner was born.
This beer took the world by storm. You will find pilsners made in hundreds of countries across nearly every continent. Go into any bar and you will see pilsners being served left and right. Every light lager - Budweiser, Miller, Coors, Michelob and even arguably Bass and Harp are loosely based on pilsner. The demand for the beer has been huge, and the current (and past) beer market reflects it.
These beers are extremely crisp and refreshing, light to medium bodied with low, unobtrusive flavors. In better examples there will be great grainy/bready flavors from the malt. German examples are hoppier and more bitter while Czech pilsners tend to have fewer hops, but carry nice floral scents. Some of these beers will have sulfur aromas, which can come from the yeast and not skunking; this flavor will generally be low.
Nowadays, the word Pilsner can refer to several things including the beer itself, the malt used, or even the glass they are commonly served in. The basic pilsner glass is tall and thin, usually with a thick stem for secure holding.
As you've probably noticed by now, I have this habit of starting in one direction and eventually leading into some sort of lecture and/or rant. This article is no different, so I apologize in advance.
Their uncomplicated and readily appealing nature gives them a great advantage in replacing the existing natives. What could I possibly be referring to? Ale's long term nemesis, the European Pilsner.
Originally invented in the Czech Republic around 1840, pilsner is by far the most popular style of beer ever. The secret to a wonderfully clean, quenching, and refreshing light lager is the amazingly soft water of Plze?, the town it was invented in.
The Germans tried to copy the style, without access to similar brewing water, their first attempts failed. They had to change a basic facet of the beer to successfully brew it. So they increased the hops, and voila, the German pilsner was born.
This beer took the world by storm. You will find pilsners made in hundreds of countries across nearly every continent. Go into any bar and you will see pilsners being served left and right. Every light lager - Budweiser, Miller, Coors, Michelob and even arguably Bass and Harp are loosely based on pilsner. The demand for the beer has been huge, and the current (and past) beer market reflects it.
These beers are extremely crisp and refreshing, light to medium bodied with low, unobtrusive flavors. In better examples there will be great grainy/bready flavors from the malt. German examples are hoppier and more bitter while Czech pilsners tend to have fewer hops, but carry nice floral scents. Some of these beers will have sulfur aromas, which can come from the yeast and not skunking; this flavor will generally be low.
Nowadays, the word Pilsner can refer to several things including the beer itself, the malt used, or even the glass they are commonly served in. The basic pilsner glass is tall and thin, usually with a thick stem for secure holding.
As you've probably noticed by now, I have this habit of starting in one direction and eventually leading into some sort of lecture and/or rant. This article is no different, so I apologize in advance.
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