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Special Pilsner

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A German-style pils with a dry bitterness from noble hops, brewed with malts and hops imported from Europe. Special Pilsner is one of Capital's original Garten Braü beers and is made in the copper kettles from Germany that are still in use. It runs at 4.7 % ABV and 32 IBU.

ABV
4.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter32 IBU
Clean, dry bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
noble hopmaltyclean
noble hop
malty
clean
hoppy
Aroma
Noble hops lead the nose with restrained floral and herbal notes characteristic of traditional European varieties.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Special Pilsner

◎ Appearance

A pale golden hue with excellent clarity and bright transparency. The head forms with fine, tight bubbles that cling persistently to the glass in a delicate lacing pattern. Carbonation is crisp and visible, with a steady stream of fine pearls rising through the body.

pale goldencrystal clearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

Noble hops lead the nose with restrained floral and herbal notes characteristic of traditional European varieties. Subtle Malz undertones provide a soft, grainy foundation without dominating. The overall impression is clean and refined, with no yeast or adjunct character—purely hop-forward and mineral-fresh.

noble hop characterfloral and herbalgrainy sweetnessmineral-clean

◐ Taste

The palate enters dry and crisp, with a light Malz body that sits low on the tongue. Noble hop bitterness builds smoothly through the mid-palate at 32 IBU—enough to define the beer without aggression. The finish is bone-dry, with lingering hop bite and a clean mineral quality that invites the next sip.

dry bitternesslight bodynoble hop bitemineral finish

◑ Finish

A short to medium finish with refreshing dryness and a persistent herbal hop note that gradually fades. No residual sweetness or heaviness remains—the aftertaste is clean and quenching.

dry aftertasteherbal faderefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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 Special Pilsner

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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 noble-hop, dry, bitter character as Special Pilsner 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 United States beers →