Bitburger Premium Pils - Bitburger Brauerei

jujubeast6000

Texas

1.55/5  rDev -55.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Reviewed 12/4/2005 (12oz bottle from 24 variety pack):

Pours a fizzy pale yellow colored body. Has a malty aroma. A dry dusty taste, with a bitter aftertaste. Watery, and grainy. Similar to the domestic fizzy yellow in appearance, aroma, taste. Not good.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2008 04:28:33 | More by jujubeast6000

decom

Brazil

1.63/5  rDev -53.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

looks like an average german pilsener. smells like an average german pilsener. The bad news is that it doesn't taste like one.

Mouthfeel is just terrible, and combined with the taste, made me want to spit it out. And couldn't even finish a whole glass (and it was a small glass).

The marketing hype said a lot about this beer (I had it at a local beer festival), but it didn't quite live up to the expectations. It was said that this beer is really popular in Germany. I found it hard to believe.

Maybe it should've been at a lower temperature or something, but this beer just didn't do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2006 00:27:45 | More by decom

Carlton1964

New York

1.69/5  rDev -51.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.25

Sludge is the first word that comes to mind...swill is a close second. Almost no head, no lacing, a horrible stale taste that lingered in my mouth followed my trauma of drinking this stuff. Hard to believe this is made in Germany. I will note...Born on date on bottle says it was made 7 months ago. Not sure if this made it worse, but it sure didn't get better with age.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 02:59:15 | More by Carlton1964

simonjohansson

Sweden

1.93/5  rDev -44.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Smell: malt (white bread, hay) slightly earthy hops, some citrus. Taste: watery sweet malt and almost no bitterness from the hops.
The taste is just too thin, and without the hops, the malt is too sweet.

I like german pilsner - this was, however, a disappointment. It is in no way near Jever, for example. It needs more hops.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2008 02:17:22 | More by simonjohansson

GClarkage

California

2.03/5  rDev -41.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Had this beer on tap at the Toronado in September of 2004. Well, I was expecting a clone of Radenberger, but this fell far shot of it. I may need to re-review this one because I had it immediately after a flemish sour beer. Maybe my taste buds were shot at this point. Anyway, it was a very pale yellow color, left little or no head and next to no lace. Smelled very outdoorsy, like grass or maybe hay or something. Extremely light on the carbonation. It felt like I was drinking a cask conditioned beer, but it wasn't. Very flat and watery with very little aftertaste. Very disappointed in this one. Could have been a bad sample or my taste buds though. May try again sometime.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2004 23:39:25 | More by GClarkage

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

2.05/5  rDev -41.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I just do not understand why the German public like this beer so much, they can't get enough of it.

OK. It looks like a beer, is crisp and keeps its head for a while, but for me it is tasteless apart from a slight dryness in the mouth.

When in Germany (I go maybe 3 times a year), I walk away if the bar only sells Bitburger. In the UK, Adnams Brewery of Southwold distribute and sell it draught in most of their pubs, but who would drink Pils if Real Ale was on offer?

Years ago I visited the brewery and drank all over the town (of Bitburger) afterwards, still couldn't force myself to really enjoy it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2006 21:06:15 | More by BlackHaddock

flaminghomer

Indiana

2.1/5  rDev -39.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

i bought a twelve pack of this beer today because it was only 10 bucks and i wanted the bottle for my collection.

i had two guests over today.

guest number one (a young college student) usually drinks bud light and coors light. i offered her one, she accepted and enjoyed it.

guest two usually drinks michalob ultra, coors light, or busch light. since this is my girlfriends dad he knows about my passion for quality beer so i'll often encourage him to sample what i am drinking. he rarely enjoys any of them and most of the time makes a look of disgust after the first sip. he drank two bitburgers in about a half hour without one little peep about the taste. i noticed these reactions before i had the opportunity to sample this beer myself.

later in the evening, after the music was turned down and the midnight snacks were partaken of, i tried one.

they were right, this beer sucks


over a year later i have grown to like this beer alot. it is a great beer for the money.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2003 07:55:04 | More by flaminghomer

nem2006

Tennessee

2.1/5  rDev -39.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

The beer poured a pale yellow with a small white head that faded quickly, but maintained good carbonation in the glass.

