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Old Style Pilsner

Molson
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🌍 Canada · German Pilsner · One of 237 German Pilsners in hopIQ

First brewed in 1926 by Fritz Sick in Lethbridge, Alberta, and still made to that formula; the House of Lethbridge crest sits on the label to this day. The brewery calls it well balanced, clean and crisp, with medium body and a distinctive hoppy aroma and finish, and that hop signature is what sets it apart from the other western lagers. It pours golden straw with moderate carbonation and carries a yeasty, faintly apple-like note in the nose.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
SRM
pale gold3
See all German Pilsner alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
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 German Pilsner.
Hop character
hoppy
noble hop
Fermentation & yeast
clean
yeasty
fruity
Malt character
malty
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FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best Canadian Lagers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Old Style Pilsner

Appearance

Pours a clear golden straw color with bright transparency and moderate carbonation. The head forms quickly but disperses to a thin collar, leaving intermittent lacing on the glass as the beer is consumed. The overall presentation is clean and inviting, characteristic of a well-made lager.

golden strawclearmoderate carbonationthin lacing

Aroma

The nose leads with a distinctive noble hop character—herbal and slightly floral—supported by a subtle yeasty foundation with faint apple-like esters. Beneath this lies a soft Malz sweetness that does not dominate. The overall profile is crisp and clean, with hop aromatics clearly setting the tone.

noble hopsherbal and floralyeasty apple notesrestrained Malz

Taste

Entry is clean and medium-bodied with gentle Malz grain at the core. The mid-palate develops a balanced bitterness from the hop signature without becoming harsh or astringent, maintaining crispness throughout. A light fruitiness emerges alongside the hoppy character, creating a refreshing interplay between hop bite and subtle sweetness.

balanced hop bitternesscrisp medium bodylight fruit notesclean grain base

Finish

The finish is dry and hoppy, with the hop character lingering pleasantly without excessive lingering. Clean and crisp, it invites another sip rather than demanding a palate reset.

dry, hoppy finishclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
79
Appearance
76
Finish
77
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Old Style 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 Old Style 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 hoppy, crisp, clean character as Old Style Pilsner will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other German Pilsners in hopIQ

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

WHERE TO BUY

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