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Sierra Nevada PILS

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
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🌍 United States · German Pilsner · One of 291 German Pilsners in hopIQ

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
See all German Pilsner alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another German Pilsner.
Hop character
citrusy
herbal
orange
spicy hop
Malt character
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

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
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Sierra Nevada PILS

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 Sierra Nevada PILS

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.

Other German Pilsners in hopIQ

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