Beerwright
Open the studio

Styles · German Pils

Beer style · BJCP 2021 5D

German Pils

Pale Bitter European Beer

Published ranges These are the ranges the BJCP 2021 guidelines publish for this style.

Original gravity
1.044–1.050
Final gravity
1.008–1.013
Bitterness
22–40 IBU
Color
2–5 SRM (4–10 EBC)
Alcohol
4.4–5.2 % ABV

What it is

Germany's benchmark pale lager: light cracker malt driven by a firm, clean noble hop bitterness and a floral-spicy aroma. Sulphate water makes the finish crisp and the bitterness linger. The target is bright, dry, bitter and absolutely spotless.

Flavor

What a German Pils should taste like, on the three wheels the studio scores every recipe against. The shaded ring is the style’s range on each axis, from 0 at the center to 5 at the edge.

Hops

Floral, herbal and spice, with room for grassy or earthy/woody.

Malt

Grainy, with room for bready/biscuit or sweet/honey.

Fermentation

Clean, with room for sulfur.

Hops that suit it

The traditional choice

What German Pils has classically been brewed with.

Also right on character

Varieties whose loudest notes all sit on this style’s hop wheel, best fit first. How much to use is the recipe’s question; these are the ones that taste right.

And 12 more hops whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Yeasts that suit it

Strains the lab made for beers like this one, whose fermentation character sits inside the style’s wheel. A strain sold by several labs is listed once; its page names the others.

And 51 more yeasts whose character fits. These are the 24 that fit best.

Style numbers, names and vital statistics are from the BJCP 2021 Beer Style Guidelines, where you will find the official descriptions. The descriptions and flavor wheels here are Beerwright’s own. Beerwright is not affiliated with or endorsed by the BJCP.