Pilsner

A crisp, highly attenuated pale lager defined by high drinkability, clean fermentation, and a dry, refreshing profile. Compared with softer pale lagers, it is leaner, firmer, and more clearly hop-structured.

Defined by a clean, dry profile, high clarity, and pronounced hop bitterness within pale lagers.

Also known as: Pilsner; Pils
Family: Hoppy & Bright Lagers - Lager-style beers with crisp bitterness and clean hop flavour
Core Style - Part of the Clean Fermentation Beers, defined by clean lager fermentation with restrained yeast expression and structural balance.
Explore in Explorer →

ABV, IBU and colour

This section summarises the typical alcohol strength, bitterness level and colour range of Pilsner within the GBI model.

ABV: 5,1%
IBU: 20
Colour: 3,5 SRM / 6,9 EBC

Taste profile

The sensory profile below shows the typical intensity range of the 15 core flavour dimensions.

Colour:
Straw Yellow
Clarity:
Brilliant Clear
Aroma – Malt:
Low Medium
Aroma – Hop:
Low Medium
Aroma – Yeast:
Low
Aroma – Special:
None Low
Sweetness:
Low Medium
Sourness:
None Low
Bitterness:
Low Medium
Body:
Low Medium
Astringency:
Low Medium
Carbonation:
Medium High
Alcohol Strength:
Low Medium
Finish Length:
Medium
Oxidation:
None Low

Clean, dry, and highly drinkable with restrained hop character and a crisp finish.

Does Pilsner match your taste?

Start with a direction

Which taste direction appeals to you?

What gives Pilsner its character

These structural drivers help shape its characteristic sensory profile.

  • Filtration removes suspended material and produces a very bright appearance.
  • Pilsner malt provides a pale grain base with relatively restrained malt aroma.
  • High attenuation converts more fermentable extract, tending to reduce residual sweetness and body while supporting alcohol formation and a drier finish.

History

Originating in 19th-century Bohemia, Pilsner established the model for pale, highly attenuated lager defined by clarity, firm bitterness, and clean fermentation.

How Pilsner compares to other beer styles

This comparison shows meaningful differences in sensory ranges and style character based on the GBI data.

Pilsner vs German Pilsner

Compared with German Pilsner, Pilsner has:

  • a darker color
  • less bitter

Other differences:

  • German Pilsner can have a shorter finish.
  • German Pilsner has spicy hop notes; both styles have floral and noble hop notes.

Pilsner vs Czech Pilsner

Compared with Czech Pilsner, Pilsner has:

  • less intense malt aroma
  • less bitter

Other differences:

  • Pilsner can have a lighter body.
  • Czech Pilsner can have a shorter finish.
  • Czech Pilsner has spicy hop notes; both styles have floral and noble hop notes.

Compare Pilsner with another beer style

Choose any GBI beer style to compare sensory ranges and style character.

Want to explore the underlying data in more detail? Compare styles in the GBI Explorer →

Modelled variants of Pilsner

The following variant profiles are formally modelled expressions derived from this Core Style, each differing structurally in at least one primary sensory driver.

Best food pairings for Pilsner

These food pairings complement the dominant sensory traits of Pilsner.

  • Grilled chicken
  • Schnitzel
  • Pretzels

Service & Aging

Practical guidance for serving and handling Pilsner.

Serving notes
Serve cold · Avoid over-foaming
Pouring technique
Pour steady for a crisp head
Aging potential
Best fresh · No aging recommended
Common faults
Light sulfur · Oxidation · Harsh bitterness
Style details
  • Origin: International — Style without a single defined regional origin.
  • Glassware: Pilsner Glass — Tall, slender pilsner glass that accentuates clarity, carbonation, and hop brightness.
    Tulip — Stemmed tulip glass that concentrates aroma and supports a stable head; ideal for aromatic ales and Belgian styles.
    Willibecher — German-style tumbler glass used for many lagers and ales, offering balanced aroma and drinkability.
  • Serving: Draft — Served on draft.
  • Conditioning: Tank-conditioned — Conditioned in stainless or lagering tank.
  • Aging vessel: Stainless — Aged or matured in stainless steel.
  • Packaging: Keg — Packaged in keg.

