What Is a Pilsner? A Guide to Pilsner Beer

If you've ever wondered what exactly makes a pilsner a pilsner, you're not alone.

You might know it as a crisp, refreshing beer that's best enjoyed cold, but there’s a little more to the style than that. Pilsner has a long history, a distinct brewing tradition and a place as one of the world's most popular beer styles.

It's also the beer we know pretty well at Steam Whistle. We've been brewing our Premium Pilsner in Toronto for more than 25 years, so we've spent a lot of time thinking about what makes a great pilsner.

So, what is a pilsner?

What Is a Pilsner?

Pilsner is a type of lager known for its crisp, clean character, pale golden colour and refreshing finish. It's typically made with pale malt and noble hops, which give the beer its balance of light malt flavour and noticeable hop bitterness.

Unlike ales, pilsners are brewed using bottom-fermenting lager yeast and are traditionally fermented and conditioned at cooler temperatures.

The result is a beer that's clean, refreshing and easy to drink, while still having enough hop character to keep things interesting.

That's the balance we aim for with Steam Whistle Premium Pilsner. It's a beer built around four simple ingredients: water, malted barley, hops and yeast.

Where Did Pilsner Come From?

Pilsner gets its name from the city of Pilsen, now known as Plzeň, in what is today the Czech Republic.

The style dates back to 1842, when the newly established Bürgerliches Bräuhaus in Pilsen brewed what would become known as the first pilsner. The beer was pale, clear and noticeably different from many of the darker beers that were common at the time.

The style caught on quickly and pilsner went from a local Czech beer to a worldwide favourite.

Today, pilsners are brewed all over the world, with different brewing traditions putting their own spin on the style.

At Steam Whistle, our Premium Pilsner takes inspiration from those European brewing traditions while being brewed right here in Toronto.

Is Pilsner a Lager?

Yes. Pilsner is a type of lager.

"Lager" is a broad category of beer that includes a number of different styles, while pilsner is one specific style within that category.

Think of it like this:

Lager = the larger family

Pilsner = one member of that family

There are plenty of differences between different types of lager, which is why a pilsner can have a very different taste and character from something like a dark lager.

We get into the differences in much more detail in our [Pilsner vs. Lager guide].

What Does a Pilsner Taste Like?

Pilsners are generally known for being crisp, clean and refreshing.

Depending on the type of pilsner, you can expect some combination of:

• Light malt sweetness
• Grainy or bready flavours
• Floral or herbal hop character
• Moderate bitterness
• A crisp, dry finish

One of the things that makes pilsner so enjoyable is its balance. The malt provides a foundation while the hops bring bitterness and aroma without completely taking over.

That's something we focus on with Steam Whistle Premium Pilsner. Our goal isn't to make a beer that's overwhelmingly hoppy or overly sweet. It's about finding that balance between malt, hops and a clean, refreshing finish.

Are Pilsners Hoppy?

They can be.

Pilsners aren't usually as intensely hop-forward as an IPA, but hops are an important part of the style. Traditional noble hops can give pilsners floral, herbal and slightly spicy flavours alongside a noticeable bitterness.

So if you like a beer with some hop character but don't necessarily want something intensely bitter, a pilsner can be a great place to start.

Steam Whistle Premium Pilsner uses Saaz hops, a classic noble hop associated with traditional Czech pilsners. They're an important part of the beer's aroma and bitterness without overpowering the rest of the beer.

How Strong Is a Pilsner?

The alcohol content of a pilsner can vary depending on the beer and the brewing tradition behind it.

There's no single ABV that defines a pilsner. What does define the style is more about its ingredients, brewing process and overall character.

Steam Whistle Premium Pilsner sits at 5% ABV, putting it right around the range you would expect from a traditional pilsner.

What Makes a Beer a Pilsner?

While pilsners can vary from one brewery to another, there are a few characteristics you'll commonly find in the style:

Pale appearance: Pilsners are typically pale gold in colour.

Crisp character: They're known for a clean and refreshing finish.

Hop bitterness: Pilsners have noticeable hop bitterness, although they're generally less hop-forward than an IPA.

Lager fermentation: Pilsners use lager yeast and are fermented and conditioned at cooler temperatures.

Balance: A good pilsner brings malt and hop flavours together without either one completely taking over.

It's that combination that gives pilsner its signature character.

At Steam Whistle, we take our time with that last part. Our Premium Pilsner is fermented for a week before being cold-aged for three weeks. It's a slower process, but that time helps develop the clean finish and character we look for in the beer.

What Is the Difference Between Pilsner and Other Beers?

Pilsner sits in an interesting spot when it comes to beer styles. It's approachable enough for someone who prefers a lighter, refreshing beer but has more noticeable hop character than many other easy-drinking styles.

Compared with an IPA, pilsner is generally less bitter and less hop-forward.

Compared with a pale ale, pilsner tends to have a cleaner, crisper character thanks to its lager fermentation.

Compared with a stout or porter, pilsner is much lighter in colour and body.

And compared with other lagers, pilsner is generally distinguished by its more noticeable hop bitterness and crisp finish.

Of course, beer styles can overlap and every brewery has its own approach.

If you want to dive deeper into how pilsner compares with other lagers, our [Pilsner vs. Lager guide] breaks it down in more detail.

What Food Goes With Pilsner?

One of the best things about pilsner is how well it pairs with food.

Its crisp character and refreshing finish make it a natural match for everything from pizza and burgers to fish and chips, spicy food and grilled meats.

We put together a full [Pilsner Food Pairing Guide] if you want to get into the details. And if you're in Toronto, you can always put the theory to the test at the Steam Whistle Kitchen, where the menu is built with our pilsner in mind.

How Do You Pour a Pilsner?

A good pour can make a difference in how you experience a beer.

For pilsner, you generally want a healthy head of foam that helps release the beer's aromas while keeping the pour refreshing.

We put together a full guide on [How to Pour a Pilsner] if you want to get your technique right.

Why Does Steam Whistle Make Pilsner?

Pilsner isn't just one of the beers we make at Steam Whistle. It's the beer that started it all.

Since opening at the Roundhouse in Toronto, we've built the brewery around the idea that you don't need to make everything to make one thing really well.

That means putting our focus into the ingredients, brewing process and time it takes to make our Premium Pilsner.

It's also why you'll see us talk so much about the style. We genuinely think there's a lot to appreciate in a well-made pilsner, from the first pour to the last sip.

So, What Is a Pilsner?

At its simplest, pilsner is a type of lager that's known for being crisp, clean, refreshing and pleasantly bitter.

But there's a lot of history and brewing tradition behind that simple description. From its origins in Pilsen to the pilsners being brewed around the world today, the style has become one of the most recognizable in beer.

At Steam Whistle, we've spent more than 25 years brewing our take on the style here in Toronto. We keep coming back to the same basic idea: use good ingredients, take your time and let the beer speak for itself.

So the next time someone asks you, "What is a pilsner?", you can give them the short answer:

It's a lager. It's crisp, refreshing and brewed to let the malt and hops speak for themselves.

Then grab a cold one and see for yourself.