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Classic Plzen

Great Lakes Brewery
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🌍 Canada · Czech Pilsner · One of 34 Czech Pilsners in hopIQ

A Czech pale lager brewed to an 11 degree starting gravity and hopped continuously with Saaz sourced through contacts the brewers made in Czechia. Soft bready malt sits under a floral, spicy noble hop character, with a firm and clean bitterness holding the middle. The finish is crisp. The recipe came out of a trip the brewing team made to the Czech Republic in early 2024.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter18 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
See all Czech Pilsner alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp mouthfeel.

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Czech Pilsner.
Hop character
noble hop
floral
spicy hop
hoppy
Malt character
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Classic Plzen

Appearance

Classic Plzen presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a bright, luminous quality. The head is fine and persistent, with good retention and delicate lacing around the glass. Carbonation is crisp and visible, contributing to an overall clean and inviting presentation.

pale goldcrystal clearfine headwell-carbonated

Aroma

The nose leads with floral and spicy Saaz character, offering gentle herbal and peppery notes that define the noble hop profile. Beneath this lies soft, bready malt sweetness with a subtle grain quality. The aromatics are restrained and well-balanced, showing the hallmark refinement of Czech pilsner tradition.

floral noble hopsspicy and herbalsoft bread maltclean

Taste

The palate opens with rounded bready malt that provides a light, elegant foundation. Saaz hops deliver a refined spicy and floral bitterness through the mid-palate, building gradually without harsh edges. A firm and clean bitterness holds the center, balancing the soft malt sweetness and creating a well-structured, harmonious profile.

bready maltnoble hop spicefirm bitternessbalanced

Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with the Saaz bitterness lingering cleanly and refreshingly on the palate. No residual sweetness or astringency intrudes—only a bright, mineral-like dryness that invites another sip.

crisp drynessclean aftertasterefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Classic Plzen

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pilsner glass
Recommended for this style

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.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Classic Plzen

About Czech Pilsner

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Czech 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 Czech Pilsner

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same crisp, noble-hop, bready character as Classic Plzen will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Czech Pilsners in hopIQ

Explore all Czech Pilsner beers in hopIQ →New to Czech Pilsner? Read our guide →Browse Canada beers →

WHERE TO BUY

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