Jever - The German Pilsener

I guess as long as it's cold, carbonated and clear all is well according to the brewery and its importer.

 

It’s one big reason German beers spooks people, of all the skunked beers I’ve ever had every single one of them was imported from Germany. Let me edit that real quick, I’ve had skunked Heinekens too.

 

I guess you weren't a big fan of Sam Smith beers in the clear bottles, back in the day.

 

Huh, I know I’ve had a Sam Smith before, but I’m not recalling a clear bottle. But that’s going back forever too. In that time period when we had a very young family I was still drinking Rolling Rock or Budweiser.

 

Which ironically came in a green bottle.

Did you ever experience a skunked Rolling Rock bottle?

Cheers!

 

Can’t say that I’ve ever had a skunked Rock, for the most part I bought them in the hard case 7oz bottles that were popular back in the day. I suppose if I wanted to find one Total Wine would be where I’d start and their single beer section might guarantee that.

 

The brown bottles for all their beers is a relatively recent change. Look up Images of Smith and you'll see quite a few clear bottles (even though the beer may make them look brown). They tried to compensate with tall 4-pack packaging, but it wasn't enough.

I even bottled a home-brew in a Sam bottle to experiment with light contamination -- it happened fast in direct sunlight.

 

Never had a US-brewed light-struck Ballantine Ale, Lord Chesterfield Ale, Heileman Special Export, Mickey's Malt Liquor, Rolling Rock or Augsburger?

Or an imported Canadian Molson Golden/Canadian/Export Ale or a Labatt 50 Ale (circa 1980s)? Mexican Corona? Czech Pilsner Urquell, Czechvar or Staropramen? A Dutch Grolsch (after they switched to green "flip tops")?

 

Weird -- never thought of it, but I don't think I ever had a skunked Augsburger -- it wasn't one of those "beware" beers. Just lucky?

And it seems like the only time I ever had Special Ex was on tap -- no skunk there.

 

Based on all of the mentions of skunkiness I come across in relation to imports in the US I could see that being the case. Over here it's a different story, I have never come across a Swedish reference to a skunked beer, nor have I ever come across the subject in a discussion on beer, or overheard anyone mentioning it. Skunks do not live in Europe of course, but one would think that the concept of lightstruck beer would still be common knowledge, if it was a problem to the same extent as in the US. It's all a bit curious to me. I've come to suspect that some of the accusations of skunking must be down to other aroma compounds which are found in some European beers and not in the US macros, sulphur for one thing which isn't entirely uncommon, or the aroma of European hops.

 

I like Jever enough to buy it by the case, which is fully-enclosed, factory-sealed - no skunk.

 

Yup, and the last one I bought was under 3 months old and refrigerated. It was damn nice to have something like that in the house.

 

Likely helped you being in Huber's core marketing area rather than a distant market like I was. More frequent turnover - less time spent on the shelf. I certainly remember a couple Augies I regretted purchasing.

(But my all time record for "Most Skunked" was a bottle of Koch's Black Horse Ale that I "hid" behind a small pine tree in the shade while mowing between the rows of a Christmas tree farm I worked at. Forgot all about it and "found" it a few days later after it had been exposed to the morning sun for a few days. Cracked it open. "Oh, yeah. Light struck --- to death." I think my dog - who'd tangled with a few real skunks herself, experiencing both the scent and the post-fight "tomato juice" baths - might have run away in the opposite direction.)

Only way to go with Jever or any other green or clear bottled beer - unless you're in a market where it is common and allowed for folks to be able to remove a sixpack from a sealed case "on the floor". Then take it to the register while it's hidden under your jacket, preferably on a cloudy day.
"You want that in a bag?"
"Damn, right I want it in a bag!"

Damn, it's been so long since I've found closed cases of relatively fresh Jever. Gotta make it down to Joe Canal's - one of the few stores that allow customers to wander around the big walk-in case cooler around here.

 

I've been wanting to try Jever for a long time now. But it sees only extremely sparse distribution in my area and the few times I've seen it it's been too old to be worth buying. A BeerMenus search just now turned up three places reasonably close to me that carry it, one them having 6-packs of cans. Has anyone seen Jever in cans before? I'm thinking it might be the only option worth considering...if it's less than a year old.

 

While very possible, it doesn't take long for a beer to skunk when it's under direct, improper lighting -- case-in-point, that Black Horse you mentioned.

Back when Augie was popular beer wasn't exactly a well-tended commodity (as if it is now, but at least it's better! ). Lots'a bright fluorescents and six-packs stacked all over the place I used to buy Augsburger (come to think of it, it's also the place I bought Ballantine, when I would).

 

If you're anywhere near the PA/NJ border, closed cases is the norm at PA distributors... Call ahead to confirm Jever is in-stock and fresh.

 

They'll actually check the dates for you? Nice. I've called different places and I'm lucky they can find the beer I'm looking for -- in crossover with the pronunciation thread, don't ever pronounce a German beer properly, none of the stockers will know what you're asking for.

 

The rock is an american classic, especially ice cold in a pony bottle. The only two beers I routinely get skunked tastes from are Corona and Heineken. At least lime can fix corona haha.

 

Dale, neither have I and I have consumed many bottles of Rolling Rock 'back in the day'. I guess we were just lucky here?

I use Rolling Rock returnable bottles for my homebrewing as you can see in the photograph below.

Cheers!

 

It can depend on the place, honestly, but many distributors will, or place a special order for you and hold it aside. It's a minimal effort for a guaranteed sale.