Euro Pale Lager
Since the Pilsner (Pilsner Urquell) introduction in the mid 1800s, the public’s thirst for this light-colored, refreshing, easy-drinking beer has spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world. While the original Czech- and German-brewed Pilsners remain the respective style benchmarks for aroma and flavor, inspired brewers in The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Italy and other European countries have since built international beer brands around pale lager success. With some of these labeled “Pilsner,” they contribute to the notion that the term is synonymous and interchangeable with any pale beer. However, just as Czech and German Pilsners—the two officially recognized Pilsner styles—have notable character differences, so do other pale lagers, and therefore they deserve their own style identifier. “Euro Pale Lager” thus describes the origin and beer type in one, succinct style name and differentiates these beers from their American-style lager counterparts. That said, beers from countries outside of Europe can fit this style category.| Characteristic | Details |
|---|---|
| Taste/Smell | Crisp, Balanced, Biscuity, Earthy, Light-bodied |
| Alcohol-by-Volume (ABV) Range | 4.6 – 6% |
| Bitterness (IBU) | 15-27 |
| Popular Examples | Stella Artois, Martens Pilsner, Heineken Lager, Grolsch Premium Lager, Super Bock, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Birra Moretti, Harp Lager, Kronenbourg 1664, Samuel Smith Pure Brewed Lager, Tennent’s Lager, Zywiec Beer, Baltika #3 Classic |
| Serving Temperature | Cold, 39-45° |
| Glassware | Pint or Nonic, Pilsner Glass, Beer Mug |
| Cheese Pairing Ideas | Edam, Goat Cheese (Chèvre), Havarti, Monterey Jack, White Cheddar (mild), Swiss cheese |
| Food Pairing Ideas | Lighter foods including salads, crab, lobster, salmon and chicken and spicier foods including Indian, Mexican and fried foods |
