Make your plans now to join us on Tuesday, February 8 for our next Brewer’s Stash. This month we are featuring the Czech rePublic House, a Czech Pilsner.
Overall Impression:
Rich, characterful, pale Czech lager, with considerable malt and hop character and a long, rounded finish. Complex yet well-balanced and refreshing. The malt flavors are complex for a Pilsner-type beer, and the bitterness is strong but clean and without harshness, which gives a rounded impression that enhances drinkability.
Rich, characterful, pale Czech lager, with considerable malt and hop character and a long, rounded finish. Complex yet well-balanced and refreshing. The malt flavors are complex for a Pilsner-type beer, and the bitterness is strong but clean and without harshness, which gives a rounded impression that enhances drinkability.
Aroma:
Bready-rich malt and spicy, floral, or herbal hop bouquet, the interplay is rich and complex.
Bready-rich malt and spicy, floral, or herbal hop bouquet, the interplay is rich and complex.
Appearance:
Gold to deep gold color. Brilliant to very clear clarity. Dense, long-lasting, creamy white head.
Gold to deep gold color. Brilliant to very clear clarity. Dense, long-lasting, creamy white head.
Flavor:
Rich, complex, bready maltiness combined with a pronounced yet soft and rounded bitterness and floral and spicy hop flavor.
Rich, complex, bready maltiness combined with a pronounced yet soft and rounded bitterness and floral and spicy hop flavor.
Mouthfeel:
Medium body. Moderate to low carbonation.
Medium body. Moderate to low carbonation.
History:
Commonly associated with Pilsner Urquell, which was first brewed in 1842 after construction of a new brewhouse by burghers dissatisfied with the standard of beer brewed in Plzeň. Bavarian brewer Josef Groll is credited with first brewing the beer.
Commonly associated with Pilsner Urquell, which was first brewed in 1842 after construction of a new brewhouse by burghers dissatisfied with the standard of beer brewed in Plzeň. Bavarian brewer Josef Groll is credited with first brewing the beer.
Ingredients:
Malts: Pilsner, Carafoam, Munich I, Caramel 30, Acidulated
Hops: Czech Saaz
Yeast: Lager
Malts: Pilsner, Carafoam, Munich I, Caramel 30, Acidulated
Hops: Czech Saaz
Yeast: Lager
Vital Statistics:
OG: 1.045
FG: 1.010
IBUs: 30
SRM: 5
ABV: 4.6%
OG: 1.045
FG: 1.010
IBUs: 30
SRM: 5
ABV: 4.6%
Style Comparison: Czech Pils vs. German Pils
In short, a Czech Pils will have more color, malt richness, and body than a German Pils, with a fuller finish and a cleaner, softer impression.
Czech-style Pilsners are pale gold in color while a German-style Pilsner is pale yellow. A Czech Pils will have a low-to-medium hop profile, and almost exclusively use the native Czech Saaz hop which gives a spiciness to the overall flavor. The German Pils tends to utilize German hops, such as Tettnang or Hallertau Mittelfrueh and they’re bitterness is more pronounced. Often, Czech-style Pilsners are slightly more malt-forward, with notes of biscuit, cracker and bread. German Pils will trend to have flavors of lemon and honey. Czech Pils can be lower in carbonation and have a more full, rounded mouthfeel. They finish crisp and refreshing. German Pils tend to have higher carbonation, a drier, lighter mouthfeel and finish crisp with a lingering bitterness.