Culturess
Fansided

11 Beers to Drink and Enjoy for the Brewski Newbie

By Sarah Crocker

facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 12
Next

BERLIN, GERMANY – APRIL 22: A vintage advertisement for Berliner Pilsner beer hangs at the Alt Berlin (Old Berlin) bar on April 22, 2014 in Berlin, Germany. The bar, which opened in 1893 and is known for its familial atmosphere, is claimed to be the oldest bar in the German capital, a city with few remaining pre-War drinking establishments in comparison to other major European cities. A petition has been launched to convince the bar’s landlord to allow the business to stay open after its expected closure at the end of the month due to skyrocketing real estate prices in the city’s popular and central Mitte neighborhood. (Photo by Adam Berry/Getty Images)

9.) Pilsners

This is another traditional German style that you may have seen from one of the standard big, hulking breweries. However, don’t let the ubiquitousness of this style deter you. A good, carefully crafted pilsner is a beautiful thing.

Pilsners take their name from the city of Pilsen, in Bohemia, now the Czech Republic. It was first produced in 1842. The extraordinarily soft, mineral-light water around Pilsen, combined with a local variety of hops, produced a clear, golden beer that became a sensation.

Brewers in the region had been brewing and aging their beers in caves in the region, which promoted the lager-style fermentation and long shelf life of pilsners. Later advances in refrigeration made it easier for brewers throughout the land to try their hand at making their own pilsners.

Modern pilsners typically have a very pronounced hop flavor and aroma. If you’re still a beer newbie, don’t let this scare you off! Hops lend bitterness to beers, sure, but that’s not all. They also have a distinct floral, almost pine-like taste that can really grow on you after a while. A pilsner is an excellent way to start getting your taste buds on board with hops. Pilsners usually hit somewhere between 35-45 IBUs.

Pilsners to try:

Home/Food