There are
two categories of beer: lager and ale. The difference between these two
categories (Pilsner Vs Lager) has nothing to do with alcohol content, color or
bitterness. The difference begins during the process of brewing. It does not
matter whether the beer is an ale or a lager, what defines it is the type of
yeast used during the brewing process and the temperatures at which
fermentation took place at. Lagers are usually brewed with bottom fermenting
yeast which ferments at a slower pace and at cold temperatures. The yeasts sink
to the bottom of the tank and ferment there since they usually gather at the
bottom of the tank, they can be reused. The yeast used in making lagers does
not influence much the final flavor.
Lager
yeasts are less fruity and they emit a lot of sulfur compounds during the
process of primary fermentation. This surprises a lot of first time lager
brewers are usually shocked by the rotten egg smell that is emitted from the
fermenters, at times making them think that the whole lot is infected making
them to throw it away. Don’t throw it! These compounds usually continue to vent
through the lagering process and the bad odors that were produced are slowly
but completely eaten up by the yeast. The flavors of lagers often originate
from the other types of ingredients used in making the brew.
Lagers
require cold temperatures so that they can ferment about 46-59 ⁰F. The
temperature used in brewing lagers influences them in two different ways.
During the process of fermentation the cool temperatures prevent the yeast from
forming fruity esters. Additionally, the yeast uses a long conditioning phase
to clear off any residual sugars and metabolize other compounds that may
produce bad flavors and aromas. This cold or deep fermentation lets the hops
and the malt to bring out their fine flavors. The low fermentation temperatures
also lower the rate at which the yeast works and increases the primary and
secondary fermentation time (about 1-3weeks) for the normal lager. The time
however depends on the kind of yeast and malt used and it can take several
months when suing some other types of yeast.
Lager beers
were historically produced in continental European countries such as Germany
where the climates are much cooler. The word lager is derived from a German
word ‘lagern’ which means to store or put aside. This refers to the laagering
stage where the beer takes a longer time to ferment when compared to ales. The
mild crisp taste of lager beers is due to the combination of cold temperatures
and the bottom fermenting yeast. Lagers are often paler and drier with less
alcohol. German lagers which include beers such as marzen and bock are produced
as per the Bavarian Purity Laws of 1516 to be sure that the beer is all malt
(no added sugar)and hopped with aromatic and bitter varieties (noble hops).
On the
other hand, Pilsner is a style of lager that has its origins in Plzeň,
Czechoslovakia. The beer has been recreated by many breweries and used the name
pilsner which is the name of the brewery where it was first brewed. There are
very nice cool caves in Plzeň the original place where it was first stored.
However, a pilsner does not have to be made in plazen‘ .It can still be called
a pilsner even though it is made in other regions as long as it is made with the
plazen style with strong noble hops flavor and pale malts.
Pilsner Vs
Lager
The history
of pilsner dates back in the 1800s. Josef Groll, a Bavarian brewer came up with
the pilsner ingredients that are now used all over the globe. He brewed with
this ingredients for the first time for brewers of Plzeň who had been
frustrated with their beers because they would often go bad before they were
actually ready to be consumed. The brewers of Plzeň were surprised when Josef
tapped the casks and they saw a beer they had never seen in their entire lives.
They could see through it to the other side of the Bohemian crystal glass. Very
cool from the lagering tunnels, it was a refreshing beer, neither dark nor
heavy like the beers that they were used to making.The brewers realized that
they had got a new beer. News of this new Bohemian beer spread thanks to River
Radbuza. Pilsner was born. I hope its now much much more clear now :D Cheers !
