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Ninkasi Pilsner

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Floral and spicy hop notes sit over a light malt profile in this crisp, refreshing pilsner, which finishes bright and clean. Magnum, Santiam and Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops go onto pilsner, dextrin and acidulated malt, adding up to 30 IBU at 4.7% ABV. Ninkasi brews it year-round.

ABV
4.7%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter30 IBU
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
floralcleanspicy hop
floral
clean
spicy hop
noble hop
hoppy
malty
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced floral and spicy hop character from the Magnum, Santiam and Hallertau Mittelfrüh varieties, immediately identifiable as noble hop aromatics.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Ninkasi Pilsner

◎ Appearance

Pale golden in color with excellent clarity and a bright, white head that settles into fine lacing along the glass. The carbonation is crisp and evident, with a steady stream of small bubbles rising through the body. The overall presentation is clean and inviting, typical of a well-crafted pilsner.

pale goldenbrilliant claritywhite headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced floral and spicy hop character from the Magnum, Santiam and Hallertau Mittelfrüh varieties, immediately identifiable as noble hop aromatics. A subtle earthiness underlies the hop profile, with delicate grain notes from the pilsner malt base. The overall impression is clean and refined, without heavy yeast or adjunct notes.

floral hopsspicy noble hopssubtle grainclean nose

◐ Taste

The palate enters crisp and refreshing, with a light malt foundation of pilsner and dextrin malts providing mild sweetness and body. Noble hop bitterness develops gently across the mid-palate, reaching approximately 30 IBU with a restrained yet lingering spice. The overall character remains balanced and food-friendly, never aggressive or astringent.

crisp entrylight maltnoble bitternessbalanced

◑ Finish

The finish is bright and clean, drying toward the back of the palate with a lingering hop spice that fades gracefully. The aftertaste is dry and refreshing, inviting another sip without any harsh residue or warming alcohol note.

dry finishlingering spicerefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
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.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Ninkasi Pilsner

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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 crisp, floral, refreshing character as Ninkasi Pilsner will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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