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Kirkstall Pilsner

Kirkstall Brewery
United Kingdom·Pale Lager
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Unfiltered lager at a sessionable 4.0%, brewed gluten-free and vegan and sold simply as Pilsner. Loral and Hersbrucker bring lemon zest and light floral notes over gentle grain and a hint of soft fruit, and the finish is dry. Brewed by Kirkstall since 2018 and sold in cans.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyfloralfruity
citrusy
floral
fruity
clean
bready
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with bright lemon zest courtesy of the Loral and Hersbrucker hops, accompanied by delicate floral notes that suggest herbal complexity without dominating.
not found:hoppy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kirkstall Pilsner

◎ Appearance

Pale golden colour with a hazy, unfiltered character that speaks to its natural presentation. The head forms with moderate density and displays good retention, clinging to the glass walls as the beer is consumed. Fine carbonation is evident throughout, lending a gentle effervescence to the visual presentation.

pale goldenhazy, unfilteredgood head retentionfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with bright lemon zest courtesy of the Loral and Hersbrucker hops, accompanied by delicate floral notes that suggest herbal complexity without dominating. Beneath these sits a soft grain base—clean and understated—with a whisper of orchard fruit that adds subtle dimension to the overall bouquet.

bright lemon zestlight floral, herbalclean grainsoft stone fruit

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and refreshing, with the gentle citrus character from the hops establishing the palate immediately. The mid-palate remains light and sessionable, allowing the soft malt foundation to support the restrained bitterness without creating heaviness. The 22 IBU sits comfortably in balance, present but never harsh.

crisp, refreshingrestrained bitternesslight bodymalt-forward balance

◑ Finish

The finish dries cleanly, with the citrus notes fading to a mineral, slightly grainy aftertaste that encourages another sip. Length is moderate, leaving the palate dry without astringency.

dry finishmineral aftertastemoderate length
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
77
Appearance
80
Finish
77
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C. Carbonation and crispness are the main event — cold preserves both.

Stein

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store cold and drink fresh. Lagers are at their crispest within 3–4 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Kirkstall Pilsner

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About Pale Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Pale Lager?

Euro Pale Lagers are clean, refreshing lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 10–25. Soft malt sweetness, light hop bitterness and high carbonation make them supremely drinkable.

Finding a similar Pale Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, citrusy, floral character as Kirkstall Pilsner will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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