The pale lager style that originated in Plzeň in the Czech Republic is Pilsner.
The style takes its name from Plzeň, a city in Bohemia historically known in German as Pilsen. In 1842, Bavarian brewer Josef Groll produced a clear, golden lager at the city’s newly established brewery, now associated with Pilsner Urquell. Its bright appearance was striking at a time when many lagers were darker.
The beer’s character came from several local and imported elements: Plzeň’s unusually soft water, pale Moravian malt, Saaz noble hops, and cool-fermenting lager yeast. The result was crisp, highly refreshing, and noticeably hop-aromatic. The beer became popular beyond Bohemia, inspiring breweries across Europe and eventually around the world.
Pilsner is a style of pale lager, not a synonym for every lager. German pilsners, Czech pilsners, and related beers can differ in bitterness, malt character, and strength. In the Czech Republic, “Pilsner” is especially associated with the original Plzeň tradition, while elsewhere the name is used more broadly for similar beers.