Alot of you guys noting how close to style this is... but I wouldn't have said so.. are pilsners in germany really that hoppy? I've never had one nearly so. Yeah I've been to Germany, Austria, Switz, lots of Eastern Europe including living 8 months in Brno, Czech Republic. Nothing had so much hop flavor as this.
Now I ain't knockin it one bit! Its the American way, take something and make it better! But I don't know about "to style". JMO! That said I am picking up 2 or 3 CASES of this stuff... and I brew 10 gallons every week!
While there aren't too many commercial examples, German Pils can be quite bitter. If you look at the guidelines, they can be up to 45 IBUs. For a beer this light (probably mostly pils malt) that can translate into a very hoppy beer.
I've seen this a few times in the store, now I'm very intrigued to pick up a 6er!
2A. German Pilsner (Pils)
Aroma: Typically features a light grainy Pils malt character (sometimes Graham cracker-like) and distinctive flowery or spicy noble hops. Clean, no fruity esters, no diacetyl. May have an initial sulfury aroma (from water and/or yeast) and a low background note of DMS (from Pils malt).
Appearance: Straw to light gold, brilliant to very clear, with a creamy, long-lasting white head.
Flavor: Crisp and bitter, with a dry to medium-dry finish. Moderate to moderately-low yet well attenuated maltiness, although some grainy flavors and slight Pils malt sweetness are acceptable. Hop bitterness dominates taste and continues through the finish and lingers into the aftertaste. Hop flavor can range from low to high but should only be derived from German noble hops. Clean, no fruity esters, no diacetyl.
Mouthfeel: Medium-light body, medium to high carbonation.
Overall Impression: Crisp, clean, refreshing beer that prominently features noble German hop bitterness accentuated by sulfates in the water.
Comments: Drier and crisper than a Bohemian Pilsener with a bitterness that tends to linger more in the aftertaste due to higher attenuation and higher-sulfate water. Lighter in body and color, and with higher carbonation than a Bohemian Pilsener. Modern examples of German Pilsners tend to become paler in color, drier in finish, and more bitter as you move from South to North in Germany.
History: A copy of Bohemian Pilsener adapted to brewing conditions in Germany.
Ingredients: Pilsner malt, German hop varieties (especially noble varieties such as Hallertauer, Tettnanger and Spalt for taste and aroma), medium sulfate water, German lager yeast.
Vital Statistics: OG: 1.044 1.050
IBUs: 25 45 FG: 1.008 1.013
SRM: 2 5 ABV: 4.4 5.2%
Commercial Examples: Victory Prima Pils, Bitburger, Warsteiner, Trumer Pils, Old Dominion Tuppers Hop Pocket Pils, König Pilsener, Jever Pils, Left Hand Polestar Pilsner, Holsten Pils, Spaten Pils, Brooklyn Pilsner