NZ Pilsner Fresh Wort Kit – Keg King
The NZ Pilsner Fresh Wort Kit – Keg King delivers a crisp, bright and hop-forward New Zealand-style lager with vibrant lime, tropical fruit and refreshing citrus character.
Brewed with 100% Pilsner malt and Motueka hops, this 16.5-litre fresh wort kit provides a clean malt base, firm bitterness and a dry, refreshing finish. Add approximately 3 litres of water for a 20-litre batch, then ferment with your preferred lager yeast.
Dry hopping is optional.
Available on back-order
The NZ Pilsner Fresh Wort Kit – Keg King makes it easy to brew a vibrant New Zealand-style Pilsner without completing a full all grain brew day. Usually produced on a Speidel 500L Braumeister Brewery, the wort arrives professionally brewed and ready for fermentation.
This fresh wort kit combines the clean structure of a traditional Pilsner with the expressive citrus and tropical fruit character of New Zealand hops. The result is a pale golden lager with crisp malt flavour, refreshing bitterness and a bright hop aroma that stands out from more restrained European Pilsner styles.
Each cube contains approximately 16.5 litres of wort. Add around 3 litres of clean water to produce a final brewing volume of approximately 20 litres. You may also ferment the wort undiluted for a stronger, fuller and more intensely flavoured result.
Flavour and Aroma Profile
The malt profile is built entirely from Pilsner malt. This creates a light, clean foundation with subtle notes of fresh bread, crackers and gentle honey sweetness.
Motueka provides the main hop flavour. Expect lively lime zest, lemon, tropical fruit and soft herbal notes. These flavours sit over a firm but refreshing bitterness, producing a beer that remains crisp and highly drinkable.
At approximately 34 IBUs, the bitterness is more noticeable than in many mainstream lagers. However, the clean malt base and bright citrus character keep the beer balanced.
The finished beer should pour pale gold with a fine white head and a clean, dry finish. It is ideal for warm afternoons, barbecues, seafood and spicy dishes.
General Specifications
- Approximate wort volume: 16.5 litres
- Recommended final volume: Approximately 20 litres
- Suggested water addition: Approximately 3 litres
- Starting gravity undiluted: Approximately 1.059
- Starting gravity after dilution: Approximately 1.050
- Bitterness: Approximately 34 IBUs
- Malt bill: 100% Pilsner malt
- Bittering hops: Perle
- Flavour hops: Motueka
- Yeast included: No
- Dry hopping: Optional
Actual alcohol content and final gravity will vary depending on dilution, yeast selection, fermentation temperature and attenuation.
Optional Dry Hop
Dry hopping is not essential because the wort already contains a strong Motueka flavour profile. However, brewers who want a more aromatic result can add approximately 40 grams of Motueka or Riwaka.
Add the dry hops around three days before packaging. Motueka will reinforce the lime and citrus character, while Riwaka can add bold grapefruit, passionfruit and tropical fruit aromas.
Avoid leaving the hops in contact with the beer for an excessive period, as this may introduce grassy or vegetal flavours.
Recommended Yeast Options
For a clean and authentic lager profile, suitable yeast choices include:
- Bluestone Pilsen
- Bluestone Stuttgart
- Mangrove Jack’s M84 Bohemian Lager
- Fermentis SafLager S-189
- Fermentis SafLager W-34/70
- Fermentis SafLager S-23
Bluestone Pilsen is a strong choice when you want the hop character to remain bright and clear. W-34/70 and S-189 are also reliable options for producing a clean, crisp lager finish.
M84 may contribute a slightly more traditional European lager character, while S-23 can produce a touch more fruitiness.
Always follow the pitching rate and temperature range printed on your selected yeast packet.
Brewing Instructions
- Clean and sanitise your fermenter, lid, airlock, tap and all equipment that will contact the wort.
- Transfer the full contents of the wort cube into the sanitised fermenter.
- Add approximately 3 litres of clean water to reach a final volume of around 20 litres.
- Mix thoroughly and confirm the wort is within the correct pitching temperature range.
- Add your selected lager yeast.
- Maintain a stable fermentation temperature within the yeast manufacturer’s recommended range.
- Add 40 grams of Motueka or Riwaka approximately three days before packaging if dry hopping.
- Confirm fermentation is complete by checking for a stable specific gravity over consecutive days.
- Bottle or keg using properly sanitised equipment.
- Carbonate, condition and serve well chilled.
Brewer’s Tips
Fermenting toward the cooler end of your yeast’s recommended range will usually produce a cleaner and crisper result. After fermentation, cold conditioning can improve clarity, soften the bitterness and create a smoother finish.
When kegging or bottling, minimise oxygen exposure to preserve the fresh lime, citrus and tropical hop aroma.
This beer pairs especially well with:
- Grilled fish
- Prawns and seafood
- Spicy chicken
- Thai and Vietnamese dishes
- Barbecued meats
- Pizza
- Salty snacks
- Fresh salads
The NZ Pilsner Fresh Wort Kit – Keg King is ideal for brewers who enjoy crisp lager character but want more hop flavour than a traditional Pilsner. It delivers genuine all grain quality, expressive New Zealand hops and a refreshing finish with minimal brew-day effort.
