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JeverPilsenerABV 4.9% • Vol 500 ml • bottle • Germany • Mid-price • Flavour 8.5
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This is probably the most bitter of the Nothern German Pilsners and, for the beer buff, has
a respectable 44 IBUs (International Bitterness Units). Review submitted by: Peter Alexander |
Review updated 04 January 2000
This is a splendidly dry pils, my favorite from Northern Germany. 'Friesisch' actually means that it is from Friesland.
Paul
The historic town of Jever is in historic Friesland, a northerly nation that
formerly spilled into what is now Germany and Denmark as well as the
Netherlands, where it gives its name to a modern province. The town's
brewery, now owned by national group Brau und Brunnen, is famous for this
intensely well-hopped and bitter beer, and various writers have pointed out
that the region is also noted for a taste of strong-flavoured alcoholic
drinks of other kinds, such as gins laced with bitter herbs. The beer,
which is a particularly clear and delicate light golden colour, instantly
announces its hoppiness with an earthy, herbal aroma that can be smelt from
some distance. It's lively and the palate very smooth but bone-dry from the
first and already full of hops: it also has a faint yeastiness (though
filtered and more than likely pasteurised) and a grapefruity citric tang.
The bitterness continues to develop in the finish but then unexpectedly
softens with a surprising shade of creaminess and a little vanilla. A very
fine beer, dry but well-balanced and essential tasting for hop heads.
Des de Moor
Hi I am from Germany and live about 40 km from Jever. I found your website because I was searching for informations about "Berliner Weisse" (even Germans have to learn about all the flavours). Now to the point: There is a big mistake in your review! "Friesisch" must be translated as "Frisian" after the German Tribe who inhabitated the North of today's Germany and the East of todays Netherlands. So this has nothing to do with fresh! Its a comment on the peoples attitude here. They are somehow...can't express it in English right...they behave like the queen and don't express their feelings. So is the beer. Bitter but honest.
Everyone should have tasted it, it's one of the best around! I live now in Düsseldorf, at the Rhine river, near to Cologne and was very suprised that I can buy it everywhere in bottles and in bars, too, because in Düsseldorf the "ALT Bier" (Diebels, Düssel Alt...) is the region's favorite.
Jan from East-Frisia
As Jan points out above, Jever is brewed at the Friesian Brewery in Jever, northern Germany. The water is drawn directly from a well on the premesis, and the same well has been used for over a century. Jever are very proud of their water, claiming that because it is so soft and pure they can add more hops to the brew...
The beer has a big bubbly head with excellent retention and lots of lace. On the nose it is very hoppy with the aroma of newly mown hay; quite powdery. In the mouth is light caramel, though it isn't sweet. There is some butter, though no honey (as found in Meister Pils). The overpowering characteristic is the all pervading grassy hops. They are very hay-ey/straw-ey. The beer isn't over lively and progresses through a bitter finish to a very bitter and hoppy aftertaste (a 'Friesian-bitter taste' according to the brewery). This is a smashing lager to keep cool with during the summer months, whether you are a hop head or not!
[Score: 7.5]
Sparks
You write as if you are unaware of the fact that the word HOPS is a singular noun, not a plural. In this it is like "alumnus", "Eaves", and "biceps". The plural of such words when they have been thoroughly Anglicised is in es, as Hopses, Eaveses. On the other hand, Alumnus still has the Latin plural form in English.
The German-Frisian writer speaks of the Frisians as a "German" tribe. This is not correct. They are like other peoples who are called German in English, A Teutonic tribe. In the "german" language, "deutsch", but in Old German, "teutsch", which is an old, common, way of spelling "teutonisch"
(Father) R, Geffen (retired Anglican priest)
All very enlightening but where can I buy it in the UK? I fell for this sublime beer when Asda stocked it. But that was years ago and I haven't been able to find it since.
If anyone knows where I can buy Jever please let me know.
Kevin from Essex.
I should have waited before posting my comments. Bottles at 349 Commercial Road, London E1 has just about every German beer you could ask for including large bottles of Jever.
Kevin from Essex
See also Bottles' website at www.onlyfinebeer.co.uk
C. Nairne
Friesisch does not mean fresh. Friesisch is being of Friesia, part of northern Germany. Gruss aus Berlin
Paul Sharp
friesisch means from friesland (area surrounding jever .... not fresh!!!
siggi.tauscher@blueyonder.co.uk
Probably the world's best standard pilsner. It's tasty with a long bitterness. If you like a bitter beer - try it!
A.D
Jever is the best beer of germany.
