Jever - The German Pilsener

http://hobbybrauer.de/modules.php?name=eBoard&file=viewthread&tid=9614

I found this link in another thread on Beeradvocate, and the chart in that link lists Jever at 35 IBUs.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/german-beers-ibus.78916/

Here's the thread if you'd like to read it (it's a quick one at 3 pages). @herrburgess posted the link, and @hopfenunmaltz said Jever used to be around 48 - 50 IBUs.

I've had Jever on tap at a German restaurant in NY, and recently had some bottles that were < 3 months old. Those experiences were some of my tastiest with a German pils. Quite unique in how dry and bitter (more spicy/sharp hop bitterness rather than Prima Pils type bitterness) it was compared to many of my other favorite German pilsners.

 

Jackson's first US edition of his Pocket Guide to Beer [1983] claimed that Jever Pils had "...an astonishing 47 units of bitterness..." while a current chart (noted on previous forum posts*, but no source given?) listed it at 35 IBU's.

* EDIT- including "AlcahueteJ's" post immediately above

 

Re the "current chart." Apparently first posted with source by herrburgess in 2013.

http://hobbybrauer.de/modules.php?name=eBoard&file=viewthread&tid=9614

 

I took Jesskidden's advice a while back regarding Jever, and bought an unopened case. No skunk, crisp, dry, delicious!

 

As a pilsner lover, I've never even seen Jever in my part of the world let alone had the chance to try it. It's on I do want to try though.

 

Hmm?

I think I will need to consult the CSI unit on this one?

Cheers!

 

What is the source? I realize that it was first printed in a German language beer forum http://hobbybrauer.de/ (my link of for the chart http://hobbybrauer.de/bilder/maelektro/ibu.jpg included) - I take it that the poster "maelektro" collected the info from various sources but don't see anything specific. I also note that another poster mention Jever being much higher - 45 IBUs but I don't read German so not sure what the comment refers to.

 

I think Jever is a fine beer. I drink it often and it is always in good condition. As @StoneGreg said, it is a "good" German industrial beer. I also like Kulmbacher EKU Pils very much. It's a friendly style that leads one to have a "few". I had several Sierra Nevada Summerfests over the weekend and thought that they were nearly perfect.

 

Sorry, can't offer any additional help with pushing the origin of the table/numbers back further than that as I don't read German either and have no idea of who this "malektro" might be. However, it was the basis for creating a Germany Forum thread by a German speaking BA who is also a home brewer and who considered it and "malektro" to be a credible enough source to be worth discussing the table in the context of other threads in the Germany forum about changes in German Pils IBUs over the last 30-40 years. While I realize that doesn't get us back to the laboratory source of the numbers in the table, it does get one small step closer.

 

I bought a 6-pack of Pilsner Urquell recently. I almost did a flip in the beer store since it was only 3-4 months old. Yup, I bought that 6-pack!

The majority of the Pilsners (Czech, German and Classic American) that I drink are homebrewed Pilsners and US craft brewed. I have already purchased two 12-packs of Troegs Sunshine Pils this year and my guess is that one more 12-pack of that beer will be purchased.

For your reading pleasure:http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...-and-american-pils.100623/page-2#post-1488005

Cheers!

 

While my "explanation" may defy easy logic, it's my understanding that Jever Pilsener is not available in as many large metropolitan markets in the United States* as e.g. Pilsner Urquell, or even the more commonplace examples of Pils from Germany (Bitburger, König Pilsner, Paulaner Pils). On the other hand, outside of the U.S., I reckon that it should be fairly well-known, but perhaps it is not in very many other countries or markets outside of its home market?

To be sure, it's a truly exceptional example of the style.

*It's always worth remembering that Beer Advocate is a largely U.S.-based readership and active user base.

 

People love to point out that pilsners in general get little love here, but I think that behind the styles that obviously get the most attention, pilsners seem to do just fine here.

When Jever is good, it's great.

I think that Jever might be undervalued because of everything besides the beer itself - image/branding/packaging.
It has superficial similarities with beers usually in the odd "euro pale lager" category... beer name=brewery name (it's just Jever), green bottle, etc. The plain label. It's owned my a multi-national company. It comes from the less romanticized and less applauded Northern Germany. It has product pictures on it's website like the two below:

 

If only I could find this beer fresh. last time i saw it on the shelf it was nearly a year old with a dust layer on it

 

My Deutsch is pretty rusty and rudimentary at best.
The post before the table essentially says Jever used to be 45, but now around 35 IBUs.
Run the page through Google translate if you wish.

 

Sorry to deviate off the subject but will Stone be setting up distribution with AAFES in Germany? I lived in the Ramstein AB area from 2011-2014 and Stone would have been a great addition.

The next time you are in Germany try and get some brews from Pax Brau. The time I spent there they were doing some great things as a German craft brewer.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31320/

 

I was doing a Facetime chat with some German friends of mine in the Ramstein area last week and I saw a Karlsberg UrPils in the background. I miss that beer right now, especially super fresh as it was brewed in Homburg.

This beer I really miss getting fresh. At $5.00 or so a six pack I miss it more.

 

You have not seen Rothaus in Delaware yet?

My local beer store (Wegmans) has had 6-packs of Rothaus on the shelf for quite some time now (5 months?). Every time I walk by it and see the $15.99 price I laugh out loud. Only a matter of time before there is a thick layer of dust on those bottles.

Cheers!

 

Do you do an evil villain laugh? Diabolical.

 

It depends on what mood I am in that given day!

On most days it is a laughter of incredulity.

Cheers!