Commercial examples of Pilsner

The following commercial examples illustrate widely recognised expressions of Pilsner in the market.

  • Pilsner Urquell
  • Bitburger
  • Budweiser Budvar Original

Pilsner – Competition winners and medalists

Medal winners for Pilsner from major beer competitions. Categories follow each competition's official classification and may include stylistically adjacent interpretations.

2026 competition results

World Beer Cup 2026

American-Style Pilsener

  • Gold – Bullpen Pilsner – Atlas Brew Works , United States
  • Silver – Pea Island Park Pilsner – Swells'a Brewing , United States
  • Bronze – Double Elbow - Tonks Tuesday Pils – Little Thistle Brewing , United States

International-Style Pilsener

  • Gold – Birkebeinerpils – Victor 23 Brewing , United States
  • Silver – Kamakura – Ketch Brewing , United States
  • Bronze – Velvet Glow – Russian River Brewing Co. , United States

Source: World Beer Cup ( official website )

Dutch Beer Challenge 2026

Pils

  • Gold – De Hollandse Pilsener – Brouwerij De Hollandse Pilsenerfabriek , Netherlands
  • Silver – Gooisch Goud – Gooische Bierbrouwerij , Netherlands
  • Bronze – Bavaria Pilsner Glutenfree – Royal Swinkels , Netherlands

Source: Dutch Beer Challenge ( official website )

2025 competition results 20 medalists

Great American Beer Festival 2025

American Pilsener

  • Gold – Kaiser – Urbanrest Brewing Co. , United States
  • Silver – Movement – Atomic Clock Brewing Co. , United States
  • Bronze – Pretty Pretty Pils – Cellarmaker Brewing Co. , United States

International-Style Pilsener

  • Gold – Allagash Lager – Allagash Brewing Company , United States
  • Silver – Darlin' – Meanwhile Brewing Co. , United States
  • Bronze – Slopes – BlackStack Brewing , United States

Source: Great American Beer Festival ( official website )

World Beer Cup 2025

American-Style Pilsener

  • Gold – Highwayman – Roadhouse Brewing , United States
  • Silver – Bellevue 1882 Lager – Bellevue Brewing Co. , United States
  • Bronze – Gold Country Pilsner – Auburn Alehouse , United States

International-Style Pilsener

  • Gold – Birkebeinerpils – Victor 23 Brewing , United States
  • Silver – Hi-Wire Lager – Hi-Wire Brewing Co. , United States
  • Bronze – Icicle Premium Pilsner – Icicle Brewing Company , United States

Source: World Beer Cup ( official website )

Dutch Beer Challenge 2025

Pils

  • Gold – Alfa Edel Pils – Meens Bierbrouwerij B.V. NL , Netherlands
  • Silver – Gooisch Goud – Gooische Bierbrouwerij , Netherlands
  • Bronze – Bavaria Pilsener Glutenfree – Royal Swinkels , Netherlands

Source: Dutch Beer Challenge ( official website )

Brussels Beer Challenge 2025

International Style Pilsner

  • Gold – Bavaria Pilsener – Royal Swinkels , Netherlands
  • Silver – Kloud Original – LOTTE Chilsung beverage , South Korea
  • Bronze – Carlsberg Pils – Carlsberg Importers , Poland
  • Bronze – La Premium Saint-Omer – Brasserie Goudale , France

American-Style Pilsner

  • Gold – Pizzapils – CRAK Brewery , Italy

Source: Brussels Beer Challenge ( official website )

Competition results for Pilsner variants

These modelled variants have separate competition results in the GlobalBeerIndex dataset.

Scroll to Top