Heiko Harms
Must agree with A.D. My favourite German pilsener. As dry as Holt's Bitter!! Very assertive. I'd score it as a 10
Heeksy
I last tasted Jever Pilsner in about 1955 When I was in the RAF and stationed at Jever. In two and a half years I must have drunk hundreds of glasses ( at 35pf a glass). Mostly at Cafehous Rhadum near the RAF station. It was very good beer then and I am pleased to know it is still considered excellent.
rendecott@tiscali.co.uk
got to be in the top 10 of great german beers.
greg faughnan
Well done.
Very good reviews for our Beer here at our home (Jever) ;).
THX and buy it.
It´s your best taste of beer ;)
Kasperhauser
I think if you like this one you'll also like Flensburger Pils - also bitter, also fresh, and herbisch (sorry about my spelling there)
Collyn - London
A fantastic, dry, bitter pils also with a wonderful malt character hiding among all the hops (hop? hopses? hoppies?) Friesisch, from Friesland and Herb, dry, of course, but wouldn't you want your Friesisch Herb beer to be fresh? Teutonic or otherwise? :-)
Oh my, there I go starting it going again...
St. Inebrius
Simply one of the best.Classic German Pilsner! This beer is like nothing I have ever tasted.Nothing exists like it.Dry,hoppy,bitter but remarkably refreshing.I love Jever,too bad it's hard to find here in Canada.
Paul-Vancouver
I lived in Oldenburg in North Germany for three years some some 25 years ago. I can still remember the taste of this wonderful beer.
Ian in London
This beer is braw!!!!!!!!!!
Used to drink it when in serving in Germany. Only one thing pisses me off about it!!!! WHERE CAN U BUY THIS BEER IN SCOTLAND??????
HAMISH MCTAVISH, SCOTLAND
My local off licence is selling Jever at 8 bottles for £4.99. It has a cheap-looking label, but the contents are best I have tasted for a long time. Off licence is in The Square at Botley, near Southampton.
davidwmeikle@aol.com
In a recent visit to Germany I was introduced to this excellent beer in the Hamburg area. Does anyone know which U.S. distributors import Jever beer?
John- Missouri USA
Dear Rendecott@tiscali.co.uk
Glad you liked our Jever Pilsener.
You might be happy to hear that Cafehaus Rahrdum still exists and serves this fine beer. I'll drink one to your health there!
Mark C. Fischer
Great stuff indeed. Event the alcohol-free version (Jever Fun) is almost drinkable)
Beware, guys, though, those damn green bottles sometimes mean skunked beer... :o((
Laurent Mousson
Really a great beer.
One of my favourites, because the bitterness really is unique for beers of Pilsener type.
Domme
Moin! (Hi!) This is indeed the best German beer I have ever tasted. I had the pleasure of drinking it while living in Bad Zwischenahn, not far from Jever. Unfortunately, I have never been able to find it in th U.S. The closest I could find is Pilsner Urquell.
Frank Donahue
Hamish you can buy it from Macro about £10 +vat
Euan Paisley
Awesome beer. The best I've ever had. Unfortunately, I have had it over 15 years. Wish I could find it here in the states! WHERE O' WHERE!! 04/10/2004
T. L. Richmond
a good jever beer is never as dark as the beer that's shown in the picture.
my very favourite beer!!!
prost!
udo lindenberg
T.L. Richmond you can find it at Beltway Liquors Loch Raven Blvd in Baltimore. Best German Pils I've every tasted.
Len
T.L. Richmond: if you are referring to Richmond, VA, we sell Jever at Village Wine and Beer in the Village Shopping Center next to CVS.
craddydaddy
A superb beer. Dry, elegant finish. Can buy it in the USA, but they get 10 dollars a six-pack in Chicago!
doc
Moin! I had the pleasure of drinking many bottles of this beer while I visited relatives in Germany around Christmas of 2003. I live in the U.S., and am excited to see that it can be purchased here. Thanks to Klaus-Gerd, Walter, and Hilda Meyer of Achternholt for introducing me to the world's best pilsner beer!
Clint
Cedar Grove Wine and Liquor
Somerset NJ stocked this beer (along with British imports and US micros) when I was there in November 2002
Heeksy
Great Beer. I must say it taste almost as good as my all time favorite ( BUD LIGHT ) -- cheers.
Rich of New Jersey, USA
this used to be sold in marks and spencers in hereford uk. suddenly vanished. agree its a dam fine beer.
dig uk
Jever Pils is my favourite German beer. Definitely as good as any beer, anywhere!! I live in Winnipeg, Canada. Where can I buy this beer??!!
pivoth@mts.net
Peter Voth
My wife was born in Wilhelmshaven
Germany and we look forward to going ther to vist and to drink some Jever Pils. Great Beer!!
Moin Moin.
Bill Weitz Oshkosh, WI USA
I live in Idar-Oberstein Germany and I would like to find where I can buy Jever Pils down here.
Laura Tullos
I discovered Jever Pils when I lived in Germany in the mid-80s. It is a truly wonderful beer. I have tried to find a British stockist but in vain.
