Urquell Pilsner

Pilsner Urquell is a Czech lager brewed in Plzeň (Pilsen), in the western Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. It is widely credited as the original golden lager, first brewed in 1842, and the name "Pilsner" or "Pilsener" — now a global beer style — derives directly from this city. The brewery continues to operate on the same site where the style was created.

The beer is brewed using Moravian barley malt, Saaz hops (grown in the nearby Žatec region and prized for their mild, herbal bitterness), and soft Plzeň water, which is notably low in minerals. This combination produces the defining characteristics of the Bohemian pilsner style: a pale golden colour, a pronounced but clean hop bitterness, a firm malt backbone, and a crisp, dry finish. The beer is lagered at cold temperatures for an extended period, which contributes to its clarity and smooth texture.

Pilsner Urquell is available in bottle and on draught in various formats, including the 33cl glass bottle format familiar across European markets. It is unfiltered at source and refermented in tanks at the brewery, though most commercially distributed versions are filtered and pasteurised for stability during transport and storage.