You wouldn’t know it with all the fruity IPAs and bourbon-y stouts out there, but the humble Pilsner is the most consumed beer style in the world—and it isn’t close. The pale lager, which was first produced back in the 1800s, has spawned slight variations over the years and is often simply associated with the mass-produced brands hoarding shelf space. But if you think all Pilsners lack aroma and taste, you’re mistaken. Here are The 10 Best Pilsners You Can Buy:
Victory Prima Pils
Yes, DirtWolf, Victory’s Double IPA, was a pleasant surprise, but the Pennsylvania brewery’s bread and butter is anything German in nature. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that their German Pilsner, Prima Pils, is flat-out fantastic. Easily one of the finest American made Pilsners, Prima Pils has clean and spicy hop notes, perfect maltiness, and a body that dances across your tongue. It’s our go-to as the weather starts to turn for the better. Link
Style: German Pilsner | ABV: 5.3% | Rating: 91
Jack's Abby Kiwi Rising
American brewers enjoy experimentation. Hence, the creation of such styles as the “Imperial Pilsner.” Basically, think of a Pilsner on steroids. More flavor. More alcohol. Less thirst-quenching. In this new age category, Jack’s Abby reigns supreme. The finest example they produce is Kiwi Rising, a very hop-forward brew with more tropical notes than you’d expect from a Pilsner. It’s different, it’s strong, but damn if it isn’t delicious. Link
Style: Imperial Pilsner | ABV: 8.5% | Rating: 95
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Firestone Walker Pivo Pils
Like your Pilsner with a more hoppy profile? Firestone Walker has just what you’re looking for. Pivo Pils is the Pilsner for IPA hopheads. It packs classic Pilsner bitterness with a wallop of earthy hops on the nose. It’s an aggressive Pilsner that doesn’t go into Imperial territory. Link
Style: German Pilsner | ABV: 5.3% | Rating: 89
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New Glarus Edel-Pils
From the makers of Spotted Cow and a slew of exceptional fruit beers, Edel-Pils is crafted with Bavarian yeast and a mixture of Bavarian and American hops. The result is a Pilsner with a bit more complexity than traditional German or Czech offerings. It has a classic bready malt taste, some gentle hop bitterness, and that wonderfully crisp finish you want on a hot day. Link
Style: Czech Pilsner | ABV: 5.3% | Rating: 87
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Dogfish Head My Antonia
Dogfish Head has never been ones to stay within the lines, and My Antonia, their Imperial Pilsner, follows that trend. More citrusy and sweeter than just about any Pilsner you’ve ever tasted, My Antonia still happens to possess that style appropriate crispness. Originally brewed as a collab with Italy’s Birra del Borgo, the beer is an experience for the even the most accomplished Pilsner drinker. Link
Style: Imperial Pilsner | ABV: 7.5% | Rating: 90
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Würzburger Hofbräu Premium Pilsner
There had to be at least one foreign Pilsner on this list, and I’m going with one that holds a special place in my heart. With family in Würzburg, Germany, this is the Pilsner I lived on for week-long vacations at a time. It’s packed with a toasted malt profile, and it goes down easy with some brats. With many foreign countries producing Pilsners, this is still one of the absolute finest. Link
Style: German Pilsner | ABV: 4.9% | Rating: 86
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Heater Allen Pils
RateBeer named Heater Allen’s Pils the number one Pilsner in the world—and for good reason. Mimicking the classic style, Heater Allen brings some extra maltiness and hop presence to the table for a fuller, rounder beer. You’re going to need to go to Portland to snag yourself a bottle or pour, but if you’re on the hunt to try the best Pilsners, you won’t be finished until you do. Link
Style: Czech Pilsner | ABV: 4.8% | Rating: 89
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Sierra Nevada Nooner
Perfectly spicy and easy drinking, Sierra Nevada’s Nooner is a Pilsner for the man who enjoys a classic Pils with just a slight twist. A tad heavier and punchier than iconic versions, it offers a little bit of a different experience than the beers overseas, while still holding true to the most basic elements. Link
Style: German Pilsner | ABV: 5.2% | Rating: 87
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Trumer Pils
This brew is a little gem. If you can get your hands on it, it’s the kind of beer you could bring to a party and please both craft fans and those that stick with the major labels. Brewed by Trumer Brauerei Berkeley, which, despite the name, is a brewery in California, Trumer Pils is a spot-on take on the traditional German Pilsner style. Nice German hop notes, a slight bitterness, and wonderfully bubbly, Trumer Pils is one of the finest examples of an American brewery nailing a style without getting crazy with it. Link
Style: German Pilsner | ABV: 4.8% | Rating: 86
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Short's Spruce Pilsner
Okay, let’s get funky for a second—that is what many American brewers do best. Playing off a traditional Pilsner, Short’s Brewing brewed an extra strong version and fermented it with local, hand-picked spruce tips. Oh, and that spruce doesn’t sit in the background to be discovered; it’s like a tree fell on you. And you know what? It works. In a weird, glorious way, it works. Link
Style: Imperial Pilsner | ABV: 9.3% | Rating: 89
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