Von Trapp Bohemian Pilsner
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Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with fresh hay, white flowers, and a light bready maltiness — classic Saaz hop character doing its quiet work. On the palate, the malt is soft and biscuity, balanced by a firm, herbal bitterness that doesn't overstep. The body is medium-light with a clean, dry finish that lingers just long enough to invite another sip. This is a well-executed example of the style — nothing hidden, nothing overplayed.
About the Brewery
Von Trapp Brewing is based in Stowe, Vermont, founded by the Von Trapp family — yes, that Von Trapp family — whose Austrian heritage informs a strong lean toward lagers and Central European styles. They operate a brewery and bierhall on their Stowe resort property and have built a reputation for technically sound, European-influenced beers in a market crowded with hop-forward American ales. Their lager program is among the more serious in New England.
Food Pairings
Roast chicken works well here because the malt softness mirrors the meat's mild savoriness without competing with it. A plate of charcuterie — particularly milder cured meats like ham or mortadella — plays to the beer's herbal hop note. Fried fish or schnitzel pairs naturally given the Central European lineage, the bitterness cutting through the fat cleanly. Soft pretzels with mustard are an obvious but genuinely good match, the bread and salt echoing the malt character in the glass.
Style Guide
Czech Pilsner, sometimes called Bohemian Pilsner, originated in Plzeň in what is now the Czech Republic in the mid-19th century and became the template for pale lager worldwide. It's defined by Saaz noble hops — spicy, herbal, low in harsh bitterness — soft water, and a round, bready malt base that gives it more body than its German counterpart. Where German Pilsner tends to be drier and more aggressively bitter, the Czech version is rounder and slightly fuller. ABV typically falls in the 4.5–5.5% range.