Lagers: Funny how tastes change over time

While I definitely agree with that, there's just something about old Jahrhundert that is worse than most stale imports. Maybe it's because it gushes unexpectedly and pisses me off, but there's also a sour, off flavor that ruins the memory of how good the beer tastes normally.

 

You are very fortunate in this regard. The freshest I have ever found PU in my area is 3 months and yes, I bought it. More often than not it is closer to 5-6 months old and I refuse to buy those beers.

Cheers!

 

Yes, if the customers are rapidly buying what is there (i.e., quick turnover) that certainly helps things. But the even more important aspect, to my mind, is how often does the importer bring in product. For example, based upon my personal observations at my local beer retailers, Raven Brands imports Jever in a non-regular basis (maybe every 6 months?). It is more economical to make bulk buys (i.e., discounts for bulk buys) and then slowly trickle the product out over a period of time. For the case of Jever they list a 15 month best by duration so technically these beers are 'in code' for an extended period of time. Now, you and I know that a Jever that is over x months old is too old to be worthy of purchase but the majority of beer consumers will just take note of the best by date (or not even look at the back of the bottle to check the date in the first place) and buy it since it is not beyond code.

It would appear that the importer of PU is performing regular imports (every couple of months?) and your area is well served in this regard.

I am fortunate that I live in an area (Philly area) that has a robust craft beer market (I recently purchased Heady Topper and Lawson's Finest Chinooker'd IPA - both just 2-3 weeks from canning). But based upon the shit-load of old German beers around there just is not a strong demand for these sorts of beers. Perhaps because folks (like me) can purchase high quality, locally brewed & fresh beer styles like Helles, Pilsners,...

Cheers!

 

Agreed on both re-re-discovery, and how Lagers as a general class can offer the palate a break from the constant hop assault.
I'm one of those old school Lager intro drinkers who turned away from beer, came back, sought out high and higher IBUs, and I still love IPAs of any stripe. But at least once or twice a week, I take a hop shock break and dig into Lager, or a Stout, just to experience beer-flavored beer again.
But yeah, I'm still simple and will always return to cold, bitter, and hoppy - west/3rd/east coast, doesn't matter.
Cheers to beers!

 

Having been on COVID Financial Lockdown for about the past six months, it has been wonderful to re-discover inexpensive American lager beers. Lucky to live in the beer paradise of Wisconsin, I've been enjoying Leinie's original, Blatz (Regular and Light,) Old Style, and that king of nice-price 30's, Hamm's.

 

I saw some Veltins Pils that are best by September 2021. Next time I will pick some up as it seems to fly out of the door quickly.

 

I doubt the Chicago area is hurting for locally produced lagers. They've got big guys with lagers in their portfolio, respected lager specialists who've been around for a while, and trendy new beer-geek lager specialists. @FBarber

 

It takes a special brewer to craft great lagers. My local brewer, Parish, knocks everything out of the park...except their pilsner. It’s mediocre at best. I’ve always loved lagers. It’s what got me into craft, and I still gravitate to it daily.

 

Well, that would be cool!

 

I'm the opposite: started with "boring" malty styles in the middle, and later branched out from there.

I don't suppose you've tried many bocks, dunkels, schwarzbiers?

 

I'll go you one further. Like you, I've started enjoying the simple elegance of a cool lager on a hot day, especially something like Tennants, or Stiegl. But when I'm enjoying some very spicy food, I like to pair it up with a dry Asian lager like Asahi or sapporo. When eating something good and hot, those thin bodied lagers cut through the spice, giving my palate some much needed relief between spicy bites.

 

I have not, still a hop head through and through*, but I used to tend bar at a local establishment and a regular there will only drink lagers. Ayinger Oktoberfest is his favorite. He's an older gentleman who apparently loved hoppy beers at one time but essentially got palate fatigue after a while and now they turn him off. Even the softer New England styles don't do it for him.

*I also love BA Stouts and Wilds and appreciate a nice lager from time to time, just to set the record straight

 

The OP discovered something I think a lot of us were born with, and I can't account for it. Maybe it's an age thing? I'm 48 years old and have never understood the view of beer as ale vs. lager, but there are many drinkers who view beer exactly that way, and I think maybe it's because they didn't grow up drinking Lone Star or Schlitz or Hamm's.

Bottom line: If you're not drinking all of the styles lagers have to offer, you are missing out. Good on the OP for discovering that.

 

Absolutely. Everyone loves Jever, but when it’s 16 months old it just smells funny and the taste kinda follows. And they keep it on the top shelf sucking up all that UV light 24/7 and it’s warm. Ugh, I wouldn’t take it for free let alone paying for it.

 

A lot comes down to the distributor too. Just because a beer turns quickly doesn’t mean the distributor when he brings in new PU isn’t trying to slip in 4-5 month old stock too. I bet the stuff they put into Total Wine is the oldest stock they have as they have the keys to the car and stock the shelves, here at least . There’s no one there to decode beers as they’re off loaded, and TW employees usually don’t give a shit anyways. A better bet is a vigilant smaller retailers who know the ropes and is checking the stock, he knows just because it’s new off the truck it’s not necessarily fresh stock. Distributors are an evil middle man in what can be a cut throat business, and they’re certainly not our friend.

 

@sethmeister I have a similar story. Welcome to the world of lagers.

Try to find some fresh Jever. There's nothing else like it.

Lost Nation Vermont Pilsner and Zero Gravity Green State Lager are nice and probably available in NH.

 

If I could get Munich Lowenbrau now I would keep it in my fridge weekly. I cut my beer teeth on that beautiful beer. The best beer I ever had was a dark lager in a huge earthen stein deep in the Yugoslavian countryside, now Croatia. We were hiking through rugged territory and encountered a Yugoslav soldier who looked at us warily. I asked him about his navy colored beret with the red star and indicated that I would buy it. Stupid move. He said they would kill him and us. He told us they searched all luggage. He was right. He told us of the roadhouse down the railroad tracks that served that life saving dark lager. I can taste it now.....