Whats the difference between a pilsner and a lager?

[Andyhull]

Hi all,

I know a pilsner is a style of lager but what is the difference between a pilsner and a standard lager, taste (etc)?

Thanks

Andy

 

[anthonyUK]

There are style guidelines that go into detail such as the US BJCP - http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/catdex.php
An overview on Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_beer_styles

 

[zgoda]

Every pilsner is a lager beer (that means, cold matured). But there are much more lagers than just pilsners, southern German helles, exports, bocks, dunkels, Czech tmave and polotmave (similar to Vienna lagers), marzens German and Austrian, Baltic porters from, ekhm, Baltic Sea countries.

 

[Swift Pint]

I guess it depends what you mean by a standard lager, I guess most of the lager we see in pubs/supermarkets would fall under Lite American Lager or Standard American Lager categories in the BJCP link that Anthony posted.

 

[calumscott]

I guess it depends what you mean by a standard lager, I guess most of the lager we see in pubs/supermarkets would fall under Lite American Lager or Standard American Lager categories in the BJCP link that Anthony posted.

"Strong flavours are a fault"
"May seem watery"
"Little to no malt aroma"
"Hop aroma may range from none to a light ... hop presence"
"Low levels of yeast character are optional"
"Hop bitterness at low level"

says it all really! :lol:

 

[zgoda]

That looks like bastardized helles.

 

[Andyhull]

I drink Stella so really wondering what the difference is between that and a pilsner. Sorry
I remember in my late teens trying Holsten Pills and not likeing it one bit!