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Sierra Nevada PILS

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Launched in 2025 as the brewery's take on the European pilsner, brewed with pilsner malt, lager yeast, Saphir hops and Crystal in lupulin form. The nose leads with citrus and tangerine over a little sweet malt. The body starts smooth and slightly sweet, turns grainy and cracker-like in the middle, and a light herbal, peppery hop note with a trace of citrus peel carries into a soft, dry finish with modest bitterness.

ABV
4.7%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter25 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
citrusyherbalmalty
citrusy
herbal
malty
spicy hop
orange
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with fresh citrus and tangerine notes backed by gentle sweet malt character.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Sierra Nevada PILS

◎ Appearance

Pale straw yellow with excellent clarity and bright, lively carbonation. A fine, persistent white head forms and clings to the glass with good retention and clean lacing. The beer presents the classic visual hallmarks of a well-crafted pilsner.

pale straw yellowbright and clearfine white headgood lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with fresh citrus and tangerine notes backed by gentle sweet malt character. Beneath the fruit, a subtle herbal and slightly spicy hop presence emerges, contributing complexity without overwhelming the delicate balance. A trace of malt sweetness grounds the overall impression.

citrus, tangerinesweet malt undertoneherbal hop noteslight spice

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and gently sweet, giving way to a grainy, cracker-like mid-palate that unfolds with classic pilsner character. Light herbal and peppery hop notes build gradually, with a whisper of citrus peel adding brightness. The finish turns soft and dry with modest bitterness that remains restrained throughout.

smooth entrygrainy, cracker-like maltherbal peppersoft, dry finish

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is clean and dry, with modest bitterness fading gracefully. A light herbal note persists briefly before giving way to a crisp, refreshing conclusion.

soft drynessmodest bitternessclean fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
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 Sierra Nevada PILS

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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 dry, citrusy, herbal character as Sierra Nevada PILS 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 →