Tannenzäpfle
Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus
- From:
- Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus
- Germany
- Style:
- German Pilsner
Ranked #19 - ABV:
- 5.1%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #8,274 - Avg:
- 4.09 | pDev: 11.74%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 304
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Wednesday at 03:48 AM
- Added:
- Apr 08, 2004
- Wants:
- 90
- Gots:
- 131
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
Also called "Pils"
The Rothaus Tannenzäpfle is the absolute classic among our beers - and has been since 1956. That is why it is also the namesake and figurehead of the Gäpfle family. The best aromatic hops from Tettnang and the Hallertau as well as local malt made from summer barley and the purest spring water from the Black Forest give Rothaus Tannenzäpfle its uniquely spicy and fresh taste.
The Rothaus Tannenzäpfle is the absolute classic among our beers - and has been since 1956. That is why it is also the namesake and figurehead of the Gäpfle family. The best aromatic hops from Tettnang and the Hallertau as well as local malt made from summer barley and the purest spring water from the Black Forest give Rothaus Tannenzäpfle its uniquely spicy and fresh taste.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by FRANKHAZE:
Rated by FRANKHAZE from Florida
4.5/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.5/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Superb
Sep 16, 2025More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Redrover from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a bottle to a pilsner glass, the beer is a lovely yellow/gold with an incredibly fluffy off-white head and lacing.
Inviting nose of grains and floral hops.
Taste is pleasantly bitter with good balance from some cracker like malts. It manages to be both herbal and floral at the same time.
The mouth has crisp carbonation and is about perfect for the style.
This is a winner! My bottle still had several more months before it reached it’s best buy date. I was lucky enough to have this several times in Germany where it is even better when super fresh.
Check out the dates before buying and you will not be disappointed!
May 21, 2026Inviting nose of grains and floral hops.
Taste is pleasantly bitter with good balance from some cracker like malts. It manages to be both herbal and floral at the same time.
The mouth has crisp carbonation and is about perfect for the style.
This is a winner! My bottle still had several more months before it reached it’s best buy date. I was lucky enough to have this several times in Germany where it is even better when super fresh.
Check out the dates before buying and you will not be disappointed!
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.54/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3.75
3.54/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3.75
Copenhagen 7/2 2016. 33 cl bottle from Meny, Østerfælled Torv, Kbh. Ø. Drawing of a beer serving girl with two pitchers of beer in slightly naive style on the label. Reminds me of propaganda posters from the fifties.
Pours clear pale yellow with a big white head. Stable. Settles as 1 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Substantial lacing on the side of the glass.
Aroma is pretty neutral. Sweet malt and a little hoppy bitterness. Pale malts and bread. Citrus and grass.
Medium strong carbonation and a watery palate. Lively and tingling texture.
Flavor combines the sweet malt with a pronounced bitterness. Crisp and fresh.
Kind of old fashioned and German but in a very positive meaning of the words.
Apr 18, 2026Pours clear pale yellow with a big white head. Stable. Settles as 1 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer. Substantial lacing on the side of the glass.
Aroma is pretty neutral. Sweet malt and a little hoppy bitterness. Pale malts and bread. Citrus and grass.
Medium strong carbonation and a watery palate. Lively and tingling texture.
Flavor combines the sweet malt with a pronounced bitterness. Crisp and fresh.
Kind of old fashioned and German but in a very positive meaning of the words.
Reviewed by ATL6245 from Georgia
4.78/5 rDev +16.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.78/5 rDev +16.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Appearance: Clear, brilliant gold. Frothy white head with excellent retention.
Aroma: spicy, cracker-like
Flavor: spicy, cracker-like. Moderate to low bitterness. Dry.
Mouth feel: medium bodied. Soft. Drying.
Overall: World class. Spicy and cracker-like. Drying. Nicely balanced by a snappy, clean bitterness the goes away quickly. Just a wonderful German Pils.
Mar 15, 2026Aroma: spicy, cracker-like
Flavor: spicy, cracker-like. Moderate to low bitterness. Dry.
