Beer Talk with Matt Brynildson: The Legend of Pivo Hoppy Pilsner

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The joke around the brewery is that Matt can’t stop—won’t stop—talking about Pivo. And not just about the beer itself, but about all of the great European pilsners that inspired it.

“I have Pivo in my refrigerator all of the time,” he says. What else does he keep in his fridge? “Milk, yogurt, pickles, leftover pizza…” That’s all you need to know about Matt’s fidelity to Pivo.

So it was inevitable that pilsner and Pivo would get their own episode in Firestone Walker’s new Beer Talk video series, in which Matt shares candid, educational and offbeat takes on different beer styles.

Walking the Talk

Firestone Walker’s Beer Talk series launched this spring, with Matt delving into classic beer styles such as stouts, IPAs, and now pilsners.

In this latest episode, he details not only the history and heritage of pilsners, but he also chimes in on the difference between ales and lagers. Consider it a two-minute masterclass on all things Pivo and pilsner. Stay tuned for more Beer Talk episodes this summer and fall.

Pivo: The Short History

Pivo is the dry-hopped marvel that helped pioneer a new generation of American craft pilsners starting in 2013.

Pivo blends aspects of the more hop-driven Czech pilsner style with the bright, refined dryness of the German model—along with an aromatic twist courtesy of judicious dry hopping.

“The original inspiration for this beer comes from Italy—a dry-hopped pilsner called Tipopils made by Agostino Arioli at Birrificio Italiano,” Matt says. “Experiencing that beer was the ‘aha’ moment that set the idea of Pivo in motion.”

Now, nine years later, Pivo is still going strong—not only as a staple in Matt’s fridge, but as am enduring icon of American craft beer.