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Scrimshaw

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A spicy hop nose meets subtle pale malt flavors, and the finish is dry. Scrimshaw is named for the delicate engravings that 19th-century seafarers made popular, and the brewery builds it in the European tradition with Munich malt and Hallertauer and Tettnang hops. 4.5% ABV, 22 IBU, pale straw. Gold at the 1992 Great American Beer Festival in the American Lager/Ale/Cream Ale category.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter22 IBU
SRM
pale gold3
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold · 1992
Great American Beer Festival
American Lager-Ale/Cream Ale
Silver · 1996
Great American Beer Festival
American Lager / Ale / Cream Ale
Bronze · 1996
World Beer Cup
Münchner-Style Helles
Bronze · 2000
Great American Beer Festival
American-Style Specialty Lager
★Gold — Great American Beer Festival (American Lager-Ale/Cream Ale)
★Silver — Great American Beer Festival (American Lager / Ale / Cream Ale)
★Bronze — World Beer Cup (Münchner-Style Helles)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicy hopnoble hopmalty
spicy hop
noble hop
malty
clean
hoppy
Aroma
The nose opens with a pronounced spicy-herbal character from Hallertauer and Tettnang hops, lending a distinctly noble-hop profile.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Scrimshaw

◎ Appearance

Scrimshaw presents a pale straw to light gold hue with excellent clarity. The head is fine and persistent, with good Schaumhaftung that leaves delicate lacing down the glass. Carbonation is crisp and lively, creating a bright visual presence befitting a classic pilsner.

pale strawbright claritypersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with a pronounced spicy-herbal character from Hallertauer and Tettnang hops, lending a distinctly noble-hop profile. Beneath this lies subtle pale Malz undertones that support without overwhelming. The overall impression is clean and refreshing, with no rough or oxidative notes.

spicy herbal hopsnoble hop charactersubtle pale maltclean nose

◐ Taste

The palate is crisp and light, with a dry malt foundation from Munich Malz that provides gentle sweetness before the hoppy bitterness takes hold. The mid-palate shows balance between noble-hop spice and the supporting malt structure. Bitterness builds steadily and finishes clean, without astringency.

hoppy and drycrisp palatenoble spicemalt backbone

◑ Finish

The finish is notably dry and lingering, with spicy hop notes persisting on the palate. A clean, refreshing aftertaste invites another sip.

dry finishhoppy aftertasterefreshing
79
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
82
Finish
77
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 Scrimshaw

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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 spicy-hop, dry, noble-hop character as Scrimshaw 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 →