Michael Green
Mike,
Try www.beersofeurope.co.uk.
Look under German Beers then Other Breweries.
KingKev
I have lived in Germany and Austria and have tasted as many of their beers as possible. Jever has been my favorite for years.
Michael Schneider
This beer is one of the better German pilseners i have had, and i have had alot! i manage a beverage store with over 500 beers, so i've been around the world in our coolers. Definitely crisp and clean with good hop character, an easy session beer for sure! In Ohio i know that Jever is distributed by Cavalier Distributing out of Cincinnati.
James - Kenny Road Market, Columbus Ohio USA
this is good sh*t!
I love it, I´m gonna go and buy some bottles next week, yeah...
ozze
My wife is from Northern Germany, and we have been to Jever many times. Jever Pils is simply the best beer in the world. Where can you buy it in Chicagoland???
Ace
One of my favorite's when I was Based Germany.
Kev G
I visited the Jever brewery in 1997, wonder if Herr Gunther Gensch is still around. He's probably retired by now. He got a monthly allowance of Jever Pilsner, lucky man!
Markalex
You can add my voice to that of the other "yanks" posting here - spent several months in Germany while with the USAF from 1986 to 1988. I loved Jever, and it is something I still miss. I have yet to find it in Los Angeles where I live today. Bitter? Maybe, but a great beer none-the-less.
David A. Ryerson
I tried nearly every beer made or sold in Germany when I lived there for most of the 80s and 90s and quickly settled on pils as having the best taste. The best of the best was Jever pils. Unfortunately it is not imported into the U.S. but I have been lucky enough to get back to Germany on occasion and truly enjoy my draft Jever at the restaurants I can find that have it on tap.
Don
I also drank this beer when I lived for six months in Ost-Friesland, working on a fishing trawler during a year off from Germany. I enjoy many different kinds of beer, including pils, and the best of the pils beers in my opinion is Jever Pils. Given the number of beers that are similar to each other imported into the United States, it is a shame that this truly distinctive and excellent beer is not imported. Ganz augezeichnetes Bier!!!
Ben Walker
just recently tried (and enjoyed) jever original pilsener. found it in greenlawn NY. Imported by
Raven Import Company, Plainview, NY
theapeman
While I most often seek out other beers than pilsner, this is among my top ten. A splendid dry pilsner.
Knut Albert Solem
Is there anywere in the US that sells Jever or, preferably, Jever dark? I spent a month in Germany this past summer and Jever became my water. Now that i'm back in the States i'm dying for another taste. If anyone knows where to purchase said beer, i would be forever in your debt. Thanks!
College Guy
GIVE ME A BREAK! No, this is not a good beer. It RESEMBLES good beers in the hoppy bitterness. Which, sadly, is not supported by the good malty base that makes a real beer champion. In fact, it has no base whatsoever, and aftertaste is terribly shallow. A disappointment. Will never buy a German beer again, as they generally tend to disappoint. Even when I lived in Germany I was buying Czech beers.
PS And, yes, as said a few times before, FRIESISCH DOES NOT MEAN FRESH, at least check the dictionary before trying to appear knowledgeable!
Juraj
I lived in Wilhelmshaven for awhile in the late 1960s. The Jever Brewery made an "Export" version of their beer at that time. It was my all time favorite. Disappointed that it is no longer available.
S. E. Stamper
Jever Pils used to make me sick every Friday night back in 1957/8!
Denis Jones, ex 101SU
Densi Jones
I noticed that the taste really has changed worse in ocomparison to the 60s and 70s - it not more than a common beer - really not the best choice in Germany - i rate it 3 to 4.
Harry Haegar
I was stationed in Bremerhaven from
1976 to 1978. Jever was the choice.
Moravia Pils was another good choice for those who prefer the hoppy finish. Sure would love to find some here in California.
Stephen Raulston
I agree. My mother was born in Jever and we went there a few years ago to visit, bringing back some Jever beer with us. But we haven't been able to find any here in Wisconsin. Anybody know where it can be purchased other than Germany?
Carol Ahrens
I did a small tasting session with the local german conversation circle - this beer came out really well in the comparisons (others included Warsteiner, Spaten and Paulaner - so the competition was stiff). Well worth a try imho.
Les Robinson
While visiting friends in Northern Germany in June of 2005, I had Jever pils and was surprised at the good taste. where can I find this beer in the Cleveland, ohio area?
Don Pirc
Crisp German pils with considerable hoppy bitterness. Rerate on tap in Hamburg: Light bodied, but dominated by a distinct hoppy bitterness from start to finish. Typical Northern German pilsener style. 6/10
Sigmund
You can buy Jever in the Acme store in Montrose, next to the Barnes & Noble store Route 18, West of Akron
John
My friends and I are homebrewers in Portland OR. We have been brewing a clone of Jever Pils for several years and it is a crowd pleaser. Salud!
