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12 Popular Pilsners To Add To Your Cooler

These pilsner style beers are light, delicious, and easy to drink.

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I am a massive fan of beer. Nothing is quite as refreshing as a cold beer on a hot day. Of the wide varieties of beer available in today’s market, my favorite type is a pilsner. This article will discuss my list of the best pilsner beers.

cheering pilsner beers

Pilsner is a pale lager that originated in the city of Plzeň in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic). Pilsner beers are typically straw to golden in color and have a crisp, clean flavor.

Pilsners have spread globally and brewed on every continent except Antarctica. 

With so many different pilsners, it can be hard to identify the best. However, I have done my best and narrowed my list to the twelve best pilsner beers.

Best Pilsner Beer

Each of these pilsners brings something unique to the table, and I find them all enjoyable to drink. I highly recommend all twelve of them, and perhaps one of them will become your best pilsner beer.

Pilsner Urquell

Pilsner Urquell is the original Pilsner. Joseph Gross brewed this beer for the first time in 1842 in Plzen.

Since then, the pilsner has become the most popular beer in the world. The exact recipe has not changed in the last 175 years.

You don’t mess with success and can taste the commitment to tradition and quality in every sip. 

Pilsner Urquell is a light-bodied beer with a golden color. It has a crisp, clean flavor with hints of malt and hops, and I find that it pairs well with poultry and fish.

I enjoy Pilsner Urquell because it is the perfect example of a traditional pilsner. If you are looking for a classic pilsner, Pilsner Urquell is perfect.

Firestone Walker Pivo Pils

Firestone Walker is a brewery based in California.

Adam Firestone and David Walker started this brewery because they couldn’t find a traditional Pilsner they liked. Over twenty-five years later, Firestone Walker Pivo Pils is one of the best Pilsners.

This beer has a straw-yellow color and is light-bodied. It has a crisp flavor with hints of citrus and floral hops. I find that it pairs well with grilled meats.

I enjoy Firestone Walker Pivo Pils because it is an excellent example of an American Pilsner. The citrus and floral hops give it a unique flavor that sets it apart from other Pilsners.

If you are looking for a Pilsner with a unique flavor, Firestone Walker Pivo Pils is perfect.

Jever Pilsener

Jever Pilsener is brewed using the original recipe developed over 170 years ago.

Jever has brewed this unique pilsner with a special mix of high-quality hops and water.

It gives this pilsner a distinctive tart taste that is also refreshing.

This beer is lightly golden and has a crisp, clean flavor. It pairs well with poultry and fish.

I enjoy Jever Pilsener because it is a unique Pilsner. The tart taste sets it apart from other Pilsners and makes it refreshing. If you are looking for a Pilsner with a tart finish, Jever Pilsener is perfect.

Russian River STS Pils

The Russian River STS Pils gets its name from the local Sonoma County airport (STS).

The STS Pils is a classic German-style pilsner but with a unique twist. Unlike other pilsners, the STS Pils is dry-hopped with a small number of European hops.

The dry-hopping gives this beer a straw color with a slight haze due to the leftover yeast.

It has a dry bitter finish that is perfect for relaxing on the lake. I find that it pairs well with grilled meats.

I enjoy the STS Pils because of their unique flavor. The dry-hopping gives this pilsner a more pungent yeast taste. It is one of the unique pilsners on this list and competes for the best pilsner beer.

Rothaus Pils TannenzäpfleRothaus Pils Tannenzäpfle

Rothaus Pils TannenzäpfleRothaus Pils Tannenzäpfle is a German pilsner that is brewed using only the finest ingredients.

This beer has a light golden color with a slight haze. It has a floral aroma and a slightly sweet taste. I find that it pairs well with grilled meat and cooked vegetables.

I enjoy Rothaus Pils Tannenzäpfle because it is a classic German pilsner. The light golden color and the slight haze are perfect for a summer day.

If you are looking for a German pilsner, Rothaus Pils Tannenzäpfle is perfect.

Victory Prima Pils

Victory Prima Pils is an American pilsner brewed using German ingredients.

This beer has a straw-yellow color, a slight haze, a floral aroma, and a slightly sweet taste. 

I enjoy the floral and citrus notes that shine through in this beer. These special notes set the Victory Prima Pils apart from other pilsners.

I enjoy Victory Prima Pils because it is a unique American pilsner. The German ingredients give this beer a unique flavor that sets it apart from other pilsners.

If you are looking for a pilsner that is smooth and easy to drink, Victory Prima Pils is perfect.

Heater Allen Pils

Heater Allen Pilsner is an American pilsner brewed using German ingredients.

