Tannenzäpfle - Badische Staatsbrauerei Rothaus AG

Globetrotter

Virginia

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Sighting this in a central Moscow kiosk, I was immediately brought back to my days wandering the Black Forest in search of good beers to bring back to the beer wasteland that is Switzerland. This was always one of my favorites. Purity law applies, of course. Best before 9/7/05, I eagerly opened it on 8/5/05.

Clear pale yellow gold liquid sits below a thin half finger of white foam that fades to film and collar too quickly. No contour and no lace in this head. The nose is strong of bread and grain, slightly sweet, with a touch of pin sap hinting of things to come. The mouth very well carbonated but fairly viscous, almost to the point of being sticky on the tongue. This beer hugs the mouth tight, and won't let go. The taste is a marvel. The opening is pure malt, sweet and chewy like the inside of some French bread. The finish of the first swallow maintains the maltiness, without a hint of hops. Then, long after the liquid has gone, the spicey pine bitterness of the hops starts to build. And build. And build. Finally, the hops erupt in their full bitter glory, surrounding the mouth with crisp dryness, like eating a pine cone. Further sips bring back the malt, but the hops are well established now, and do not relinquish their hold. Delicious flavors blend in an orgy of sensation, leaving the ultimate aftertaste of dry, bitter satisfaction. This is no IPA - it's not that hoppy - but this is a crisp German pilsner the way they are supposed to be (just to bad about the lack of head). Why yes, I will have another, thank you!

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2005 17:43:07 | More by Globetrotter

putnam

Michigan

5/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bold yellow liquid with a whipped splatter of white foam carelessly adhering to surfaces on top. Pure, cracked, sun-toasted grain aromas provide notes of pepper and lemon to brighten an image of sticky mash. Bitterness cracks open a mouthcoating expanse of bread and yellow fruit flavor. The texture is massive for a Pils, sharpened precisely with Novocaine-flavored tiny bubbles (reminds my of Ployez-Jacquemart NV Brut.) This is powerful, ruthlessly efficient beer. There is seemingly no end to the sun-flavored, bitter finish.

If I could drink only one beer for the rest of my life, without any hesitation, this would be it.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2005 22:22:52 | More by putnam

paterlodie

Belgium

4.6/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Best before 21-06-05. Poors in with beatifull white head and wonderfull golden beercolor. Head stays very well but bubbles get bigger.
Nose is wonderfull too: good hopnose, quiet estery for a botom fermented beer and litle malty in background. Taste is great too being dry malty and going into a fresh aftertaste thats bitter but very clean. Mouthfeel is very good if you know to appriciate the bitterness. Loved this one when I was living in Bavaria beginning of the 90ies and still do so drinkability for me is as good as any brew can get.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2005 11:31:11 | More by paterlodie

stcules

Italy

2.6/5  rDev -37.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Straw-colored, with a white, average head. It seems a bit too carbonated in the appearance.
The smell is a light malt, and a even lighter hop, very light.
The taste is a bit more resolute. A quite definite malt, and a more definite perception of the bitterness.
Medium-light-light body. In the aftertaste the hop is quite definite. And the bitterness is quite longstanding.
Drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2005 19:54:09 | More by stcules

Bourre

France

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A very light golden transparent color; the head quicly fades into a nice collar. The smell was citric and hoppy. The taste is mostly hoppy, and slightly citric with a hint of honey.Hops are very powerful. A very round mouthfeel, with a dry aftertaste. Drinkable, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2004 21:09:19 | More by Bourre

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was one of the better beers I had when visiting my cousin. He made a run to the beer store when he hear I 'reviewed' beers. It was only O.59 Euros per bottle. Pour was a light golden yellow. I ended up with a small, low white head. I didn't note the aroma, but the taste was like a piece of vollkornbrot, so you know it was nice rich and bready. It had a good mouthfeel with slightly prickly carbonation, so this beer was pretty decent. Did have hop extracts.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2004 12:28:08 | More by PatandDavid

francisweizen

Australia

4.68/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is one of the best pilesners I have ever tasted! It is a very light golden colour with a fluffy white head of foam. The aromas are all fresh pilsener malt, and fresh floral hops. The taste follows suit with lovely floral hops and great german malts. The mouthfeel is light bodied and this stuff is damn easy to drink, which makes the drinkability excellent as well.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2003 03:31:35 | More by francisweizen

Ueberales

Tennessee

5/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Perhaps the best pils I have ever had. It pours an incredibly pale yellow, and is as clear and bright of a beer you are ever going to see. Nice stable head, and a beautiful floral nose. The taste is fabulous - very crisp hop bite, but definitely not overpowering. Each one you have begs for another.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2003 19:18:55 | More by Ueberales