Top 10 Bohemian Pilseners Brewed in North America
The Top Ten Bohemian Pilseners list is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. Bohemian pilseners are medium-bodied, and they can be as dark as a light amber color. This style balances moderate bitterness and noble-type hop aroma and flavor with a malty, slightly sweet, medium body. ABV: 4.1%-5.1%. IBU: 30-45.
1. Bohemian Shine, Castle Island Brewing – Massachusetts
2. Bohemian Pilsener – TAPS Fish House and Brewery – California
3. Bohemian Pilsner – Ballad Brewing – Virginia
4. 2nd Set Pilsner – Urban South Brewery – Louisiana
5. Buffalo Rodeo – Drekker Brewing – North Dakota
6. Torch Pilsner – Foothills Brewing – North Carolina
7. Brewer’s Choice Czech Pale Lager – Feather Falls Brewing – California
8. Mama’s Little Yella Pils – Oskar Blues Brewery – Colorado
9. Samuel Adams Boston Lager – Boston Beer Company – Massachusetts
10. Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager – Sierra Nevada Brewing – California
History of Bohemian Pilsners
The history of Bohemian Pilsner begins in the early 19th century in the Czech town of Plzeň, located in the region of Bohemia. In 1842, local brewers, frustrated by the inconsistent quality of existing beers, sought to create a superior brew. They hired Bavarian brewer Josef Groll, who combined local Saaz hops, soft water from Plzeň’s aquifers, and pale malt to produce a clear, golden lager using a bottom-fermentation process. This new beer, first brewed at the Bürgerbrauerei (Citizens’ Brewery), now known as Pilsner Urquell, was unveiled on October 5, 1842. Its crisp, refreshing taste and brilliant clarity, achieved through cold fermentation and lagering, quickly gained popularity, setting a new standard for beer and earning the name “Pilsner” after its place of origin.
The success of Bohemian Pilsner sparked a global revolution in brewing. Its light, hoppy profile contrasted with the darker, heavier ales and lagers of the time, inspiring brewers across Europe and beyond to replicate the style. By the late 19th century, the Pilsner style had spread to Germany, where it evolved into the slightly drier, more carbonated German Pilsner, and to other parts of the world, including the United States. The original Bohemian Pilsner, exemplified by Pilsner Urquell, remains a benchmark for the style, characterized by its floral, spicy Saaz hop aroma, balanced malt sweetness, and clean finish. Today, Bohemian Pilsner is celebrated as a classic beer style, with its influence seen in countless modern lagers, while Plzeň remains a pilgrimage site for beer enthusiasts.
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