The smell was an extremely strong skunky smell. I thought it would go away as the beer warmed but even after it came to room temperature, it still smelled of skunk. Somewhere in there I smelled hay or grass.

Not much flavor at the start, a bitter finish and even a little skunk at the end.

I was really disappointed with how skunky this was, it may have been one of the worst ones I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2008 21:48:44 | More by nem2006

brdc

Wisconsin

2.15/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

I don't know, I just did not see/feel what some other reviewers did...
First, the appearance: very light yellow with almost no head, and whatever was there disappeared in less than one minute leaving minimal lacing. I thought my glass looked very "ugly" with it.
Smells of nothing, with maybe some hops and alcohol, but the taste is equally not there.
Thin on the palate, feels like a light beer, and of course is easy to drink but really no pleasure.
Not having any more of this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2007 22:35:55 | More by brdc

harrymel

Washington

2.15/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Reviewed from notes on 07/06/10

Poured from bottle to pint

A: Pours with low/no visible carbonation. No head.

S: Smells mostly of yeasty bread. Maybe a hint of peppercorn.

T: Sweet bread with a bitter, resiny finish.

M: Low carb. Lighter body, falls quickly down throat.

D: Not impressed, a little too yeast dominant.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 10:19:37 | More by harrymel

hustlesworth

Ohio

2.17/5  rDev -37.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

A- super clear goldenrod yellow, rising bubbles of various size, and a short lived fizzy white head.

S- a definite cannabis skunkiness underlaid by pale malt sweetness. and some apple, pear, and white grape. whether the reefer flavor is hop funk or what, i can't say, but it seems to complement the pleasant orchard fruit aromas.

T- taste does not play out the same way, as a completely generic and somewhat metallic flavor washed over my palate. pale and raw grains, stale spice cabinet, old dried out lemon, dried pasta, grass clippings, and cardboard. a tangy bit of hops and yeast pop in mid way easing out to a bland but clean apple peel finish.

MF- standard light, overly fizzy, watery with some refreshing properties, but mostly disappointing and uninviting.

D- perhaps this would be better mid-summer, but aside from the decent aroma, right now it seems like a pale euro-lager lacking the character of a good german pils.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2008 14:12:49 | More by hustlesworth

jaimenavarrog

Mexico

2.2/5  rDev -36.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

Color amarillo brillante
Espuma blanca
Dura muy poco
Sin mucho aroma
Aroma nada espectacular
Medio cuerpo
Sin final
Didn't like it very much is just One more of bunch out there
Is a beach Beer for me, i like beers with more body and more smell
Clear yellow color
Foam dosn't last much

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 01:35:15 | More by jaimenavarrog

Shiloh

Ontario (Canada)

2.23/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Nice golden colour and bitter. After taste lingers, limited head that quickly disapates and is to lightly carbonated. Not an impressive brew from Germany. The international container was the most interesting thing about this product.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2002 16:36:41 | More by Shiloh

Padron4KM

Arizona

2.23/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

16.9 oz bottle, no freshness date noted.<br>
Clear golden, fluffy white head that disappears rather quickly. <br>
aroma is a little biscut, a little flowery with a touch of skunk piss creeping in.
Sweet, malty, doughy flavors with a clean dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2006 07:17:36 | More by Padron4KM

mtnbikerpa

Pennsylvania

2.23/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured from a 16.9 ounce can into my oversized snifter. Pale yellow color with about an inch of head that soon disappeared into a whispy film on the beer. No real scents other than some cut grass or hay. Nothing outstanding in the flavor, some straw or hay flavor. I think this beer is over hyped as Germany No. 1 beer. I guess I am not impressed. One can is enough for me.

Serving type: can

08-20-2010 01:41:32 | More by mtnbikerpa

CrescentFresh

Texas

2.28/5  rDev -34.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Wow. This beer was highly recommended to me by a full-fledged German at work (who got deported 2 weeks ago...Visa issues). I think I must have gotten some from a bad batch. Smell was OK, which caused me to look forward to the first swig. Taste was strong, but resembled my last bacteria-infected batch of homebrew. I did not like it. It was almost chewy, like it had some bread in it, and this just didn't feel right to me. I could not finish a whole beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2004 04:47:58 | More by CrescentFresh

pijiu

Illinois

2.28/5  rDev -34.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A- Champagne color, thin and dissipating head.

