The best pilsner is Pilsner Urquell, the Czech original that invented the style in 1842 and still sets the standard. That is my verdict after buying and tasting the major pilsners side by side, every one out of my own pocket, and scoring each on aroma, balance, body and drinkability.
I am Dan, and beer is my life. I have been an active homebrewer for over 10 years and have tasted breweries all over the world. This guide is built from my own tasting notes, with honest scores and a full review behind every pick. You can read more about me or see everything I have reviewed on my author page.
Below is the best pilsner for every taste, from the malty Czech original to the crisp, bitter German pils and the softer Italian and Euro styles.
The Best Pilsner Beers, Ranked
Here is the short version, ranked by how they actually taste. Full reviews are linked under each pick.
| Rank | Beer | Style | ABV | Calories | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilsner Urquell | Czech pilsner | 4.4% | 155 | 4.2/5 |
| 2 | Stella Artois | Belgian pilsner (euro pale lager) | 5.0% | 154 | 4.0/5 |
| 3 | Bitburger Premium Pils | German pilsner | 4.8% | 140 | 3.8/5 |
| 4 | Peroni Nastro Azzurro | Italian pale lager | 5.0% | 140 | 3.7/5 |
| 5 | Beck’s | German pilsner | 5.0% | 145 | 3.5/5 |
| 6 | Heineken | Euro pale lager | 5.0% | 142 | 3.5/5 |
| 7 | Grolsch Premium Pilsner | Dutch premium pilsner | 5.0% | 150 | 3.5/5 |
| 8 | Carlsberg | Danish pilsner-style lager | 5.0% | 150 | 3.4/5 |
| 9 | Kronenbourg 1664 | French pale lager | 5.0% | 150 | 3.4/5 |
The Best Pilsner Beers at a Glance
Swipe through the top picks and tap any card to jump straight to the full write-up.
Best Pilsner Overall: Pilsner Urquell
Pilsner Urquell invented the style in 1842 and still sets the standard. You get a rich, golden, bready malt base balanced by a firm, spicy Saaz hop bitterness that most lagers do not come close to.
Czech pilsner, 4.4% ABV, around 155 calories. The beer that invented the style in 1842, and still one of the best lagers you can buy.
- Rich malt and real Saaz hop bitterness
- Balanced, characterful and satisfying
- The original and definitive pilsner
- Still crisp and very drinkable
- More bitter than macro-lager drinkers expect
- Costs more than the big names
- Best fresh, as hop character fades with age
Serve it right: A pilsner shows best in a tall, slender pilsner glass that shows off the golden colour and holds the head.
- Budget pick: Bitburger Premium Pils
- Also worth trying: Stella Artois
Pairing it with food? Try our beer and food pairing guide. More like this in our best pilsner guide.
Best German Pilsner: Bitburger Premium Pils
For a classic German pils, Bitburger is the pick. It is crisp, all-malt and properly bitter, the dry, hoppy end of the pilsner world, and excellent value for an import.
German pilsner, 4.8% ABV, around 140 calories. A crisp, hoppy, properly bitter German pils and one of Germany’s best sellers.
- Crisp, dry and properly bitter
- All-malt with real hop character
- Refreshing and food-friendly
- Excellent value for a true pilsner
- More bitter than macro-lager drinkers expect
- Best fresh, as hop character fades
- Not one for those who prefer sweeter lagers
Serve it right: Go full German stein. These oversized mugs are made for a proper pils.
- Budget pick: Beck’s
- Also worth trying: Pilsner Urquell
Pairing it with food? Try our best beer with fried chicken guide. More like this in our best pilsner guide.
Best Italian Pilsner: Peroni Nastro Azzurro
Peroni is the elegant one: light, dry and crisp with a delicate hop character, thanks in part to the corn in the recipe. It is the pilsner-style lager I reach for with pizza and lighter food.
Italian pale lager, 5.0% ABV, around 140 calories. Crisp, dry and stylish, a cut above the everyday macros.
- Genuinely crisp, clean and dry
- A cut above everyday macro lagers
- Great with Italian food
- Stylish and widely available
- You pay a premium for the brand
- Light on body and malt
- Not complex enough for slow sipping
Serve it right: A pilsner shows best in a tall, slender pilsner glass that shows off the golden colour and holds the head.
- Budget pick: Heineken
- Also worth trying: Stella Artois
Pairing it with food? Try our best beer with fish and chips guide. More like this in our best pale lager guide.
Best Widely Available Pilsner: Stella Artois
Stella Artois is a well-made Belgian pilsner with a firmer bitterness than the macros, and it is everywhere. It is far better from a can than the light-struck green bottle.
Belgian pilsner, 5.0% ABV, 154 calories. A crisp, dry euro lager with more backbone and bitterness than the mainstream crowd.
- Crisp, dry and properly bitter, like a pilsner should be
- Firm malt base gives it real structure
- Pairs very well with food
- Widely available and consistent
- At 5% and 154 calories it is not a light option
- The bitterness will not suit fans of soft, sweet lagers
- Quality drops off if it is not fresh and cold
Serve it right: Stella is meant to be served in its own chalice, and this is the official 2-pack.
- Budget pick: Heineken
- Also worth trying: Peroni Nastro Azzurro
Pairing it with food? Try our best beer with fish and chips guide. More like this in our best pale lager guide.
Explore More Lager Guides
Want to go wider? These guides cover the rest of the lager world:
Pilsner FAQs
What is a pilsner?
A pilsner is a pale, golden lager first brewed in Pilsen, in what is now the Czech Republic, in 1842. It is defined by its crisp, clean body and a firm, spicy hop bitterness, usually from Saaz or other noble hops. It is the style most mass-market lagers are loosely based on.
What is the difference between a Czech and a German pilsner?
Czech pilsners like Pilsner Urquell tend to be a touch richer and more golden, with a rounder malt body. German pilsners like Bitburger are drier, paler and more sharply bitter. Both are crisp, but the German style leans harder on the hops.
Is a pilsner the same as a lager?
A pilsner is a type of lager, the pale, hoppy one. All pilsners are lagers, but lagers also include darker and maltier styles, so not every lager is a pilsner.
How We Test and Score
Every beer here was bought with my own money and tasted properly, not skimmed from a spec sheet. I score each on aroma, balance, body, drinkability and how well it does the job it is built for. Simple beers are not marked down for being simple, but the ones with real character and balance score higher. You can see every score on the individual beer reviews.
