Bragdy Conwy - Pilsner - 4.2% ABV

This Pilsner from Conwy Brewery is a 4.2% ABV lager brewed in Llysfaen, North Wales, described by the brewery as dry, crisp and refreshing with fresh, hoppy overtones. It is one of the few beers in Conwy Brewery's range to be filtered, a deliberate choice that keeps the lager clear and clean in the way drinkers expect of the pilsner style, in contrast to the naturally conditioned, less filtered approach the brewery takes with most of its ales.

Conwy Brewery was established in 2003 by Gwynne Thomas, a chemist whose home brewing experiments in Llandudno turned into a commercial operation with his wife Adele. It became the first brewery to open in North Wales in over a century, and has grown steadily since, moving to larger premises in Llysfaen in 2013 that now include the brewery's own taproom, Mash. While the brewery is best known for naturally conditioned cask and bottled ales, its lager range shows the same attention to ingredients and process applied to a different, colder-fermented style.

Pilsner is a bottom-fermented lager style that originated in the Czech town of Plzeň in 1842, and it remains the template for the pale, hoppy lagers now brewed across the world. Classic pilsners are pale gold in colour, brewed with soft water and noble hop varieties, and fermented at cooler temperatures over a longer period than ale, which produces the clean, crisp character the style is known for. Conwy Brewery's version follows that template at a moderate 4.2% ABV, aiming for drinkability and a refreshing hop character rather than the bolder bitterness found in some modern craft lagers.

Serve this pilsner well chilled, ideally around 4 to 6 degrees Celsius, in a tall pilsner glass that supports a good head and shows off the beer's pale colour and clarity. Its crisp, dry finish makes it a versatile food beer, pairing well with lighter dishes such as grilled fish, salads and charcuterie, as well as classic pub food like fish and chips. It is equally suited to drinking on its own on a warm day, where its clean character and moderate strength make it an easy, refreshing choice.

For drinkers who prefer lager to ale but still want to support independent brewing, this Conwy Brewery Pilsner offers a genuinely local alternative to the larger international lager brands, brewed with the same Snowdonia water and North Wales provenance as the rest of the brewery's range.