Pilsner Vs Lager: What’s the Difference?

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 !