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Swinckels' Pilsener

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Malt-forward, with a light, refined bitterness, a spicy note and citrus in the aroma. Swinckels' Pilsener, 5.3% ABV, is a full-malt pils: barley malt from the family's own malthouse, water from its own spring and a blend of Polaris and Cascade hops. It was introduced in 2007, when the seventh Swinkels generation took over from the sixth, and carries the family name.

ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter25 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
maltyspicycitrusy
malty
spicy
citrusy
hoppy
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with refined grain-forward notes from the family's own malthouse barley, accompanied by a gentle spice character that suggests proper hop integration rather than aggressive bittering.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Swinckels' Pilsener

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and fine carbonation visible throughout. The head forms quickly and clings to the glass with persistent lacing, creating fine foam channels that dissolve gradually. Visual character speaks to careful lagering and clean fermentation.

pale goldencrystal clearpersistent lacingfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with refined grain-forward notes from the family's own malthouse barley, accompanied by a gentle spice character that suggests proper hop integration rather than aggressive bittering. Citrus notes emerge in the mid-range—a signature of the Polaris and Cascade blend—offering brightness without dominating. Clean, well-integrated aromatics speak to balanced brewing and quality water from the estate spring.

malted grainnoble spicecitrus zestclean, refined

◐ Taste

Entry is soft and malty, with the barley-derived sweetness establishing the beer's backbone without cloying. The palate builds through mid-palate spice and a measured hop bitterness (25 IBU) that feels proportionate rather than aggressive, allowing the malt foundation to remain in focus. Citrus notes persist gently on the tongue, creating a crisp, dry finish sensation that invites another sip.

malt-ledlight bitternessspiced finishdry and crisp

◑ Finish

The aftertaste fades cleanly with lingering grain sweetness and a subtle citrus edge. Medium length and refreshing, leaving the palate ready for food or another glass.

clean decaygrain warmthrefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
76
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C for maximum crispness. A pilsner served too warm loses its defining snap.

Pilsner glass

The tall, narrow pilsner glass preserves carbonation and showcases the golden clarity that defines the style.

Drink fresh and cold. Pilsners do not improve with age — within 3 months of packaging is ideal.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Swinckels' Pilsener

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About German Pilsner

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a German Pilsner?

Pilsners are crisp golden lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 25–45. Defined by spicy, floral Saaz hops over a light malt backbone — bright carbonation and a dry bitter finish.

Finding a similar German Pilsner

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same malty, spicy, citrusy character as Swinckels' Pilsener will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all German Pilsner beers in hopIQ →New to German Pilsner? Read our guide →Browse Netherlands beers →