“Pilsner is a brewer’s beer. When I get together with other craft brewers, it’s what we drink.Craft brewers are taking American-brewed pilsner away from its industrial image and back to its stylistic roots”

                                      – Firestone Walker Brewmaster Matt Brynildson 

Summer is here – and so are the beers of summer. And one of the beer styles that we enjoy the most at this time of year is the Pilsner… And here are some of our favorites.

Victory Prima Pils (Downingtown, PA) – Considered by many to be the “mother of the American craft beer Pilsner,” Victory Brewing’s Prima Pils is one of craft beer’s first and most celebrated beers. Crisp, clean and with just a hint of sweetness – this beer is a classic

Lakewood Zomer Pils (Garland, TX) – A true Pilsner is expensive to brew and un-like so many of craft beer’s hop-forward IPAs, it leaves little margin for error. That’s why we get excited when we come across a truly great Pilsner like the Lakewood Brewing Company’s brilliant summer seasonal. Zomer Pils is a 4.8% deep Texas hot weather refresher, brewed with Belgian Pilsner malt and Noble hops – a great lager.

Notch Session Pils (Ipswich, MA) – Founded by Chris Lohring (formerly of Tremont Brewery) in 2010, Notch was the first brewing company in the US to focus exclusively on session beers. And their 4% Pilsner is true to that tradition. Notch Session Pils salutes the unfiltered lagers of the Czech Republic: crisp, herbal, and hoppy.

Firestone Walker Pivo Hoppy Pils (Paso Robles, CA) – David Walker made and interesting observation about the Pilsner’s craft beer resurgence while we were hanging with him a few years back at SAVOR. He said that the industry was readdressing Pilsner because craft brewers “have finally gotten good enough at what they do to take on this difficult style with confidence.” Firestone Walker first debuted their dry hopped 5.3% variation on the Bavarian traditional in 2013 and it became an immediate hit. And now you can get it cans – even better.

Sixpoint’s The Crisp (Brooklyn, NY) – Old world craftsmanship meets American innovation Sixpoint Brewery’s 5.4% craft beer “take” on the German tradition is crisp (of course) clean, and crazy refreshing. And we love the cans!