Firestone Walker Pivo Hoppy Pils (355ml)

A pilsner with an American interpretation, influenced by Germany, Czech Republic, and Italy, but with a strong hop flavor. Aromas of green grass, floral, and lemongrass.

A hoppy pilsner first released in 2013.

Pivo, which means beer in Czech, has been instrumental in rehabilitating pilsner beer's status in America.

Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, creator of Pivo.

What he aims to do is to dispel the stereotype that "pilsner = major beer."

"American Pilsner has been taken over by 'industrial beer produced by big companies' and people have a wrong impression of it.

"Now is the time to reclaim the American Pilsner's position and move into a new era," he says.

Pilsner, which originated in Plzen, Czech Republic in the mid-1800s, spread throughout Europe and became a sensation.

In America, European immigrants had been brewing refined pilsners, but in the 1900s, major lager beers became widely available on the market, and pilsner came to be seen as an industrial beer.

Even in the 2000s, when what was called craft beer became popular and many delicious IPAs were brewed, there were very few authentic “craft pilsners” on the market (New Belgium Blue Paddle, Lagunitas Pils, Coronado Golden, Victory Prima Pils, etc. were some of the few examples of authentic craft pilsners on the market at the time).

Pivo was born to put an end to this treatment of pilsners.

A dry-hopped Italian pilsner (the one Matt tried in Italy was Tipo pils from a brewery called Birrificio Italiano).

This beer gave him the idea to create a dry-hopped pilsner. Pivo was his initial inspiration, a pilsner with German, Czech and Italian influences, with a West Coast twist.

Although the hops, malt and yeast used are 100% German, the beer has the bitterness and rich flavor of a Czech Bohemian Pilsner.

This alone would make it a beer brewed true to its style, but with the addition of dry hopping with Saphir hops, it should be called a West Coast style hoppy pilsner.

When poured into a glass, it is a clear straw color with a pure white head.

The aroma is strong, with a biscuit-like flavour from the malt, and a grassy, ​​floral aroma from the hops.

The taste is clean malty sweetness with floral, spicy and firm bitterness.

Nuances of bergamot and lemongrass from dry hopping add color to the flavor.

The finish is very dry and bitter.

Refreshing and light-bodied, with hop aroma and flavor at the forefront.

This beer proved more popular than expected immediately after its release, and even as of 2015, more than two years after its release, sales had increased by 45%.

Matt believes that these figures not only reflect increased sales for Pivo, but also that craft beer fans are beginning to discover the appeal of pilsner.

"People getting into craft beer for the first time are looking for a strong flavor and will turn to something like a Triple IPA.

But as they gain more experience, they begin to look for well-balanced, easy-drinking and sessionable beers.

A true pilsner beer ticks all of those boxes.

"The day may not be far off when authentic pilsners will be brewed by many craft breweries and enjoyed by people as a matter of course.

Winner of gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

• ABV: 5.3%
• IBU: 40
• Alcohol: Beer
• Ingredients: malt, hops
• hop:-
• Brewery: Firestone Walker
• Style: Pilsner
• Contents: 355ml
• Container: CAN