The Bitburger Pilsner Challenge at German beer bar Prost! drew an international crowd of Lager devotees to Portland back in JUne, with a dozen original recipe Pilsners by breweries from across the U.S. engineered to compete against each other. The winning beer crowned champion was “Pils de Pils” from Heater Allen Brewing side project Gold Dot Beer. That beer, which came and went as quickly as you can imagine, is making it’s return on draft and for the first time in cans, with a release party and grill out with Little Conejo at Prost! sister bar Interurban on Sunday, September 8th.

The Bitburger Challenge, brought to life by Portland’s Prost! team and legendary German Pilsner brewery Bitburger, was for the best “original German style pils” with the winning beer invited to fly to Germany and brew a collaboration with the masters themselves. Going up against newcomers and American brewing legends in their own right, like Russian River Brewing, Moonlight, Grand Fir, Highland Park, and Von Ebert, among others, the Pils de Pils came out victorious in both the people’s choice selection over 3 days of judging, as well as the professional judges choice. While many hadn’t heard of Gold Dot Beer, the brand’s lineage that traces its roots to Heater Allen Brewing and brewmaster Lisa Allen, who teamed with her partner Kevin Davey, formerly of Wayfinder, Chuckanut, and Firestone Walker. Pils de Pils completely sold out the day following the announcement of the winner, and this will be the first official public release and first time in cans.

But what makes Pils de Pils special (?) especially when comparing it to Heater Allen Brewing’s flagship Pilsner, which itself won a gold medal at the highly prestigious World Beer Cup in 2022:

Heater Allen Pils is a Bohemian-style pilsner, rather than a German-style Pilsner like “Pils de Pils.” Heater Allen’s is made with bucketloads of Czech Saaz hops and brewed with Bohemian floor malted barley, it is unfiltered, and is richer in malt complexity with an assertive hoppiness. Pils de Pils, is brewed with Spalter Spalt and Weyermann German pilsner malt in a single decoction, and is brighter, crisper, with a lighter kiss of hops from Hallertau Mittelfrüh at the finish. Designed to be a true 1-liter stein friendly beer you would love to crush at Oktoberfest. The secret weapon in the brewing process on this champion beer, is an exceptionally long and well-conditioned lagering phase as well as the highest quality ingredients possible. It’s a beer that Brewers Kevin and Lisa describe as the culmination of their brewing practice, and winner of the arguably more prestigious “Kevin’s Mom’s Favorite Beer” award.

On Sunday, September 8th Interurban will be hosting the official release party for PILS DE PILS on draft along with 4pks available to go from Noon-6pm. Along with the advance release of PILS DE PILS, Interurban will also have Gold Dot’s Helles Lager, and IPA on tap.

But to properly enjoy pint after pint of Pils de Pils you also need Great food. So Interurban has invited their friends from Vancouver, Washington at Little Conejo (at one time they had a food truck at Prost!). Interurban chef Kevin Loomis will be contributing and collaborating with Little Conejo chef Megan Sofice and firing up the charcoal grill to create a special menu of grilled tacos, including summer barbecue cookout staples, salads, seafood and more.

SAMPLE FOOD MENU:

-Grilled Shrimp Tostada

-Elote on the Cob

-Bone Marrow Canoes

-Carne Asada Tacos

-Pescado Frito Tacos

-Grilled Squash Salad

-Octopus al Pastor

-Seafood Coctele

Interurban will be the first place to feature Pils de Pils, which for now is a limtied seasonal-style release so get it while you can. Gold Dot/Heater Allen will be releasing it to the public the following week so keep your eyes out for it in only the best bottle shops, pubs and grocery stores, and at their taproom in McMinnville, Oregon.

Gold Dot “Pils de Pils” Release Party w/ Little Conejo

Sunday, September 8th 12pm-6pm

Interurban, 4057 N. Mississippi Ave. Portland, OR