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Great Western Pilsner

Great Western Brewing Company
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🌍 Canada · German Pilsner · One of 245 German Pilsners in hopIQ

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
See all German Pilsner alternatives →

AWARDS

Gold
Canadian Brewing Awards
North American Style Premium Lager
Gold — Canadian Brewing Awards (North American Style Premium Lager)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

Crisp and mildly bitter.

Trim and gentle — the beer moves through with an unforced, easy rhythm.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another German Pilsner.
Hop character
grassy
citrusy
noble hop
Malt character
malty
bready
honey
Fermentation & yeast
clean

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
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Great Western Pilsner

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 Great Western Pilsner

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.

Other German Pilsners in hopIQ

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