Revolution Pils 6Pk

Revolution Pils 6-Pack is a dry-hopped German-style pilsner from Chicago's Revolution Brewing, packaged as six 12 oz cans at 5.5% ABV. Brewed entirely with German hops and Bavarian lager yeast, this pilsner stands out for its aggressive floral dry-hopping — 2 lbs. per barrel — while maintaining the crisp clarity expected of the style. It holds an 86 score on BeerAdvocate.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: German-Style Pilsner  |  Brewery: Revolution Brewing

Production & Heritage

Revolution Brewing is Chicago's largest independently owned craft brewery, operating out of the city's Logan Square neighborhood. Rev Pils uses an all-German ingredient bill — Hallertau Gold, German Select, and Saphir hops — fermented with a Bavarian lager yeast strain. The beer is dry-hopped at 2 lbs. per barrel with Select and Saphir, then run through a centrifuge for true pilsner clarity and lagered for three to four weeks depending on seasonal conditions. That dry-hopping rate is unusually heavy for a traditional pilsner, pushing floral and herbal hop character well beyond what most German-style examples deliver while the extended cold conditioning keeps the body clean and drinkable.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Floral hops dominate the nose immediately — dried flowers, a touch of juniper, and delicate citrus blossom. Behind the hop bouquet sits a subtle breadiness from the pilsner malt base.

Taste: Noble hop flavor arrives first with grassy, earthy, and lightly spicy notes. Mid-palate introduces a gentle lemon-like citrus quality alongside a sneaky cereal grain sweetness. The bitterness is moderate and purposeful, never sharp, resolving into a honey-touched pilsner malt backbone.

Finish: Clean, dry, and moderately bitter with lingering floral and grassy hop impressions. The Bavarian yeast fermentation keeps the finish crisp without any fruity ester distraction.

How to Drink Rev Pils

Pour it cold into a pilsner glass or flute to let the hop aromatics rise. This beer is built for straightforward drinking — no garnish, no fuss, just cold lager in clean glassware. For a Radler, mix it half-and-half with fresh lemonade on hot days; the floral hops add depth that generic lagers cannot. In a Shandy, combine it with ginger ale for a spicy-herbal twist that plays off the noble hop character. It also works well in a Michelada — the clean malt and moderate bitterness hold up against lime, hot sauce, and tomato juice without getting lost.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts and warm-weather grilling sessions where you need a beer that stays refreshing through multiple rounds
• Introducing hoppy-beer skeptics to craft lager — the noble hop profile is assertive but approachable
• Pairing with lighter fare like grilled chicken, fish tacos, or summer salads
• Stocking a cooler for a group gathering where drinkability and flavor both matter

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rev Pils taste like? Rev Pils leads with floral and grassy noble hop flavors, transitions through a light lemon citrus note, and finishes dry with a subtle honey-like malt sweetness. The overall impression is crisp, moderately bitter, and distinctly hop-forward for a pilsner.

How does Rev Pils compare to Goose Island Four Star Pils? Both are Chicago-brewed German-style pilsners, but Rev Pils is dry-hopped at 2 lbs. per barrel, giving it a noticeably more aromatic and floral hop presence. Four Star Pils tends toward a more traditional, restrained European profile with less hop intensity on the nose.

Is Rev Pils good for craft beer beginners? Yes — its 5.5% ABV, clean lager body, and balanced bitterness make it an accessible entry point into craft pilsners without overwhelming newer drinkers with harsh bitterness or heavy body.

Where is Rev Pils made? Rev Pils is brewed by Revolution Brewing in Chicago, Illinois. Revolution operates as the city's largest independently owned craft brewery.

What foods pair well with Rev Pils? Grilled bratwurst or weisswurst, since the German hop profile mirrors classic beer-garden pairings. Grilled white fish with lemon benefits from the beer's own citrus brightness. Soft pretzels with mustard complement the malty backbone. A crisp arugula salad with goat cheese echoes the grassy, herbal hop notes. Light Asian dishes like shrimp dumplings or summer rolls work well against the clean, dry finish.

What sizes does Rev Pils come in? Rev Pils is commonly available in 6-packs of 12 oz cans, which is the standard retail format for this beer.

Is Rev Pils worth the price? Rev Pils positions in the mid-range craft pilsner tier, and its all-German hop bill, aggressive dry-hopping technique, and centrifuge clarification deliver more complexity than most similarly priced craft lagers. For drinkers who want hop-forward flavor without leaving the pilsner category, it represents strong value.

Why Rev Pils?

The defining move here is the dry-hopping rate — 2 lbs. per barrel of German Select and Saphir hops is a technique more commonly associated with IPAs than lagers, and it gives Rev Pils a floral intensity that most German-style pilsners simply do not attempt. Yet the centrifuge clarification and three-to-four-week lagering period keep the beer looking and drinking like a proper pilsner: bright, clean, and dry. That combination of traditional Bavarian yeast character with modern dry-hopping ambition is what separates this from both the classic imports and the growing field of American craft pilsners. For anyone who finds standard pilsners too restrained but wants something cleaner than an IPA, Rev Pils occupies a very specific and well-executed middle ground.