Expert: Spencer W Thomas - 6/9/2011

Question
Hello. I've recently discovered my love for beer (or at least, specific ones) and was hoping you could answer some questions for me, or possibly help me gain more knowledge about this wonderful beverage. I'm trying to find my 'style' of beer (if it could be classified in any label).

Firstly, I should say, I tend to be particular about foods that I like, (some call it picky) and have always been sensitive to taste and smell. I love foods and beverages full and rich in flavor, but not bitter. I can't stand bitter tastes in the least. The same goes for beer. Though I haven't tried that many types of beer yet, I do like to keep it around a lot and it's difficult to decide what to buy when I'm so unsure what I will or won't like. Forgive me if anything I say sounds foolish, I'm still a novice.

I'm from the US, and beers like Budweiser reign supreme. Although very drinkable, I find Budweiser ridiculously dull, like malt flavored club soda. Of the beers I have tried, I love Spaten and Heineken. Spaten Optimator is wonderful, I don't think I could drink it all the time. The same goes for Murphy's Irish Stout, which was actually more rich, to me. I'm looking for more types of beer that are somewhere in between. I think if Spaten or Heineken had more complexity (but without more bitterness), they would be amazing - More suited to having more often as opposed to very rich tasting beers. Though my tastes could change and I may find at one point I like the richer ones more often. Now that summer is approaching I'm into a lighter flavor. However, 'Light' for me always has strong notes of complexity.

Thanks for reading and I appreciate your advice.

Answer
Both Spaten Pils and Heineken are in the broad class of "Continental Pilsners" (to distinguish them from beers such a Budweiser that also call themselves Pilsners). Other examples of beers in this general style are

Victory Prima Pils, Bitburger, Warsteiner, Trumer Pils, Old Dominion Tupper’s Hop Pocket Pils, König Pilsener, Jever Pils, Left Hand Polestar Pilsner, Holsten Pils, Spaten Pils, Brooklyn Pilsner, Pilsner Urquell, Krušovice Imperial 12°, Budweiser Budvar (Czechvar in the US), Czech Rebel, Staropramen, Gambrinus Pilsner, Zlaty Bazant Golden Pheasant, Dock Street Bohemian Pilsner

Some of these will be significantly more bitter than your two examples, however. I know that both Victory Prima Pils (from Pennsylvania) and Jever Pils (from Germany) are quite bitter. The IBU (International Bittering Units) number is a measure of bitterness in beer. Heineken has 23 IBUs, so if you can find the IBU number for a beer you're considering, you can be at least forwarned about its bitterness.

Complexity in a Pilsner beer can come from two sources: the malt and the hops. Different blends of malt can lend a lighter or richer palate, usually but not always corresponding to color -- lighter color means lighter malt flavors and darker color means richer malt flavors, in general. Hops contribute bitterness, but can also add spicy, fruity, piney, and floral notes that can add complexity and interest to the beer flavor and aroma.

A beer you might want to try, if you can find it, is Sam Adams Noble Pils. I think it's a "seasonal" beer, but when I tried it recently, it was light with a beautiful floral aroma and very pleasant malt flavor.

In a completely different flavor direction are the German wheat beers (weizen). These light beers are not very bitter, and are fermented using a special strain of yeast that produces clove-like and fruity (particularly banana) flavors. Some of them combine the clove, banana, and wheat flavors into a fairly complex taste experience. Be aware that some US brewers are making beers that they put the "weizen" label on, but are not using the special yeast to give the flavors typical of a German weizen beer. Some examples of this style are
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, Schneider Weisse Weizenhell, Paulaner Hefe-Weizen, Hacker-Pschorr Weisse, Plank Bavarian Hefeweizen, Ayinger Bräu Weisse, Ettaler Weissbier Hell, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Andechser Weissbier Hefetrüb, Kapuziner Weissbier, Erdinger Weissbier, Penn Weizen, Barrelhouse Hocking Hills HefeWeizen, Eisenbahn Weizenbier

Happy drinking!