Baderbrau Pilsner 6Pk

Baderbrau Pilsner 6-Pack is a 4.8% ABV Czech-German style pilsner brewed in Chicago, Illinois, in strict accordance with the Reinheitsgebot. The late beer critic Michael Jackson famously called it "the best pilsener I've ever tasted in America," and it earned Gold Medals at the Great American Beer Festival for five consecutive years beginning in 1990.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.8%  |  IBU: 38  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: German-Style Pilsner  |  Brewery: Baderbrau (formerly Pavichevich Brewing Company)

Production & Heritage

Baderbrau traces its roots to 1988, when the Pavichevich Brewing Company launched in Elmhurst, Illinois, with a single-minded mission: brew an authentic German pilsner on American soil. The original brewery closed in 1997, but the brand was revived in 2014 with a new facility on Chicago's South Side featuring a 20HL mash filter system — among the first of its kind in the Chicagoland area. The recipe calls for Czech and German Noble hops, a proprietary European lager yeast strain, and American malts, all processed through a traditional decoction mashing technique that is more labor-intensive but essential to building the layered malt character associated with classic European pilsners.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Grainy, cracker-like malt leads the nose, followed by spicy Noble hop aromatics and a subtle floral lift. There is a faint honeyed sweetness underneath that keeps the profile inviting without turning heavy.

Taste: The entry is crisp and grain-forward, with crackery malt sweetness that quickly meets a firm but measured hop bitterness at 38 IBUs. Mid-palate, light citrus and peppery spice emerge, underpinned by a gentle malty caramel quality that adds depth without weight. The medium-light body keeps everything balanced and drinkable.

Finish: Dry and clean, with lingering floral and grassy hop notes that taper gradually. The bitterness never overwhelms — it simply anchors the malt sweetness and lets the beer close with refreshing precision.

How to Drink Baderbrau Pilsner

Pour cold into a Pilsner glass or tall flute to showcase the clarity and sustain the hop aromatics. This is a beer best enjoyed straightforward — no garnish, no fuss. For cocktail-curious drinkers: use it in a Shandy with fresh lemon juice for a light warm-weather drink; build a Michelada where the dry bitterness pairs naturally with lime and hot sauce; or try a Beergarita, where the Noble hop spice adds complexity alongside tequila and citrus.

Best For

• Hosting a backyard cookout where clean, sessionable beer is essential
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to Reinheitsgebot-style brewing
• Pairing with a casual weeknight dinner of grilled sausages or pizza
• Gifting to a beer enthusiast who appreciates German pilsner traditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Baderbrau Pilsner taste like? Baderbrau Pilsner delivers crackery malt sweetness balanced by spicy, lightly citrusy Noble hop bitterness. It finishes dry and clean with floral and grassy notes.

How does Baderbrau Pilsner compare to Nouveau Ami Pils? Both occupy the modern American-brewed German-style pilsner space, but Baderbrau leans on its decoction mash process and proprietary European yeast strain to produce a fuller malt body and more pronounced caramel undertone than most contemporary craft pils.

Is Baderbrau Pilsner good for beginners? Yes — its 4.8% ABV, medium-light body, and balanced bitterness make it highly approachable for anyone exploring craft lagers or German-style beer for the first time.

Where is Baderbrau Pilsner made? Baderbrau Pilsner is brewed in Chicago, Illinois, at a South Side facility opened in 2014. The brand originally launched in 1988 at the Pavichevich Brewing Company in the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst.

What foods pair well with Baderbrau Pilsner? Bratwurst and grilled sausages complement the malty backbone; soft pretzels with mustard mirror the grain-forward character; grilled chicken benefits from the beer's dry, palate-cleansing finish; fish tacos match well with the light citrus hop notes; and aged Gouda echoes the subtle caramel sweetness.

What sizes does Baderbrau Pilsner come in? Baderbrau Pilsner is commonly available in a six-pack of 12 oz bottles or cans.

Is Baderbrau Pilsner worth the price? Baderbrau positions as a premium craft pilsner that justifies its price through Reinheitsgebot compliance, decoction mashing, and a pedigree that includes multiple Great American Beer Festival gold medals — qualities uncommon at this price tier.

Why Baderbrau Pilsner?

Few American-brewed pilsners carry the competitive résumé of Baderbrau: five consecutive Great American Beer Festival Gold Medals in the early 1990s and a personal endorsement from Michael Jackson as the best pilsner he had tasted in the United States. The decoction mashing technique — rarely employed by American craft breweries due to its time and labor demands — produces a malt complexity that simpler infusion-mashed lagers cannot replicate. Combined with Czech and German Noble hops and a proprietary European lager yeast, Baderbrau occupies a distinctive position as a Chicago-born beer with genuinely Old World credentials.