Bitburger, Bitburger Brauerei, Germany
May 16 '01
The Bottom Line Very good German pilsner, not too hard to find and not too expensive. Lightly malty, strong dry bitter finish with hint of herbal spice. A must for any lager drinker.
Having set out last week to balance my beer collection with more lagers, I finally managed to find time for the Bitburger I picked up. I already knew of Bitburger’s reputation as one of the biggest German pilsners, and at a very reasonable six for $4.99, this was definitely going to be worth a try.
Background
Established in 1817, the Bitburger brewery is named after its hometown. The brewery became one of the first in Germany to produce a pilsner in 1884. The company quickly developed a strong brand image, and Bitburger Premium Pils is now Germany’s number one selling draft.
The Outside
Bitburger Premium Pils is served in a very professional looking bottle; it’s brown which is a nice start. The label, decorated in gold is laced with old-fashioned text, most of which is in German. I always knew my high school education would come in handy some time, although any experienced drinker would probably be able to pick out the facts: “Since 1817”, “Guaranteed best ingredients”, “According to Reinheitsgebot”. In fact you can be assured of quality with all German brews thanks to the Reinheitsgebot, the law that only permits pure ingredients. The gold foil-like neck is also very attractive, although it’s not real foil so you won’t have one of those fun-filled foil picking nights, like I always used to with my Holsten Pils.
The Inside
Fortunately there’s much more in this beer’s quality beyond the bottle. You pop off the cap and there’s a malt aroma for sure, but the dominance is the hops, which are pretty forthcoming, with slight hint of herbal spice. The pour is only lightly foamy, with a pale golden body, and white head. The carbonation is very lively, something that doesn’t diminish throughout the drink.
This beer has something of a light mouthfeel, but does tingle the tongue a little with its carbonation. If you throw it around your mouth it quickly becomes foamy. This latter experiment does do a lot to unleash the flavors. You get a little maltiness at the front, but the impressive part is in the back of the palate where the beer offers an exceptional dryness, slightly bitter in the finish. There are also further signs of the herbal spiciness in the finish, further emphasized by the lively carbonation. The aftertaste is not particularly dominating but does last for a while; you are left with a dry bitterness that slowly mellows out.
The Verdict
Overall Bitburger is very well-rounded, it’s clean character, and slight malt mix perfectly with the hoppy finish. The nice crisp, dry, bitterness encourages you to pick up the glass and take another sip. Not only is it the kind of beer that I could enjoy as a 6-pack, just one does enough to satisfy as a nightcap. In my opinion it ranks as one of the best European pilsners, and I would recommend that anyone looking for a decent lager should give it a try.
At $4.99, this beer was a pretty good deal. I can’t say I’ve seen a better lager at a cheaper price. Maybe I won’t find it at the same price again but I’d certainly pay $6 or so, knowing that I’d be getting good value for money.
You want food?
Personally I don’t like to mix beer and food too often, unless I’m drinking one of my regulars. I usually have difficulty picking out a beers character, when paired with food. This is probably the kind of beer that would work well with a spicy paella, or an Indian curry. But if you’re like me, you’d much rather put your feet up and chill out with a couple of Bitburgers.
Recommended: Yes
Rating: 4.5 Stars
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andaryl
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Member: Andrew Smith
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