hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Great Western Pilsner

Tap to rate

Brewed entirely from Western Canadian malted barley and given extra time in the tank before it leaves. The colour is deep gold and the body fuller than the strength would suggest, carrying soft bread and light honey malt. Hops show as dried grass with a touch of lemon peel, and the bitterness sits noticeably firmer here, running through the middle and drying out the finish without ever turning sharp.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter16 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold
Canadian Brewing Awards
North American Style Premium Lager
★Gold — Canadian Brewing Awards (North American Style Premium Lager)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
grassymaltyhoney
grassy
malty
honey
bready
noble hop
citrusy
Aroma
The nose leads with soft, grainy Malz character underpinned by delicate honey notes from the Western Canadian barley.
also:clean
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Great Western Pilsner

◎ Appearance

Deep gold in colour with excellent clarity and bright transparency. The head forms with good density and displays strong lacing, clinging to the glass as the beer is consumed. Carbonation appears fine and persistent.

deep goldbrilliant clarityexcellent lacingfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with soft, grainy Malz character underpinned by delicate honey notes from the Western Canadian barley. Noble hop aroma emerges as dried grass with subtle lemon peel, clean and restrained without any aggressive green character.

soft grainy Malzhoney notesdried grasslemon peel

◐ Taste

Entry is full and rounded, with bread-like malt sweetness carrying the body well despite the moderate strength. Mid-palate presents a firm bitterness that runs through cleanly, accented by grassy and citrus hop notes. The finish turns decidedly dry, with bitterness persisting without harshness.

full-bodiedbready maltfirm bitternessgrassy and citricdry finish

◑ Finish

The aftertaste extends with a clean, drying character that lingers without becoming sharp or astringent. Bitterness dominates the close, leaving the palate refreshed.

dry aftertasteclean finishpersistent bitterness
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
80
Appearance
82
Finish
75
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.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Great Western Pilsner

More from Great Western Brewing Company

'Bertan
'Bertan
American Lager
5%·Mild
Find matches →
Brewhouse Cerveza
Brewhouse Cerveza
Mexican Lager
4.4%·Mild
Find matches →
Brewhouse Ice
Brewhouse Ice
Strong Lager
6%·Mild
Find matches →
Brewhouse Light
Brewhouse Pilsner
Brewhouse Pilsner
German Pilsner
5%·Mild
Find matches →
Brewhouse Ultra
Gold Strong
Gold Strong
Malt Liquor
6.3%·Mild
Find matches →
Great Western Classic

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 bitter, grassy, full-bodied character as Great Western Pilsner will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

FEATURED IN

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