BJCP 5D · Pale Bitter European Beer
German Pils
A pale, dry, bitter lager with floral, spicy noble hops and light bready malt. Bright, crisp and very refreshing.
German Pils by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 4.4 – 5.2%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 22 – 40 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 2 – 4 SRM4–8 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.044 – 1.050on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.008 – 1.013on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What German Pils is like
A light gold, well-attenuated lager with pronounced bitterness, where noble hops bring floral and spicy aromas over a light malt base. It's drier and paler than a Czech Premium Pale Lager.
Appearance
Straw to light gold, very bright. Creamy, persistent white head.
Aroma
Medium to medium-low floral, herbal or spicy noble hops over light bready or honey-like malt. There may be a touch of sulfur.
Flavor
Medium to high bitterness that lasts through the finish, light bready malt and spicy or floral hops. The finish is dry, clean and slightly mineral.
Mouthfeel
Medium-light body and medium to high carbonation.
Where German Pils comes from
It's the German adaptation of Czech pilsner, which spread through Germany in the late 19th century and became drier and more bitter with harder water. There are regional differences: northern examples tend to be drier and more bitter than southern ones.
Ingredients
German pilsner malt, German noble hops like Hallertau, Tettnang, Spalt or Hersbrucker, water with some sulfate and a German lager yeast.
Brew it yourself
How to brew German Pils at home
Mash at 63-65 °C (145-149 °F) for a dry finish and use water with a little sulfate so the bitterness is crisp. Add hops late in the boil for aroma. Ferment at 8-11 °C (46-52 °F), do a diacetyl rest and lager cold for four weeks or more; carbonate to 2.5-2.7 volumes. The typical mistake is DMS or a haze that keeps the beer from looking brilliant.
Food pairing
Goes well with fried fish, sushi or mild goat cheeses.
Glassware: pilsner glass, tall and slender, to show off the color and the bubbles.
Classic examples
- Jever Pilsener
- Bitburger Premium Pils
- Rothaus Pils Tannenzäpfle
Frequently asked questions
How strong is German Pils?
Between 4.4% and 5.2% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is German Pils?
It has 22 to 40 IBUs, a moderate bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is German Pils?
Straw to yellow: 2 to 4 SRM (4 to 8 EBC).
What food pairs well with German Pils?
Goes well with fried fish, sushi or mild goat cheeses.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try Czech Premium Pale Lager, Munich Helles and German Helles Exportbier.
If you like German Pils, try these
Classification and statistics: official German Pils guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.