Mouth feel: medium bodied. Soft. Drying.
Overall: World class. Spicy and cracker-like. Drying. Nicely balanced by a snappy, clean bitterness the goes away quickly. Just a wonderful German Pils.
Reviewed by deleted_user_1379257
3.23/5 rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.23/5 rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
This is close to what I'm looking for in a pilsner - a bit of flavorful hops with a lager like maltiness. But I was hoping for something a bit brighter and less aftertaste.
Mar 03, 2026
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Picked up from the Shangy's cooler in Emmaus, PA as part of a mixed sixer on 9-23-25 for $3.33.
Best before 240125 = 01-24-2025; consumed 1-8-26. Cold stored since acquisition.
Beer poured clear light gold with a nice white head that is leaving lacing behind.
Nose reminds me of Strohs from the early 70's as the hops surprisingly stand out despite this brew being born likely 2 years ago. Very herbal and biscuity.
Taste is a biscuit and bread malt base in which the hops brings a light fruit flavor. Finishes with a touch of black pepper.
Mouthfeel is light bodied and very refreshing.
Overall, i have had this before but never reviewed it and despite the age it is one tasty brew - would love to have some with 6 months or less age.
Jan 08, 2026Best before 240125 = 01-24-2025; consumed 1-8-26. Cold stored since acquisition.
Beer poured clear light gold with a nice white head that is leaving lacing behind.
Nose reminds me of Strohs from the early 70's as the hops surprisingly stand out despite this brew being born likely 2 years ago. Very herbal and biscuity.
Taste is a biscuit and bread malt base in which the hops brings a light fruit flavor. Finishes with a touch of black pepper.
Mouthfeel is light bodied and very refreshing.
Overall, i have had this before but never reviewed it and despite the age it is one tasty brew - would love to have some with 6 months or less age.
Reviewed by harrypowers from Massachusetts
3.94/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear golden color with a 1/2F head and light lacing.
Smells and tastes of sweet malt, bready yeast, apples and pears with a spicy finish.
Medium light body with medium carbonation. Crisp mouthfeel.
This is a very enjoyable brew.
Dec 31, 2025Smells and tastes of sweet malt, bready yeast, apples and pears with a spicy finish.
Medium light body with medium carbonation. Crisp mouthfeel.
This is a very enjoyable brew.
Reviewed by TheAncientSwiller from New Jersey
5/5 rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I mean, I got a 5l mini keg dated within 3 months of being “kegged” in Deutschland…it’s about as good as it gets….without belng there. Do yourselves a favor & get a mini keg of this brew. It just hits different. Cheers!
Nov 11, 2025
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)
4.46/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Single 33cl bottle at a small bottle shop in Munich.
Pours a crystal clear pale yellow golden with a scant finger of creamy white head.
Bready, cereal malt on nose with a fruity character - pear, apple - almost a woody note and just a touch of a herbal aroma.
Sweet cereal malt on the palate - again a little bit of orchard fruit, nice minerality and a firm but subtle herbal bitterness at the back.
Super smooth light medium mouthfeel - moderate carbonation and dry crisp finish. Truly a gem.
Oct 22, 2025Pours a crystal clear pale yellow golden with a scant finger of creamy white head.
Bready, cereal malt on nose with a fruity character - pear, apple - almost a woody note and just a touch of a herbal aroma.
Sweet cereal malt on the palate - again a little bit of orchard fruit, nice minerality and a firm but subtle herbal bitterness at the back.
Super smooth light medium mouthfeel - moderate carbonation and dry crisp finish. Truly a gem.
Reviewed by largefartparty7 from Ohio
4.1/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
had dis at jungle Jims the grocery store on tap and oh so delightful a plastic cup full this was a fantastic accompaniment to selecting my other beers whilst at the establishment aka ayinger mode (sloptoberfest) Fuego Germany just does beer right every offering I've had truly does not allow me to enjoy American beers nearly as much
Sep 25, 2025
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