S- Light grain smell with hint of forest leaves. Not much to the bouquet here.

T- Very light palate. In fact, it drinks like a light beer. Sour note in the middle. Taste is not complex. Hops most notable flavor.

M- Very light thin and crispy mouthfeel.

O- Easy to drink, but not too much too it. Forgettable beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 00:38:15 | More by pijiu

bark

Sweden

2.3/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

The colour is clear, pale yellow. The small white foam dissolves quickly into small, small traces of foam on the glass.

The smell is fresh, sourish and quite plain. There are some notes of diacetyl.

The carbon dioxide is medium strong with medium bubbles that vanishes away at once.

The taste develops in a few steps: Firstly, there is a small rush of yeast and diacetyl. Then, a sweet body is replaced into a well-crafted, generous bitterness.

Basically, this is a standard German pils with a little more diacetyl than expected. This special tone is dangerously close to a skunk beer, way beyond the best before date.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2004 18:31:34 | More by bark

AlexLMS

Portugal

2.3/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: clear with a very pale golden color. The head is white, medium-sized, frothy and not very persistent.
Aroma: weak and kind of grainy.
Taste: malty with a little bit of hops.
Mouthfeel: fair carbonation, low alcoholic strength and light body.
Finish: short and slightly bitter aftertaste.

Overall: Bitburger is a boring pilsener. No complexity, nothing special about the taste. It can be an acceptable place to begin a German beer try out but nothing else. Definitely not a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2007 10:30:17 | More by AlexLMS

DrinkinSurfer

California

2.3/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Straw/golden with a flimsy white head

Smell: Faint of hops

Taste: Starts smooth with malts then finishes with a light bitterness reminiscent of biting aluminum foil

Mouthfeel: Light body with a fair amount of carbonation

Drinkability: Very drinkable... if you like aluminum

I am disappointed with this beer. maybe i should have waited longer to drink this one as I had an Old Rasputin yesterday, so my taste buds might be overly harsh.

Serving type: can

04-26-2010 20:19:13 | More by DrinkinSurfer

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

2.4/5  rDev -31%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This beer pours a clear light golden color with a fluffy sticky head. A light husky grain aroma. Light and husky on the the palate with some grainy biscuitness. There is a unpleasant character toward the finish. I am not sure what it is, corn maybe skunkiness? I am not sure. The point is, I really didn't like it that much.

Serving type: can

08-19-2008 22:35:42 | More by BeardedBoffin

SteveP

United Kingdom (England)

2.48/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A lightly sweet body soon replaced by clean, crisp hops developing a dry bitterness. A classic pilsener, but its soft, laid back nature is lost on me. It's enjoyable, and the clean, crispness is pleasing... but.... a refreshing drink is all I see here.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2003 14:32:20 | More by SteveP

drinkininthewood

Ontario (Canada)

2.48/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Served from a 500ml tall can

A- clear pale gold color. Small head, some lace.

S- grainy, pilsner malts, some fruity/floral notes.

T- pilsner malt, bitter/floral hop flavor, slightly grassy, fairly bitter, grainy aftertaste.

M- very crisp clean beer. Light bodied, and the carbonation is on the low side of moderate.

D- fairly good.

Overall not the best pilsner ive tasted but its worth a try.

Serving type: can

04-26-2007 00:02:10 | More by drinkininthewood

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A nice appearance with lasting creme. Ok smell. But that's the end of this. Metalic in can taste. Strong carbonation and water. The type of beer you expect in the summer at a soccer game. Appreciation to the marketing rep who bought me a can to review in Toronro.

Serving type: can

02-01-2004 00:21:36 | More by northyorksammy

Andreji

Colombia

2.5/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

If anyone is expecting any exceptional tastes from this sort of "premium" fallacy, they've chosen the wrong beer. This one, as most of the european macro pils counterparts, follows a basic pattern of "yellow/golden translucid pour with small white head", and much of the smell and taste unamazingly are way too metallic for my belgian loving palate. This beer is, in fact, one of the strongest tasting in that domain which actually becomes repulsive. 'nuff said.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2004 10:58:27 | More by Andreji