Another day, another Pils

Pilsner (like most beer) is pretty good, and while I might dwell on Ales at times it's important not to forget our cold-fermented friends, the Lagers and Pilsners.I've talked about a damn fine beer - if not a typical Pilsner before, but today I want to look at a couple of different beers, including one of the best Pilsners.

In my review of Mac's Hop Rocker I talked about the history of Mac's brewery and it's importance on the New Zealand beer scene, but I neglected to delve into what makes a Pilsner. Some time in the 1800's bottom fermenting yeasts were used to make beer that was then kept in caves around modern day Germany and Czech Republic - the process called Lagering (German for "Storage") led to the style's of beer we now call Lager's. Pilsner is technically a type of Lager (much the same as Bitter is a type of Ale) with unique characteristics. The first real Pilsners were made in the Bohemian town of Pilzen around 1840 using the newly popular bottom fermenting yeasts, as well as the recently developed pale malts - with local soft water and Saaz hops from a nearby town. The result was then left in caves to mature and clear.Pilsner Urquell is still made there today.

If your only experience with Pilsner is Heineken then you're in for a treat. While northern European commercial Pilsners (Heineken, Grolsch, Amstel, Stella Atrois) tend to be slightly sweet and malty, traditional Czech and Barvarian Pilsner is more crisp with a notable bitterness of hops. Urquell (meaning "Original Source" in German is officially the first Pilsner and easily one of the best. Very real and present Hops in traditional Saaz dominate the flavour, finished by crisp malt. Everything about this beer is refreshing, from the light golden colour through to the clean finish and the lasting head. Best drunk in Bohemian beer halls full of laughter and song!

For a brilliant modern take on the Pilsner, I look no further than Monteiths Pilsner. Back when DB Export Dry was saving kiwi blokes from the popularity of wine (according to the advertising anyway) Monteiths were upgrading their production to cope with demand for premium quality beer. Along came Monteiths Pilsner. It might not be the most experimental or innovative Pilsner, but unlike a lot of other variations on the theme, this fantastic beer is true to style. Warm gold in colour and a fraction sweeter than Bohemian Pilsners but with more distinction than your average Heineken, this Pils had something special going for it - Nobel Hop varieties grown locally. Compared to many of today's beers the hops remain subtle (though the same could easily be said of Urquell) but their presence adds complexity to a delicious and charming beer.

Pilsners are great session beers, and the perfect refreshing pint on a warm sunny afternoon - kind of like how this one is shaping out!