Pilsner Urquell

Pilsner Urquell
Manufacturer	Pilsner Urquell Brewery
Introduced	1842
Style	Bottom-fermented beer

This article is about the beer. For the brewery that produces that beer, see Plzeňský Prazdroj.

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

Plzeňský Prazdroj (IPA: [ˈpl̩.zɛɲskiː ˈprazdroj], Original Source of Pilsner), known better by its German name Pilsner Urquell (IPA: [ˈpɪlznɐ ˈʔuːɐ̯ˌkvɛl]), is a bottom-fermented beer produced since 1842 in Pilsen, part of today's Czech Republic. Pilsner Urquell was the first pilsner beer in the world. Today it is a prominent brand of the global brewing empire SABMiller, which has also started brewing Pilsner Urquell in Poland¹ and Russia.

Pilsner Urquell is more strongly hopped than most pilsner beers. Saaz hops, a noble hop variety, are a key element in its flavour profile, as are the use of soft water² and fire-brewing.³ It is available in a 330 ml (third of a litre), as well as 12oz {355ml}, and a 500ml (half litre) in both aluminium cans and green bottles.

History

Pilsner Urquell in original glass

Main gate of the Plzeňský Prazdroj. It is used as a symbol of the brewery.

As the name suggests, ("Urquell" in German or "Prazdroj" in Czech both mean "original source") 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.⁴ Before 1840, the standard beer in Bohemia was top-fermented and characterized by a dark colour, turbidity, and inconsistent quality. Pilsen burghers had not found this satisfying and the Pilsen city council ordered 36 casks to be dumped.⁵ 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.⁶

Bürgerbrauerei registered Pilsner Bier B B brand in 1859.⁷ 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.