Skip to main content

The 7 Best All-American Pilsners For Summer and Always

It took a while for America to get the hang of the pilsner. The incredibly clean lager beer style was long something Europeans excelled at.

The pilsner was born in the Old World in the mid-18th Century. It was first brewed in the Czech town of Pilsen, a place with a rich beer heritage that goes all the way back to the 13th Century. By the 1800s, there was a movement towards higher quality beer inspired by the goings-on in Bavaria. Brewers and drinkers alike wanted more consistency and the former looked to fine-tune their recipes with better ingredients and more sophisticated strains of yeast.

Related Videos

Thus, the pilsner was devised, a combination of Pilsen’s esteemed local water supply, native hops, and a bottom-fermented approach. It has been a sensation ever since, the most-consumed beer style on the planet. Countless labels specialize in the stuff, from Pilsner Urquell and Stella Artois to Beck’s and Warsteiner.

With so many European immigrants coming to the states a couple of centuries ago, one would expect a decent pilsner recipe or two. And while there likely were some tasty batches early on, it wasn’t long before the biggest breweries took the pilsner and stripped it of its personality. Bright and beaming domestic pilsners lost out to, well, Bud (and sibling beers).

Fortunately, the recent rise in the craft beer tide has lifted all styles within, including the pilsner. Today, you don’t have to sniff out the European section of your favorite bottle shop for the good stuff. Fantastic pilsners are being brewed in Oregon, Montana, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere.

Bayern Pilsener

Missoula brewery Bayern is inspired by the German tradition, as its name suggests. Fittingly, the Montana outfit makes a mean pilsner, adhering to fairly strict German criteria (all the way down to spelling it “pilsener”). Hence, it deliciously crosses everything off the list, from its perfect light gold color to its 34 EBUs (European Bitterness Units, of which it needs at least 28 to be dubbed a pilsner). It’s a flavorful gem made in the wonderful world that is Big Sky Country.

Heater Allen Pils

Heater Allen Pils

Located in the heart of Oregon wine country, Heater Allen has been quietly making outstanding beer since 2007. The pilsner is arguably the brewery’s finest work, Bohemian in style and every kind of refreshing. The McMinnville brewery takes a lot of pride in its slow, cool fermentation, which leads to balanced beers with tremendous purity.

Victory Prima Pils

Victory Prima Pils

Made in Pennsylvania, the Prima Pils is Victory Brewing’s beloved baby. It’s floral and a little spicy, made with four types of German hops. The beer does what good pilsners do, treating the drinker to equal hits of crispness and just the right amount of sweet.

Pfriem Pilsner

Pfriem Pilsner

Hood River brewery Pfriem describes its pilsner aptly, employing the word “snappy.” It tastes like a barefoot run through a meadow, with grassy, floral, and sweet citrus notes. The beer also touts one of the coolest canned designs in all of ale.

Tree House Brewing Company Trail Magic

beer
Oleksandr Pidvalnyi

A favorite among craft beer enthusiasts, Tree House makes a damn good pilsner. The Trail Magic is a delight to drink, with hints of earth and bolder flavors than most pilsners out there. It’s an unfiltered number you’ll want to pour into a tall glass and sniff for a while, enjoying its compelling aromatics.

Jester King Pilsner

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmashing-in.com%2F2020%2F04%2F08%2Fjester-king-brewery-issues-a-love-letter-to-lager-with-release-of-unfiltered-pilsner%2F&psig=AOvVaw28eHTycz4kMqxEQXSj_Cwl&ust=1594894840409000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCNiA9rWEz-oCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD

The unfiltered pilsner from Jester King just went to can earlier this year. It’s a fantastic offering from the lauded Texas brewery, made from local malts and European hops. The brewery even softened its local water supply in an effort to mimic the famed water of the Czech Republic. It’s taut, tantalizing, and clean as a whistle.

Sierra Nevada Nooner

Sierra Nevada Nooner

This beer is proof that larger operations can, in fact, make a strong pilsner. The Nooner is nice and hoppy, occupying a delicious space somewhere between German and American west coast styles. Sierra Nevada has specialized in lighter ales for decades and this one falls right in line.

Editors' Recommendations

The 8 best protein shakes that are ready-to-go
These shakes come with all the good stuff, and none of the crap
Svelte

With as busy as we have become as a society, we always seem to be on the go. This can make life challenging, especially when it comes to wellness goals. In a perfect world, you could hit the gym hard, crush a workout, then immediately refuel with a balanced, home-cooked meal. But, since life happens and we are always on the go, it’s not always feasible to take the time to actually cook up a muscle-building meal right after your workout. Whether you’re on the go and short on time, or just can't stomach a full meal after exercising, having a quick and easy, protein-packed option that doesn’t require kitchen time, is a helpful alternative to refuel your body and maximize your results.

This is where protein shakes come in handy. Numerous ready-to-drink shakes are available that provide muscle-building protein, vitamins, minerals, and calories to fortify your body after a workout. They offer the benefits of protein powders with the convenience of eliminating the need for a shaker bottle, or high-speed blender, let alone making a mess with powders. Simply give the bottle a quick shake, pop the top, and you’re good to go.

Read more
The 7 best CBD-infused drinks we tried in 2023
These tasty CBD-infused drinks will have you feeling calmer in no time
Cans o RisEau cbd drinks.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, has been hot for a while now, making its way into everything from CBD teas to a variety of CBD coffee brands. If you're wondering "what is CBD?" — it's a naturally occurring compound present in cannabis plants. According to the World Health Organization, it's not addictive, has a solid safety profile, and won't get you high. In clinical trials, it's been effective in the treatment of epilepsy and shows promise in treating a number of other conditions.

In addition to CBD-infused water, tea, soda, and seltzer, another growing trend is CBD-infused nonalcoholic spirits and cocktails. The adult beverage market is flooded with CBD products promising to help you relax, sleep, destress, and mellow out, all without the hangover you'd get from booze (CBD is considered a controlled substance and can't be legally added to booze, at least not yet). We've rounded up a few of our favorite CBD-infused drinks below, from CBD cocktails to CBD water, so you can work your relaxation into your daily routine no matter where you are.

Read more
Here’s how to make a margarita, according to top bartenders
The only margarita recipes you'll ever need
margarita tequila cocktail lime strainer

The best margaritas do not grow on trees, nor do they show up in a can (although there are some tasty canned drinks these days). No, the tastiest version of the tequila classic is made fresh, with love and care and some wisdom from a couple of top bartenders.

It's a balancing act, for sure, but when it's dialed-in, the margarita is one of the best and most refreshing cocktails ever devised. The classic mix of agave spirit, lime, salt, and a touch of sweetness is great alone or with any number of dishes, especially within Mexican cuisine (the nation where the drink was born).

Read more