Trumer Pils
An Austrian pilsner known for its light body, pronounced hop bitterness, high carbonation, and production in both Austria and the United States.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Trumer Pils is a pilsner beer associated with Trumer Brauerei in Salzburg, Austria. It belongs to the German-style pilsner tradition: a pale, highly carbonated lager designed around a crisp finish, restrained malt character, and noticeable hop bitterness. The brand has historically been closely identified with Salzburg, where it was initially sold predominantly within the Austrian federal state of Salzburg, while later developing an international presence through exports and local brewing partnerships. The beer is made in accordance with the German Reinheitsgebot tradition. Its recipe uses Czech Saaz hops together with German Hallertau Perle and Spalt Select hops. The combination gives the beer a floral, spicy, and bitter hop profile, while its relatively light body and strong carbonation support a clean, refreshing drinking character. Trumer Pils is matured for approximately six weeks before bottling, a step that contributes to its finished lager profile. Trumer Brauerei describes its brewing heritage as extending back approximately four centuries, although a precise brand foundation year is not established in the available reference material. The modern brand became more visible outside Austria after Trumer established a brewery in Berkeley, California, through a partnership involving Privatbrauerei Josef Sigl and the Gambrinus Company. At the Berkeley facility, brewing inputs were supplied from Austria except for the water, which came from the High Sierras. This arrangement allowed the American beer to remain closely connected to the Austrian recipe and materials while being produced locally for the United States market. From 2004 onward, distribution expanded beyond the San Francisco Bay Area to markets including Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Denver, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Trumer Australia also distributed the beer in Australia from the early 2000s. The brand therefore occupied a niche between regional Austrian specialty beer and an internationally distributed craft-oriented pilsner, relying on traditional provenance, recipe continuity, and repeated competition success rather than a broad portfolio of beer styles. Trumer Pils has received medals at several major beer competitions. Its awards include World Beer Cup gold medals for German-style pilsner in 2006 and 2008, a silver medal in 2010, and another gold in 2016. It also won recognition at the European Beer Star, the Great American Beer Festival, and the Australian International Beer Awards. These results reinforced its positioning as a high-quality traditional pilsner rather than a heavily flavored or experimental beer. In 2026, ownership changed when Duvel Moortgat acquired Trumer Pils. The Berkeley brewery at 1404 Fourth Street closed permanently at the end of May that year, and United States production was relocated to Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Paso Robles, California. The relocation changed the operational structure of the American business while preserving local production for the United States market. The brand remains centered on its Austrian identity and classic pilsner recipe, with brewing in California providing regional supply for American consumers.
History
Trumer Pils is rooted in the brewing tradition of Trumer Brauerei in Salzburg, whose brewing history is described as extending back roughly 400 years. The brand belongs to the broader pilsner family, a style first developed in 1842 in Plzeň, in present-day Czechia. Pilsner brewing later became influential throughout Central Europe, including Austria, and Trumer Pils developed as a notably pale and highly carbonated interpretation of the style. For much of its earlier commercial life, Trumer Pils was associated primarily with Salzburg and was sold mainly within the surrounding Austrian market. Its identity was built around a classic recipe and traditional production rather than a diversified range of beer styles. The beer is brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot tradition and uses Czech Saaz, German Hallertau Perle, and Spalt Select hops. It is characterized by a light body, assertive hop bitterness, and strong carbonation. The beer is aged for about six weeks before bottling. The brand gained a broader international profile after the creation of a brewery in Berkeley, California. The facility resulted from a partnership involving Privatbrauerei Josef Sigl and the Gambrinus Company. Local production allowed Trumer Pils to reach American consumers more efficiently while maintaining a close connection to the Austrian product. Ingredients used at Berkeley were shipped from Austria, with the exception