Introduction to German Beer

Yeah, Pilsner Urquell uses a "Best Before" date - and they give their beer in the US a 9 month suggested shelf life. Looks like this on the top of the wrap-around carton on the 4 pack cans.

My last 4 pack of cans was dated January 2022, so the image above probably dates from Fall 2019.

 

They have a great list of German beers -- if they really carry them all (I've been burned by retailer websites before).

 

Hopefully for future purchases you will be able to find fresh(er) German brewed beers.

Cheers!

 

Well, FWIW I have poor luck when it comes to finding fresh German brewed beers as well. I have not purchased Jever in over two years since every time I see it at my local beer retailers those beers are very old (well over 6 months from bottling).

As well you should since you will never find fresh German brewed beers if you stop trying. Another FWIW - I mostly purchase craft brewed German beer styles since I can find those beers very fresh and I am fortunate that in my area many of the small, local breweries brew these beers to high quality.

Cheers!

 

And with luck and good fortune you might be able to locate some fresh brands.

Cheers!

P.S. Another option is draft. Prior to the pandemic I had a few local craft beer bars that carried German brewed beers. I would order those beers with the presumption that draft beer is maintained in a more fresh manner. They always tasted fresh to my palate.

 

That was the most recent Ayinger I tried and my goodness was that tasty. I just wish that I could find it (and most other German imports) refrigerated for freshness.

 

It's not quite as malty good as Ayinger's Pils, but Trumer is still one of the best renditions of German Pils I've found -- and probably fresh in your backyard.

 

Trumer is my go-to Pils at the moment. I find it almost white wine like and bright which is new to me for a Pils.

 

What Pilsners have you been drinking that you wouldn't consider "bright?"

Most German-style Pilsners I've had could be labeled bright, but maybe not as complex as Trumer -- and I attribute that to its freshness.

 

I'm not a brewer, so bear with me. In some ways I get Nelson Sauvin hop flavors although I know they are not being used. I really only switched from primarily ales to lagers about a year ago. SN Summertime was a Pils I have always enjoyed, FW Pivo as well although it has been years since I've had it. Other than that Pils have been German imports like Bitburger and more recently I tried Paulaner and Weihenstephan Pils but I do not think they were that fresh. Oh, and I really liked Moonlight Reality Czech but I have to order that one.

 

I went through a Pilsner Urquell faze earlier this year too. I do like it.

 

With Trumer, for me, the Saaz hops are king, but do not rule the whole beer. The malts balance the hops perfectly, but let the hops lead the way.

Some American takes on the style are just hop juice (and often not even the right hops to-style). Some German Pilsners let the hops rule too, but many others just seem thin and drab all around -- again, probably freshness and/or Pasteurization.

When Weihenstephaner Pils is fresh it has a great malt backbone without drowning the hops.

But back to Trumer, it just seems so well-rounded and still lets you know it's a Pilsner.

 

I've been burned by lists from Importers and Distributors. What? I can't order that? Take it off the list!