Pilsner Urquell

Coordinates: 49°44′48″N 13°23′14″E / 49.746758°N 13.387243°E / 49.746758; 13.387243

Pilsner Urquell
Manufacturer Pilsner Urquell Brewery
Introduced 1842
Style Bottom-fermented beer
Main gate of the Plzeňský Prazdroj

Pilsner Urquell (IPA: [ˈpɪlznɐ ˈʔuːɐ̯ˌkvɛl], Czech: Plzeňský prazdroj IPA: [ˈpl̩.zɛɲskiː ˈprazdroj]), is a Czech lager brewed in Plzeň, Czech Republic by Pilsner Urquell Brewery. Pilsner Urquell is the world’s first-ever pilsner type blond lager,[1] making it the inspiration for much of the beer produced in the world today, many of which are named pils, pilsner and 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 and fire-brewing.[3][4] It is available in 330 ml, 355 ml and 500 ml aluminium cans and green or brown bottles.

Almost all draught Pilsner Urquell is packaged in kegs and dispensed under carbon dioxide pressure but small quantities are available unpasteurised, unfiltered and naturally conditioned in cask 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. Pilsner Urquell is exported in bottles and cans to North America and other regions.

History

A mug Pilsner Urquell

As the name suggests, ("Urquell" in German or "Prazdroj" in Czech both mean "the ancient source") Pilsner Urquell is the original pilsner and first pale lager beer. 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 derived from the original Pilsen beer.[9] Before 1840, the standard beer in Bohemia was top-fermented and characterized by a dark colour, turbidity, and inconsistent quality. Plzeň burghers had not found this satisfying and the Plzeň city council ordered 36 casks to be dumped.[10] They invested in a new, state-of-the art brewery, the Bürgerbrauerei (Town brewery, Měšťanský pivovar in Czech), and commissioned Josef Groll, a Bavarian brewer, to develop a better beer. On 5 October 1842, Groll had an entirely new mash ready and on 11 November 1842, the new beer was first served at the feast of Saint Martin markets.[11]

Bürgerbrauerei registered Pilsner Bier B B brand in 1859.[12] In 1898, they also registered 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 in two breweries; in the Pilsen brewery and in Kaluga, Russia. It was brewed between 2002 and 2011 in Tychy in Poland.[13]

See also

Notes and references

  1. ↑ German Beer Institute, PILS
  2. ↑ University of Economics Prague, Brewery tour of Pilsner Urquell
  3. ↑ http://www.pilsner-urquell.com/html/en_gb/_2_1_3.html
  4. ↑ http://www.pilsner-urquell.com/html/en_gb/_2_2_2.html
  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, page 124, DK Publishing, Inc., 1998. ISBN 0-7894-3527-6
  10. ↑ "Pils". The German Beer Institute. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  11. ↑ Řezáč, Jiří. "Kdy bývá pivo Pils? (When is Pils beer?)". GastroNews.cz. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  12. ↑ Pilsner Urquell
  13. ↑ Pilsner Urquell už se v Polsku vyrábět nebude
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