Pilsner Urquell

Pilsner Urquell is sold here as a six-pack of pilsner, a pale lager style built on restraint rather than bold flavor. Pilsners of this kind usually pour a clear gold with a dense white head. Expect a bready, lightly sweet malt base with a cracker-like finish, set against a firm but clean bitterness. Classic pilsners in the Bohemian tradition lean on Saaz-type hops, which tend to give herbal, floral and faintly spicy notes rather than citrus or pine. Because the style is lightly hopped by modern craft standards and fermented cold, it finishes dry and crisp. Look for a moderate carbonation level that keeps the malt from feeling heavy. The bitterness and carbonation make this a good match for food with fat or salt. Fried chicken, schnitzel, bratwurst and roasted pork all work, as do pretzels and mustard, where the hops cut through richness and the malt echoes browned crusts. Lighter pairings include grilled white fish, fish tacos and mild washed-rind or semi-hard cheeses. Very spicy dishes tend to overwhelm the delicate hop character, so a milder curry or a salty snack is a better fit. Serve it cold, around 38 to 45°F (3 to 7°C). Colder than that and the malt and hop aromatics go quiet, while a warmer pour can make the sweetness more noticeable than the bitterness. A tall pilsner glass or a tapered flute shows off the color and holds the head, which helps release the hop aroma. A pint glass works if that is what you have. Pour at an angle, straighten the glass as it fills, and aim for about two fingers of foam before drinking.