Imagine you are out on Friday with a few friends, and you are thinking of ordering a beer; what will come to mind? For most, the answer includes either a mug of “lager” or “pilsners.” Funnily, most people can’t differentiate between both beer types because they have a lot in common. So, you may ask what then differentiates them.
Imagine you are out on Friday with a few friends, and you are thinking of ordering a beer; what will come to mind? For most, the answer includes either a mug of “lager” or “pilsners.” Funnily, most people can’t differentiate between both beer types because they have a lot in common. So, you may ask what then differentiates them.
In this article, we will explain the subtle key differences that separate the beers. We will first start by getting acquainted with what both beers are, their definition, how they are formed, brief history, and types. We would then delve into the details that differentiate pilsners from lagers. So the next time you are craving a cold beer of lager or Pilsner, we recommend Seven Cellars, a brand that specialises in a wide range of interesting and unusual beers.
Beer Terminology
Let’s take a small detour and explain a few popular terminologies used to describe beer. These terms will be useful later on:
Hoppy
Hoppy refers to flavor component and aromatic component of hops in beer, which is obtained from the flowers of the hop plant. They give a unique taste, smell, and bitterness to the beer.
Crisp
Crisper or crisp terminologies in beer mean that it is light in bitterness, meaning that the flavor won’t sit in your mouth after taking a sip.
What is Lager?
Lagar is a type of beer that has its unique brewing process and flavor profile. This beer has an origin in Germany. The name ‘lager’ actually originally comes from the German term ‘lagern’, meaning to store. Lager uses cold fermentation and bottom-fermenting yeast. Lager types differ based on shades, ranging from pale, light yellow, deep brown, and dark lager.
What is Pilsner?
Pilsners are light-colored refreshing beers that originated from Bohemia a city called Pizen, currently known as the Czech Republic. Pilsner also uses bottom-fermenting yeast and undergoes cold fermentation. There are different subtypes of pilsners. Pilsners have different subtypes, such as American, Czech, and German Pilsners.
Three Differences Between Pilsner and Lager
Three main distinctions differentiate that lager from pilsners;
- Colour
Lager comes in different shades ranging from pale, straw yellow, deep brown, and dark lager, while pilsners, on the other hand, are lighter with a golden colour.
- Hoppy
When you want to drink beer with a little more punch, pilsners should be your choice due to their slightly bitter flavor. Meanwhile, lager is much crisper and has a lighter taste.
- Types of Hop
The hop plant flower is named hop. This ingredient, among others, gives beer its distinctive smell and bitterness. When Saaz hop is used, Pilsner tastes earthy and has a hint of spiciness. In contrast, lager uses different types of hops.
Final Thoughts
Lager is a type of beer, and Pilsner is a subcategory of lager beer. Both are brewed at low temperatures in the fermentation process and with bottom-fermenting yeasts. Even though production processes are similar, there are differences in their colour, taste, and type of hop being used.
Rockies Ripple is the founder and lead writer behind the independent blog tvplutos.com