Pilsner

The story of pilsner starts in 19th century Bohemia when a Bavarian monk smuggled a special yeast to a brewmaster in Pilsen. The story of pFriem Pilsner starts in the Pacific Northwest where it acquires the aroma of fresh grass and flowers and a touch of honey. While there are no monks involved in this pilsner, there is still a crisp and spicy finish.

ABV 4.9%

IBU 35

FLAVOR PROFILE

Crisp, Snappy, Floral Hops

AVAILABILITY

Annual

INGREDIENTS

Malt

Gambrinus & Weyermann German Pilsner, Cara Foam, Acidulated

Hops

Perle, Saphir, Tettnang, Spalt Select

Yeast

Lager

History

While most people think of pilsner as a German style, it actually has its origins in Bohemia, which is now part of the Czech Republic. In 1842, a Bavarian monk smuggled a bottom-fermenting lager yeast from Munich to the Bohemian town of Pilsen. He gave it to the Bavarian-born brewer, Josef Grolle, at the Plzensky Prazdroj brewery.

Josef Grolle used the smuggled Bavarian yeast with a pale colored malt that he had developed from the maltsters of Great Britain. This created a truly golden beer that was revolutionary to the brewing world. Before then the majority German beers made had been dark in color due to the different malting process. Soon after Josef Grolle’s Pilsner sent shock waves across the brewing world the German brewers scrambled to imitate the style. Out of this imitation, the German Pilsner was born.

Historically, genuine pilsner is a thing of beauty-delicate, sharp, flavorful, aromatic, and appetizing. The bottom-fermenting yeast, true to its promise, will drop to the bottom of the vessel after the cold fermentation is finished, leaving the beer clear and bright after its long cold aging. The sharp, clean bitterness and flowery aromatics of the region’s native Saaz hops and the full breadiness of the Moravian barley malt are accentuated by the remarkably soft water of the brewery’s wells. The high carbonation, developed by months of aging, forms a white pillowy head on top of the golden liquid. People were enraptured, and word of the new golden pilsner beer raced past the borders of Bohemia and swept throughout Europe.

Josef Grolle and his brewery, today known as Pilsner Urquell, can take credit for the first pilsner beer, but the industrial revolution can take some credit for the rapid spread of its popularity. 

pFriem Pilsner takes a classical approach to brewing pilsner, combined with new craft beer technics. German malted, and German-inspired pilsner malt make a bright and beautiful base for this beer. German-grown hops provide lovely, flowery, grassy, aromatics, and an assertive bitterness. The clean malt flavors, combined with smooth round lager flavors are created by cool fermentation and long cold storage. The result is a bright and beautiful beer that expresses floral aromatics, tantalizing malt flavors, and a snappy finish. This beer makes the palate yearn for another sip.

Tasting Notes

Shines brilliantly gold with fluffy white foam. Aromas of fresh grass, spring flowers, with a touch of lemon zest quaffs from the glass. The mouth fills with zesty spiciness, a touch of honey, and finishes crisp, snappy, and refreshing.

Food Pairings

Fatty meats in curry sauce and jerk chicken. Excellent with seafood: fish, shellfish, turbot calamari, crab, clams, sole, shrimp, oysters and lobster. Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, mackerel, and herring. Sausages including chorizo, andouille, and merguez. Bacon, sausage, and any other breakfast meats work wonderfully.

Awards

2023 - Judge's Pick - SIP Best of the NW

2022 - #11 Top 50 Beers of the Year - Craft Beer & Brewing

2022 - Gold - Oregon Beer Awards

2021 - Gold - Oregon Beer Awards

2021 - 98 Points - Craft Beer & Brewing

2020 - Gold - German-Style Pilsener - Best of Craft Beer

2020 - Gold - Oregon Beer Awards

2020 - 94 Points - Craft Beer & Brewing

2019 - Gold - Australian International Beer Awards

2018 - 96 Points - Craft Beer & Brewing

2018 - #6 Best Pale Lagers - Ratebeer.com

2018 - Silver - German-Style Pilsener - Great American Beer Festival

2018 - Beer of the Week - The Takeout

2018 - #6 - 134 of the Best Pilsners, Blind-Tasted and Ranked - PASTE Magazine

2017 - Gold - SIP Best of the Northwest

2017 - Bronze - Australian International Beer Awards

2017 - Silver - Brussels Beer Challenge

2017 - Gold - North American Beer Awards

2017 - 97 Points - BeerAdvocate

2017 - Gold - Tastings.com

2016 - Silver  - Australian International Beer Awards

2016 - #35 Beer of 2016, 95 Points - Top 100 Beers of 2016 - The Beer Connoisseur 

2016 - 101 Best Beers in America - Men's Journal

2016 - Bronze - European Beer Star

2016 - Top 5 Beers of the Year- Craft Beer & Brewing

2016 - 93 Points - Ratebeer.com

2015 - Silver - German Style-Pilsener, Great American Brewers Festival

2015 - Top 25 Beers of 2015 - Draft magazine

2015 - Best Oregon Beer of the Year - The New School