Bayernbiere Bought and Drunk

For some reason I remember us having a discussion that it was in the same family as Bitburger/Radeberger.

 

I really disliked it when I lived in Germany. But this past Christmas when I was visiting the in-laws, the first beer I had was a fresh Krombacher...and it was surprisingly good. Very herbal hoppiness and earthy, bready malt. I chalked my liking it up to the fact that I was coming from the U.S. where so many attempts at German styles are so disappointing that even a Krombacher tastes like heaven in comparison.

 

Hmm, maybe Radeberger, but don't forget my freshness caveat. I'd chose a Radeberger or Krombacher over a Bitburger or Warsteiner.

And by my saying "A nice Pils, if not the best Pils to be found." I'm saying it's worth having a glass if you're in the mood for a German Pilsner. It's no EKU or Kulmbacher or Jever, but it's not terrible.

 

Interesting thought that I would expand upon, if I may.

I picked up some Bitburger on a whim, and have been enjoying it, as you say, in comparison to many/most US versions. While in Germany, I also enjoyed Bit, but mostly Jever, Flens, Rothaus and Alpirsbacher was on my "like" list. Down the road though, I began to tire of pilsner - it was everywhere. Of course hefeweizen, helles and bocks were available, but I came to appreciate the pilsner style for what it is after consuming lots of other styles here in the States.

I guess what I'm saying is that deep selection allows one to change your palate more frequently, and helps you train your senses. Or, as my German uncle always said "If you only eat ham, you only know how ham tastes".

Works better in German.

 

Yea, I can see how Pilsner fatigue could quickly set in in areas where the selection really is limited (like Braunschweig, where my in-laws are from). Never had that problem in Franconia, however, where the diversity in Kellerbier alone could keep you occupied for years. Still, I always admit that I needed a couple of short jaunts to Belgium, the UK, and/or the Czech Republic each year or two to truly mix it up. Thank goodness for RyanAir/Air Berlin and their 20 Euro fares to Brussels, London, and Prague!

 

I have a friend over there that drinks Krombacher as his regular go-to pils and I'm certain he knows quite a bit about good beer. I think it's a pretty solid pils that might not be Herren, but it isn't Beck's either.

EDIT: I goofed, I was thinking of KULMBACHER, not Krombacher. I'm ready for a day off

 

I had a bottle of Bitburger a few months ago that was fairly fresh (less than three months from bottling I believe) and I found it to be quite good, better than many many US versions. But not better than my favorite German pilsners. Pils malt really popped in that one, this characteristic stood out to me. I liked it much more than Radeberger (something I have on tap in Boston quite a bit). I'll have to give Krombacher a whirl if I see it.

 

I like Bitburger now and again, too. It can definitely carry that Pilsner malt well -- again, freshness being the key. But I thought the Krombacher seemed to have a little more body than the Bitburger.

To stress the freshness factor, I picked up some EKU Pils a little while back -- easily my favorite. Well, I didn't find the date code until I got home and the stuff was over a year old. And it showed. So even the best beers can suffer shelf wither.

 

Bitburger used to be my personal favorite German pilsner but the monopoly where I live now doesn't carry it so it's been over a year since I had it. One thing I really enjoyed with Bitburger was the dry bready taste which I percieved along with a decent bitterness and tasty herbal hop notes. I'm partial to non-sweet bready beers and Bitburger is one of those beers imo. One thing I noticed in the last year or so of drinking it regularly was that the stammwürze listed on the label dropped from 11.3% to 11.1%. I remember this particularly well since one of the Swedish macros came out with a clone-version of Bitburger as far as stats went, then Bitburger dropped its listed gravity. So the beer's flavor is obviously not set in stone, as is the case with most beers.

 

In the midst of a spectacular England/Scotland sojourn, so it felt a touch blasphemous to order the following, but I've been on a steady diet of bitters and such, and indeed had just dutifully downed a pint of said style, so I felt emboldened to veer off course.

In the middle of Reading, one finds The Alehouse. They reliably keep 3 hand pumps flowing with the local West Berkshire ales, as well as 3-5 guest pumps. Then, there's a key keg offering, a couple Euro pils/lagers (though at least respectable enough in Budvar and Staropramen, and indeed only a few weeks back that had a fresh hopped version of the Budvar), and, finally, a German offering. I was gutted to find they'd just finished off a keg of Schlenkerla Fastenbier, as it never hit my area, but my sorrows quickly vanished upon delving into Mahr's Weizen Bock.

Dark like blackstrap rum and a nose practically jumping out of the glass with a bewitching mixture of cream, chocolate, and banana bread. Absolutely intoxicating. Sweet on the palate, with the weisse yeast seeping through, softly buzzy carbonation, and maybe just a hint of booze on the backend. Taste wasn't quite at the stratospheric heights of the aroma, but that's less a shortcoming than testament to the latter. Brilliant stuff overall, and I certainly felt justified with my brief cheating on English beer. Cheers/Prost!

