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What is a French Pilsner?
Hailing from the Bohemian city of Plzeň, pilsners are one of the most popular styles of beer. While Buoy’s Czech-Style Pilsner has always been a favorite, our brewers have recently been trying their creative hands at other pilsner styles, like the Bohemian Pilsner, Italian Pilsner, and now: the French Pilsner.
A French Pilsner is a type of pale lager that blends the crisp, refreshing qualities of traditional pilsners with unique ingredients from France. It typically features French malts, like Jehanne D’arc Pilsen malts, and hops from regions such as Alsace, known for their herbal, floral, and sometimes citrusy characteristics. The result is a beer that offers a delightful balance of bready malt flavors, honey notes, and a touch of spiciness, making it a distinct and flavorful take on the classic pilsner style.
What’s the Deal with Pilsners?
Since the first pilsner was first brewed in 1842, there have been dozens of variations that have sparked the curiosity of beer drinkers: American Pilsners, New Zealand Pilsners, German Pilsners, West Coast Pilsners, and more. So why are there so many? And what’s the difference?
Since pilsners are such a classic and well-loved style, many breweries enjoy the opportunity to tap into regional ingredients to create a unique beer. One thing all pilsners have in common is that they are all brewed with bottom-fermenting lager yeast; their malt and hop varieties are what give each style its character.
Pilsen malt: The palest color malt with a mildly nutty, malty, sweet flavor.
Czech Saaz hops: Known for their floral and spicy aromas, low acidity, and earthy, herbal flavors.
Crisp Haná malt: A malt with freshly baked bread and subtle malt flavors.
German Magnum hops: Known for their citrusy, peppery aromas and woodsy, clean bitter flavors.
Czech Saaz hops: Known for their floral and spicy aromas, low acidity, and earthy, herbal flavors.
Jehanne D’arc Pilsen malt: Carefully selected and sourced in small batches from France with a supreme emphasis on quality and traceability. Made exclusively with French barley and malted in Issoudun, France.
French Strisselspalt hops: Premium hops sourced from the Alsace region of France and known for their subtle spicy, citrusy aromas and floral, citrusy flavors.
French Elixir hops: Sourced from the Alsace region of France and known for their cognac, leather, tobacco, and sweet citrus aromas and flavors.
Weyerman Eraclea malt: Cultivated in the Eraclea region of Italy; malty, nutty, honey-sweet flavors.
Carapils malt: A high-performance malt used to build body and mouthfeel.
German Magnum hops: Known for their citrusy, peppery aromas and woodsy, clean bitter flavors.
German Spalter hops: Known for their floral and black tea aromas and grassy, spicy, floral flavors.
Czech Saaz hops: Known for their floral and spicy aromas, low acidity, and earthy, herbal flavors.
New Zealand Pilsner
Malt: Typically a pale malt with slightly bready and crackery flavors.
New Zealand hops: Known for their tropical, fruity, citrusy, and grassy aromas and flavors.
Bestmalz Pilsen malt: A clearn, full-bodied variety with malty flavor.
Dextrapils malt: A high-performance malt used to build body and mouthfeel.
German Magnum hops: Known for their citrusy, peppery aromas and woodsy, clean bitter flavors.
German Hellertau hops: Known for their earthy, grassy, and nectar aromas and subtle spicy flavors.
German Tettnang hops: Hops from the Saaz group known for their soft spicy aroma and floral, herbal flavors.
To sum things up, pilsners are light, crisp, refreshing, and perfect for enjoying amongst friends. Reach for a Czech-Style or Bohemian Pilsner if you enjoy a maltier flavor, a German or Italian Pilsner if you like things hoppier, a New Zealand Pilsner if you like a slight fruitiness, and a French Pilsner for unique notes of cracker, honey, spice, and a hint of lemon.
Buoy’s French Pilsner is available in 12oz cans and on draft throughout our distribution area. It will be featured at Astoria’s Pacific Northwest Brew Cup this weekend, just one block from the Buoy Beer Co. Taproom, where we will be hosting Oktoberfest activities all day on September 21st.