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König Pilsener

König-Brauerei
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🌍 Germany · German Pilsner · One of 286 German Pilsners in hopIQ

König Pilsener is the brewery's flagship, sold under this name since 1911, when it was introduced as a more assertively hopped beer in the pilsner manner. It is brewed from barley malt, a variety selected from the Hallertau and the house König yeast, and it is filtered. The beer pours a bright golden yellow under a fine, lasting white head. The nose carries herbal hop notes, ripe apple and a trace of light caramel; the palate is brisk and lightly malty-sweet before a bitterness that lingers in the finish.

ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter32 IBU
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
See all German Pilsner alternatives →

AWARDS

Silver · 2022
Meininger's International Craft Beer Award
★Silver — Meininger's International Craft Beer Award
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
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another German Pilsner.
Hop character
hoppy
herbal
Malt character
malty
caramel
Fermentation & yeast
fruity
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for König Pilsener

◎ Appearance

König Pilsener presents a bright golden-yellow hue, clear and luminous in the glass. The head is fine and densely woven, settling into a persistent white collar that clings to the sides with notable retention and lacing.

bright golden yellowfine white headexcellent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with assertive herbal hop character—grassy and slightly floral—backed by a ripe apple fruitiness that lends freshness and dimension. A trace of light caramel sweetness emerges in the background, adding delicate depth without overshadowing the Edelhopfen signature.

herbal hop notesripe applelight caramel

◐ Taste

The palate is brisk and clean, with a lightly malty-sweet entry that transitions into a measured, lingering bitterness. The bitterness is restrained rather than aggressive, resolving into a dry, hop-forward finish that emphasizes noble character without harshness.

crisp, brisklightly malty-sweetnoble bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and lasting, with the hop bitterness persisting pleasantly on the palate. A clean, refreshing aftertaste encourages another sip without any cloying sweetness.

dry finishlingering bitternessrefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
80
Appearance
82
Finish
75
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of König Pilsener

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 König Pilsener

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 hoppy, herbal, bitter character as König Pilsener 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 Germany beers →