Pils. This should be a more straightforward style but nothing is quite so in Franconia. The original Pilsener is from the Czech town of Pilsen. It is credited with being the first light colored lager. Germans were so enamored with it they decided to make their own but they were quite different. German Pils are lighter bodied, drier and perhaps more hoppy. Well, the best ones. They are more an aperitif kind of drink whereas the original from Czech is fuller, a bit fruitier and very much a session beer. In fact, many say it’s one of the very best. Franconian ones seem to be a bit more aligned with the Czech version so many say they aren’t hoppy enough. I would agree when they aren’t the best and I’ll also have to say that many are not the best. That’s when I like to say, it would make a good Helles. When you do get a good Franconian Pils, they are quite good and are very much sessionable brews.
when you find a good Pils in Franconia, it’s good
Keesmann Herren Pils from Bamberg is the classic and the brewery across the street does a pretty fair one too, Mahrs Pils. In the Gräfenberg area, you’ll find two good and quite different ones, the more typical Friedmann Pils and the unfiltered and Craft Beer inspired Elch-Bräu Pils. Two excellent bottled ones I’ve not had the pleasure of drinking on tap yet are Hetzel’s Fraunendorfer Pils and Eichhorn Pils from Dörfleins. I’ve only had Kaiser Pils once but it left an impression on me and the “Kellerfrisch” Pils, direct from the cellar at Göller in Zeil am Main really hit the spot. Of particular interest is the gravity dispensed version of Wagner-Bräu Pils if you make it to their pub in Kemmern.
Next up Rauchbier or back to Beer Styles.