Ray
It's way too dry. Like drinking sand.
Will
An instant favorite of mine. I'm currently handling Jever for Raven Imports in the IL/WI area, so contact me directly for locations: ravenbeer@sbcglobal.net.
Jim
A low strength beer. Is has considerable hops but is not bitter per se. No after taste.
[Score: 9.5; Review bottle: 4.8%abv]
warren j dagenbach
"Friesisch herb" if that is what is written on the bottle means From Friesland or to Frieslandic taste, which is the state where Jever is from.
Oskar
Looking to buy for a friend this weekend. Where can I find oneast side of Cleveland, Oh. Thanks.
cy
How I miss my Jever beer. Drank it in Oldenburg in 2000, it is fantastic beer.
Allen Thompson
Anyone know of a place to get Jever near Montvale, NJ (Bergen County)?
Alec
To echo Denis Jones - Phil and myself - Mike Davis - were also 101 Sigs Unit, c. 1959. Jever Pils (cures all known ills) was such an influence we returned for a 40-year reunion to re-sample its potency. Can report it's still an experience. 'Savour the flavour of Jever' - A pils that fulfils its promise - to cure all known ills'. (Well, I actually made that up.)
Mike Davis
I grew up visitng my family home in Northern Germany. My Opa always drank Jever - that was his beer. Took me a while but eventually Jever became the meaning of beer to me. Jever is so distinctive that as several reviewers said, you can taste Jever years after last drinking it. Now, I pay insame prices to have it in the states. Nothing can compare.
Yeffrey
I just returned from Hannover and Travemünde and drank nothing but Jever. I discovered it years ago when visiting my Schwiegermutter in Königslutter.
Looking for it now in central Pa
Jim Tobias
Never been to Jever, but I'm more than familiar with its most famous export. Refreshing and super bitter, that aroma of freshly mown grass. Rocking all the way to the UK at a sometimes hefty cost. Still, it's worth it. Top marks!
Simon
Jever's great and a nice beer to intoxicate my pallet. I enjoyed many "comma funfs" during my stay in Celle '98. I'm still trying to find a distributer serving Texas, but alas to no avail thus far. I'll check out the trails above and any distributersm listening, please speak up! Prost.
Andreas Koerner, Houston, TX
Shangy's in Emmaus, Pa. always has Jever, and it's the same price as Heineken. That's a no brainer.
beer buddha
Jever bier is the best beer money can buy,I have known it for over fifty years,worked in the brewery,and if all towns in England were as pleasant to walk round as Jever,England would indeed be a green and pleasant land.
Michael Pailing
Haven't tasted this remarkable beer for almost 21 years now - and my memories of it, sitting with friends in an open-air cafe in beautiful Hamburg on a warm, summer day in July '86 - are as fresh as ever. This is simply an awesome pilsener beer! Very, VERY heavily hopped, extremely dry and remarkably refreshing. It is truly a one-of-a-kind taste. Not sure how well it "travels" (i.e. bottled-up taste) but once ever tasted on-draught, you'll never forget it, trust me. I most certainly haven't.
Tom Hodge
A fantastic, refreshing lager (even goes well with food- was paying £3.90 a bottle in Melton's 2 in York; worth every penny) with flavour yet still that refreshing pure taste you expect from German lagers. Best description I can think of is 'a beer drinker's lager.'
Tom, York
The review is bang on. If you like pils to be dry and clean, this is the one.
Rich
If you're love the stereotypical German version of Pilsner but want to push the boundaries of dryness and bitterness - this is the stuff. It livens up the taste buds no end! Wonderful stuff.
Dave Morton
hi
i found a drinking glass with the jever logo on front and on the reverse a blue shield with the words wert and phantom f4f on it the phontom drawing is in a what is best called a yellow sun with what looks similar to cogs teeth on the outside edge of the yellow sun i was wondering if any one can help with any info on the glass
phil
I lived in Aurich in the 70s and it was my favourite beer in Ost Friesland. I returned to Germany again in the spring of 2007 and tried it again (unfortuneately out of a bottle and not on tap. I prefer Fass Bier), It is still nice and hoppy but I thought a lot thinner than I recall. A wonderful beer from a country with so many wonderful beers. I do miss them so much here in Canada. Oh well I will have to stick to the Czech beer from the LCBO until I go back.
The East Prussian
One of my favourites, spent a few days in Hieligenhafen in the 80's sank gallons of the stuff, distinctive taste, normally buy some when on holiday in Spain.
Starrman
Best beer in the world. Lived in Friesland a few years ago and a trip to the Jever brewery was a regular highlight - as well as drinking it in some fantastic little bars near Eckwarden.
Neil Clough
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