Which beer style originated in the Czech Republic and is known for its pale color and hop bitterness? Pilsner is the answer.
Pilsner takes its name from Plzeň, a city in Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. The first widely recognized example, Pilsner Urquell, was brewed there in 1842. Bavarian brewer Josef Groll combined pale malt, local soft water, Saaz noble hops and cold lager fermentation to create a clear, golden beer unlike the darker ales common in the region.
The style spread rapidly. By 1853, the beer was being served in 35 Prague pubs, and it reached Vienna in 1856 and Paris in 1862. Its bright appearance and crisp, bitter profile made it influential worldwide.
Pilsner is a type of lager, not a separate fermentation family opposed to lager. “Lager” describes beers fermented and matured using cool conditions, while pilsner identifies a particular pale, hop-forward lager style. Outside the Czech Republic, the term is used broadly for many related beers.