Pilsner Urquell

Pilsner Urquell (German: [ˈpɪlznɐ ˈʔuːɐ̯ˌkvɛl]; Czech: Plzeňský prazdroj [ˈpl̩zɛɲskiː ˈprazdroj]) is a lager beer brewed by the Pilsner Urquell Brewery in Plzeň (former German name: Pilsen), Czech Republic. Pilsner Urquell was the world's first pale lager,[1] and its popularity meant it was much copied, and named pils, pilsner or pilsener.[2] It is hopped with Saaz hops, a noble hop variety which is a key element in its flavour profile, as is the use of soft water.[3][4] It is available in 330 ml, 355 ml and 500 ml aluminium cans and green or brown bottles.

330 ml bottle of Pilsner Urquell
This article is about the beer. For the brewery that produces this beer, see Pilsner Urquell Brewery.

Pilsner Urquell
ManufacturerPilsner Urquell Brewery
Introduced1842
StyleCool fermented beer
Websitewww.pilsnerurquell.com 
Main gate of the Plzeňský Prazdroj

Almost all draught Pilsner Urquell is sold filtered, but small quantities are available unfiltered, in the Czech Republic and, in very limited amounts, in Germany, the United Kingdom,[5][6] the United States,[7] Sweden,[8] Hungary and Austria. In recent years, the unpasteurized "tank" version of the beer has become increasingly available.

History
A mug of Pilsner Urquell

Pilsner Urquell was the first pale lager, and the name pilsner is often used by its copies. It is characterised by its golden colour and clarity, and was immensely successful: nine out of ten beers produced and consumed in the world are pale lagers based on Pilsner Urquell. The German name, which means 'original source', was adopted as a trademark in 1898.[9]

By 1839 most beer in Bohemia was dark and top fermented. However bottom-fermented lagers were gaining popularity. The people of Plzeň preferred imported cheaper bottom-fermented beers to local top fermented ales.[10] The burghers of Plzeň invested in a new, state-of-the art brewery, the Měšťanský pivovar (Burghers' Brewery), and hired Josef Groll, a Bavarian brewer, to brew a bottom-fermented beer. On 5 October 1842, Groll had a new mash ready and on 11 November 1842, the new beer was first served at the feast of St. Martin markets.[11]

The brewery registered Pilsner Bier B. B. name in 1859.[12] In 1898, they also registered names Original Pilsner Bier 1842, Plzeňský pramen, Prapramen, Měšťanské Plzeňské, Plzeňský pravý zdroj and finally Pilsner Urquell and Plzeňský Prazdroj, which are in use today.

Pilsner Urquell is today brewed solely in the Pilsen brewery. It was brewed between 2002 and 2011 in Tychy, Poland[13] and between 2004 and 2017 in Kaluga, Russia.[14]

See also

References
  1. German Beer Institute, PILS Archived 19 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  2. University of Economics Prague, Brewery tour of Pilsner Urquell
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 16 October 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Czech this out". Ben Viveur. 16 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  6. "98. Pilsner Urquell". threehundredbeers.com. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  7. "Keepers of the Craft Content". Draft Magazine. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  8. "Gyllen Prag, the Czech restaurant in Gothenburg: beer". Gyllene Prag. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  9. Jackson, Michael. Ultimate Beer, p. 124, DK Publishing, Inc., 1998. ISBN 0-7894-3527-6
  10. "Pils". The German Beer Institute. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  11. Řezáč, Jiří. "Kdy bývá pivo Pils? (When is Pils beer?)". GastroNews.cz. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  12. Pilsner Urquell Archived 13 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Pilsner Urquell už se v Polsku vyrábět nebude
  14. Plzeň už opravdu jenom z Plzně. Výroba Prazdroje v Rusku skončila
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