This beer has a bright golden color, a slight haze, a floral aroma, and a slightly sweet taste. 

Heater Allen Pilsner is one of the unique pilsners on this list because of the higher malt content. The beer is refreshingly and has a rich, balanced, and complete taste.

It results in over 17 test batches, and you can taste the commitment to excellence.

Heater Allen Pils is brewed in McMinnville, Oregon. It’s worth the drive to try out this excellent pilsner.

Live Oak Pilz

Live Oak Pilz is an American pilsner brewed using Bohemian ingredients.

This beer has a rich golden color with a slight haze and uses a rare Moravian malt to achieve its unique flavor. The result is a clean, script pilsner with a complex and spicy finish.

I love the Live Oak Pilz because it leans into the malt flavor some other pilsners try to avoid. Plus, I love the spicy hot finish.

As someone who loves anything and everything spicy, the Live Oak Pilz is my favorite pilsner.

Check it out the next time you are in Austin, TX, and don’t forget to stop by some restaurants while you are there. 

Notch Session Pils

Notch Session Pils is an American pilsner brewed according to the original Czech root of the pilsner.

This beer has a straw-yellow color with notes of herbs. It is a crisp and hoppy beer that would be right at home in the Czech Republic.

I love the Notch Session Pils because it is a true Czech pilsner.

If you want to experience a Czech pilsner without traveling to the Czech Republic, the Notch Session Pils is the right beer.

Sierra Nevada Nooner

The Sierra Nevada is one of the most popular breweries in the United States.

I love many of their beers, and the Nooner does not disappoint. Sierra Nevada Nooner is an American pilsner brewed using Bohemian style.

This beer has a brilliant golden color with a spicy and floral finish. 

Nooner is the perfect beer to have with a sandwich or salad at lunch or in the afternoon on a spring day. It is easy to drink but still has big flavors.

The Sierra Nevada Nooner is brewed in Chico, CA, and I highly recommend visiting the brewery. You get free samples of Sierra Nevada Nooner!

Summit Keller Pils

Summit Keller Pils is an American pilsner brewed using German methods.

This beer has a pale straw color, a creamy head, and a full body. Summit brews this pilsner using German hops and barley, and the result is a crisp pilsner with notes of citrus and honey.

You can enjoy this beer on a hot summer day. The Summit Keller Pils pairs well with grilled meats and vegetables.

This beer has a smooth finish and is easy to drink. It is the perfect beer to drink while watching a baseball or football game. I promise that you won’t have just one.

Notch Brewing Desítka

Notch Brewing Desítka Pilsner is an American pilsner brewed according to the original Czech root of the pilsner.

This beer has a clear pale golden color and a white head. It has a complex flavor compared to other pilsners and has notes of malt with a spicy and floral finish.

It is more bitter than other pilsners but is still crisp and hoppy. It is complex but still drinkable.

The Desítka Pilsner is best enjoyed on a hot day and pairs well with grilled pork and pizza.

I recommend using the right kind of glass to drink this pilsner, it makes a huge difference.

Best Pilsner Beer

  1. Pilsner Urquell
  2. Firestone Walker Pivo Pils
  3. Jever Pilsener
  4. Russian River STS Pils
  5. Rothaus Pils Tannenzäpfle
  6. Victory Prima Pils
  7. Heater Allen Pils
  8. Live Oak Pilz
  9. Notch Session Pils
  10. Sierra Nevada Nooner
  11. Summit Keller Pils
  12. Notch Brewing Desítka

Final Thoughts

These are the best pilsner beers that I have ever had. Each beer is unique and has its flavor profile. If you are a fan of pilsner beer, I recommend that you try all of these beers. You will not be disappointed.

If you think I have left a pilsner off this list, let me know in the comments below.

Learn more about other types of beer, like popular Japanese beers or the best cities to visit for beer lovers.

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3 Comments

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  1. Appreciate the article and have tried a good chunk of the beers referenced. I think any (global) pilsener list should start with German varieties. Both originated from there and much better flavor than most American versions of the style. Konig and Bitburger are examples of German pils that are widely available and taste great

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    • Konig is my top and Bitburger right there. For America Trumer does a great job, pfriem is good but Bayern is Missoula is tops.

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Written by Erin Elizabeth

Erin is an editor and food writer who loves traveling and trying new foods and fun cocktails. Erin has been writing and editing professionally for 5 years since graduating from Temple University, and has been on the Restaurant Clicks team for 3 years. She has a long background working in the restaurant industry, and is an avid home chef and baker. Her favorite restaurants are those with spicy food and outdoor seating so that she can bring along her dog, Miss Piggy.