of water sourced from the High Sierras. This model combined Austrian recipe and ingredient provenance with California brewing and distribution. The Berkeley brewery helped establish Trumer Pils in the San Francisco Bay Area, where it became more widely available than the imported Austrian product alone could have allowed. From 2004, the brand expanded its United States distribution to a broader group of cities, including Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Denver, San Diego, and Los Angeles. A separate Trumer Australia operation distributed the beer in Australia from the early 2000s, extending the brand's reach beyond Europe and North America. Competition results became an important part of Trumer Pils's reputation. It won gold medals in the German-style pilsner category at the World Beer Cup in 2006, 2008, and 2016, and a silver medal in 2010. It also earned medals at the European Beer Star, the Great American Beer Festival, and the Australian International Beer Awards. The repeated awards supported the brand's premium positioning and presented it as a technically accomplished traditional pilsner. In 2026, Duvel Moortgat acquired Trumer Pils. The change in ownership was accompanied by a major alteration to United States manufacturing. The Berkeley brewery at 1404 Fourth Street closed permanently at the end of May 2026, and American production moved to Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Paso Robles, California. The relocation retained California-based production for the United States market but ended brewing at the Berkeley site. Trumer Pils consequently continues as an Austrian-origin beer with a dual production history: brewing in Salzburg and, for the American market, production in California under a new operating arrangement.
- 2026
Acquisition and relocation of United States brewing
[1]Duvel Moortgat acquired the brand, while United States brewing moved from the Berkeley facility to Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Paso Robles.
- 2017
Australian International Beer Awards gold medal
[1]Trumer Pils won gold in the German-style pilsner category at the Australian International Beer Awards.
- 2015
Australian International Beer Awards trophy
[1]The beer received the trophy for Best Pilsner and a gold medal at the Australian International Beer Awards.
- 2012
European Beer Star gold medal
[1]Trumer Pils won gold at the European Beer Star for German-style pilsner.
- 2010
Further international competition recognition
[1]Trumer Pils earned a World Beer Cup silver medal and a Great American Beer Festival gold medal in German-style pilsner categories.
- 2008
World Beer Cup and European Beer Star gold medals
[1]The beer received gold medals in German-style pilsner categories at both the World Beer Cup and European Beer Star.
- 2006
World Beer Cup gold medal
[1]Trumer Pils won gold in the German-style pilsner category at the World Beer Cup.
- 2004
United States distribution expands
[1]Trumer Pils expanded from its established San Francisco Bay Area presence into additional United States markets.
- 1842
Pilsner style emerges in Plzeň
[1]Pilsner beer was first brewed in Plzeň, Bohemia, establishing the style tradition to which Trumer Pils belongs.
Products and positioning
A premium traditional pilsner emphasizing Austrian heritage, German-style brewing discipline, crisp refreshment, hop bitterness, and high carbonation.
Pilsner beer
Trumer Pils
The brand's core and defining product is a pale pilsner with a light body, high carbonation, and prominent hop bitterness. Its recipe combines Czech Saaz hops with German Hallertau Perle and Spalt Select. The beer follows the Reinheitsgebot tradition and is aged for approximately six weeks before bottling. It has been brewed in Salzburg for the Austrian market and, historically, in Berkeley and subsequently at Firestone Walker Brewing Company in California for the United States market.
Brand decisions
2026
Duvel Moortgat acquisitionM&ABackground
Trumer Pils had an Austrian brewing base and a California production and distribution platform serving the United States.
Action taken
Duvel Moortgat acquired Trumer Pils.
Aftermath
The acquisition was followed by the permanent closure of the Berkeley brewery and the relocation of United States production to Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Paso Robles.
2026
Relocation of American brewing operationsStrategyBackground
The Berkeley facility at 1404 Fourth Street had been used to produce Trumer Pils for the United States market.
Action taken
The Berkeley site closed permanently at the end of May, and production was transferred to Firestone Walker Brewing Company in Paso Robles, California.
Aftermath
The brand retained California-based brewing for the United States while ending operations at its Berkeley brewery.
Sources2 sources
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