Heineken vs Becks

While driving to camping trips in your beautiful state, my friends and I might pass a freshly squashed polecat and they would exclaim, "Who opened a Grolsch?!"

It's not just badly handled Heineken that can induce PTSD. And for what it's worth, I haven't had a skunked Heineken since they started canning. The fresh stuff has really good malt character. The not-so-fresh stuff is just bland. Very much like I find Stella.

 

As mentioned previously, I'd bet a blind side-by of these beers (sans current Beck's) would be very revealing. The Carlsberg might stand out a little, but not by much.

 

Understood.

Carlsberg is my old standby.

 

i agree that becks is quite dry, and also hard to find fresh in most of germany. Jever is more bitter and malty, however few people like that north sea coast-german pilsner style. And we who do like that, will pay the premium to get Flensburger or Störtebeker Pilsner for about 20€ a case instead of Jever or Becks for 15€; although i think these beers really only sell on offer for 9.99€. they are on offer all the time!

 

No, but I did try a few other pale Lagers

Heineken was okay, Sapporo was pretty good, Stella was probably my favorite out of pale macro lagers, and Peroni Nazuro was atrocious

 

Out of these, either Stella or Carlsberg

 

i‘ve read on wikipedia that becks was brewed for export only after the war, and was later introduced to the german states as an export-quality specialty. (that would correlate with the boom of export-style beers, slightly heartier pilsners). to this day, the german becks label states that it is exported to new york, although this is apparently no longer correct!

 

I am unfamiliar with beer retail practices in Germany.

In the US, sometimes retailers will discount beers when they approach (or exceed) there best by dates. As one point of example, I was initially quite excited when I walked into my local Retail Beer Distributor store and saw a stack of Flensburger Pilsener beers with a piece of paper advertising a very economical price. When I picked up the four-pack of cans and saw that these beers were several months past their best by date my hopes were dashed.

Do German beer retailers typically discount (e.g., 9.99€ a crate) when the product is nearing the best by date? Or is discounting done regardless of the freshness aspect?

Prost!

 

Are you drinking the "Danish Pilsner," or the original, Euro Lager they brew? 'Cause I really don't know what a Danish Pilsner should taste like.

I see it's listed as a German Pilsner here on BA, but the one I'm drinking this afternoon doesn't taste anything like a German Pils.

 

Danish Pilsner.

I don’t know what it’s “supposed to” taste like. All I know is I like it, especially when I don’t know what other beer to drink.

But to be a bit more specific, while it doesn’t have a prominent malt or hops signature, it does have a character I find comforting. Kind of balanced between a bit of malt, a bit of hops, and a tiny bit sour. It all combines to be refreshing to me.

I don’t really care what type it is because it’s MY type.

 

I'm glad you said it, because this is the character I couldn't quite get past. And I really don't taste much hop character in the beer.

FWIW -- and I understand this could be lost on you because you seem adverse to hops, but a well-brewed German Pilsner should have a prominent noble hop flavor and bitterness. Neither of which is I found in the Carlsberg.

But what I really want to research, before I review the beer, is any sort of history on "Danish Pilsner" so I can tell if this beer is meant to taste like it does, or if it's just some odd take on beer in its native land.

 

This.

However, I reviewed the original label a few years ago and found it pretty drinkable as a malty lager. The can I tried this afternoon was pretty lackluster all around.

 

Nope. Even though I was skeptical because you can't see the date through the Carlsberg packaging, best by August 2026. Not bad by my standards.

FWIW -- no "Danish Pilsner" listed on the Carlsberg website. Just a Euro Pale Lager. Hello marketing team.

 

Yeah, I’m aware it’s a Euro Pale Lager. I like it anyway. And if I want a more malt forward alternative, I go with Okocim O.K. Beer or Carlsberg Elephant. But I’m working my way through the rest of the Euro Pale Lager list. Samuel Smith is next.

When I buy a 12 pack of cans, I can see the date through the clear-ish bottom of the shrink wrap. If it’s bottles, I can check the necks of the six packs.

As for more hop forward pilsners, I didn’t like Ayinger or Tannanzapfel. If these are milder options, I don’t see any point of trying others.

 

I was going to suggest you give Warsteiner Pilsner a try since that beer is ‘light’ on the hops but I read your review of this beer: “This must be what German macrobrews taste like. I'd rather have something else.”

So….

 

Couldn't on the 4-pack cans, but no matter. As mentioned, gambled and won -- at least with freshness.

As to any point with trying other beers, I guess you gotta be you, but I really like a variety in the styles of beer I enjoy -- even when it comes to a well-made Euro Lager when I can find one.

 

Oh, I enjoy variety. I primarily visit local breweries for that.

When it comes to home consumption, I go a bit slower because I don’t want a stockpile of beer I’m not going to drink. I really should start looking at singles; yeah the unit price is higher, but one is cheaper than a 4- or 6-pack.

Trying to tell people why I like Carlsberg is like describing my favorite pair of shoes - the default descriptor tends to be some form of “comfortable.”