 

Great stuff. First time my buddy and I went to the Great British Beer Festival, we had just left Bamberg after our initial year abroad. At the GBBF, we had to make a stop at the international bar for one last Schlenkerla Maerzen on "cask." No shame in that -- or your -- actions, IMO. That said, would be interested to hear what UK cask ales you've been drinking (and/or what pubs you're visiting or type of crisps you're eating).

 

Still have a ways to go with the trip, including some time in Edinburgh/Isle of Skye. Have a few more days yet, though, for London and the surrounding area (just polished off a day in Bath, which I found truly exquisite).

Began the trip with lunch at Buckingham Arms in London and a fine pint of Young's Bitter. After having several more bitters since, I think it was a great intro to the style. You can almost taste the dried barley in the finish. There are many things to be said for subtle beer, and surely one is how precise/identifiable a finish they can offer. I love big beer, but sometimes all the initial fireworks can drown out the finale, you know?

Enjoyed a fine Sunday evening meal in Covent Garden at the historic Lamb and Flag, where I enjoyed a really nice glass of Adnams Ghost Ship. Thought it was a great bridge of sorts between the hop forwardness of an American pale ale and the restraint of an English pale ale. Followed with a half of Fuller's ESB, which I thought was surprisingly bad. I haven't had it from the bottle, so I don't know if it was just in poor condition, but it was like drinking sweetened iced tea mixed with ale.

Have stopped into a couple Wetherspoon's owned pubs. I'm torn on them. On the one hand, they're a giant chain, somewhat generic, have casino games strategically located throughout, and overall can't near match a local pub for ambiance. On the other hand, they're everywhere, they do well to stock a nice assortment of cask ales, they're cheap as heck, and, for the international traveler's note, they have free WiFi. Anyway, have had a few pints at these spots, from a decentish local London porter to a British Brewers attempt at an American IPA on cask, which sort of hinted at the right direction but ultimately lacked the bitterness it needed to really balance and bite.

Had a decentish pint of Wells Bombardier at the ornately decorated Argyll Arms in Oxford Circus, and finished off that night with both a pint of Landlord and a non-cask session IPA from one of Britain's newer craft brewers, Beavertown. Landlord might be the beer I was most looking forward to for the trip, and while I enjoyed the pint, I'm not sure it was all that memorable. The trouble with cask stuff is that you never quite know if you're getting the beer in peak condition. This is true with keg stuff anywhere, I suppose, but, generally speaking, as long as it's fresh and doesn't have any defects, a keg should be fairly reliable. With casks, there's so much more art and maintenance to it, which is their beauty as well as their curse. The session IPA (aptly called Neck Oil), a style I'm generally not a huge fan of, was actually really quite good, with a nose that might've been the best I've ever smelled for the style.

The Alehouse in Reading, as I mentioned earlier, is a real gem, and part of my learning process about cask care has come from them, as the bitters I've had there, such as West Berks' Yaffle, were in such noticeably great condition, the biscuity malt finishes so crisp and the hops subtle but complementary.

Also unknowingly ordered a gluten free beer by BrewDog when we just missed a train out of Bath and were forced to endure a gorgeous sunset on the patio of a nearby burger bar. It did nothing to make me think I'd make a good Celiac patient. Of course, I've not been enamored with BrewDog generally, though I intend to give them a fair shake in one of their pubs eventually, perhaps up in Edinburgh.

Anyway, that's the update for now. Loads of chips (and fish, pies, pasties, etc) have been consumed, though it's a pretty big change of pace from my normal diet, which is usually considerably less hearty Little complaint indeed, though. Also loving the ability to supplement my beer intake with morning (or afternoon) tea, done the proper way. Overall, just a wonderful country, and it only makes me sad that I cannot live a permanent life of travel and leisure!

 

On a separate note, I picked up a 50 L keg of Weltenburger Helles Hefeweizen for 4th of July. Is that anti-American or simply in support of the county's largest ancestry group?

 

Never liked Krombacher or Warsteiner.
Somehow i remember Radeberger being more bitter in the past.
Bitburger is decent enough

 

I'm not enjoying this new forum set up for finding Germany centric threads... I think if this is how it's going to be, then the US forms should have to deal with the same scheisse for each state within the region.

 

This site doesn't cater to Germany centric (or, European centric in general) anything.

Look at the ratings...

 

It took me a minute to get used to it, but I like the new look. I enjoy seeing what is being talked about in the other European forums. Plus, bonus, now we never have to miss a Cantillon thread!!!

Shoot, I started out serious there but couldn't pull myself out of the skid into sarcasm...

 

Think I might start a Cantillon thread too.

 

How about; "I'm visiting the International Space Station... where I find Cantillon there???"

 

Ironically, I'll actually be in Brussels and hopefully heading to Cantillon next month and I still can't handle those threads. I'm heading over with a pair and wine shippers and just wingin' it.