LEARN MORE: HERE Pivovar Kout na Sumave Koutska 12 Mary is an exquisite little offering: delicately balancing floral and subtly spicy hops with crisp, vaguely doughy malt, and with the soft mouthfeel you expect from his works despite being dry and smooth.” - Brett Taylor, partner and head brewer at Wild East Brewing Company But what separates the best from the rest is process and water chemistry.
There are only so many ways to combine continental Pils malt, noble hops and one of a handful of yeast strains. You almost have to talk about pilsner in the abstract, because, even when done unspectacularly, they exhibit similar characteristics.
It was there I first encountered Mary, the perfect intersection between the balance you can bet your life on from a Hill Farmstead beer, and the archetype of a craft pilsner. We drove the next day across the state, ultimately to Portland, Maine, and stopped at Hill Farmstead along the way. “Five years ago, I graduated from brewing school and my future wife drove up to meet me in Middlebury, Vermont. Did your favorite make the list?Įditor’s Note: Some responses have been edited for clarity and length. We asked 20 beer makers to share the one pilsner that holds a special place in their heart, and their glass. Ask a brewer what they’re drinking after a shift, or what they’re sipping on while working an event, and you’ll likely get this response (and proudly): crisp, clean pils. It’s also because pilsners are delicious and refreshing, and low in alcohol, making it an ideal beverage of choice in many situations. No doubt, part of the pilsner’s admiration among beer makers around the world is the challenge in creating a memorable one it’s a true measure of brewing greatness. “It’s true what some people say: there aren’t any strong flavors to hide behind, and your process has to be on point. Suarez is known for producing excellent pilsners, like Palatine and Qualify. “It’s hard to brew a subtle beer that comes across as tasty, complex and ripe with texture,” Dan Suarez, the owner and brewer of Suarez Family Brewery, told PUNCH in 2016. The style’s simplicity and lack of fuss leaves little room for even the slightest flaw. Many will agree: A good pilsner, with its brisk, subtle flavors and crisp, snappy bitterness, is a difficult to make exercise in technique and precision. Brewers have a deep appreciation for Pilsners.