Lagerboy Speaks – Jever Pilsener

“Wie das land, so das Jever” is the motto of Lagerboy’s latest tempter – Jever Pilsener (4.9%). Being an internationally renowned lager expect and contributor to ‘What Shandy?’ magazine, he has to know a smattering of German to get by (not to mention Czech, Polish, Dutch, American). Loosely translated as something along the lines of ‘The Beer Like the Land’, Jever hails from the northern German principality of Friesland in Lower Saxony. As their official website reveals, Friesland’s soft water means they can add more hops into their beer, to give a slightly more bitter flavour than other pilseners – although that could just be ‘das marketing spiel’.

The “Friesische Brauhaus zu Jever” was founded by Diedrich König in 1848, yet it wasn’t until 1934 that their main product was christened after the town itself. Another of their slogans is ‘Friesisch Herb’, which translates as ‘Frisian Herb’ – possibly an indication of something else added to the beer. It pours a perfectly clear golden colour with a pillowy white head – it’s extremely carbonated and pulses with bubbles. The smell is crisp and hoppy, which comes through on the taste. It really is bitter – not Imperial IPA bitter, but bitter for a pilsener – and maybe there is something else in the taste. It could be wishful thinking given the suggested hint of herbs on the label, though. The extra zappy influences of the hops and mystery yes/no herbs lift Jever Pilsener above many of the others on the market, it’s really drinkable indeed.

Jever Official Website