Warsteiner Premium Verum

Brewed by Warsteiner Brauerei
Style: Classic German Pilsener
Warstein, Germany

Clear yellow, a small loosely packed head fades to a sliver of foam, forced to the sides by an unnatural amount of carbonation screaming to the surface in apparent desperation. Desperation from what is yet to be determined. No lace appears after a couple vigorous swirls. Instead, I am met by lemon crème, wonderbread, and soft grains blanched from the sun, resembling the softness of mulled oats. A decent start. And the beer itself? A softer mouthfeel than I was expecting, though it still suffers from thinness and over-carbonation. I’m drinking a beer, not a soda pop, and yet quite a few breweries mistakenly believe that more carbonation is a positive contribution to beer. Initially dry and grassy, waxy bitter lemon skin starts to taint the top of my tongue. There is little finish to speak of, though some dinner rolls and white bread gives a bit of meat to her thin, carbonated body. Is that some stale bread long-forgotten sitting forlorn in the back? A few more quaffs, and I am more than done.

Not nearly as bad as I feared, but she was definitely not as good as I remembered her tasting. Has the recipe changed any in the years since I first tried the Warsteiner Premium Verum? Possibly, but not necessarily. What has changed though is my knowledge and understanding of real beer which in turn has broadened my appreciative palate as to what real beer tastes like. Skip the Warsteiner and grab a real German lager, instead.

Taste is reminiscent of a backyard party at someone else’s house where you weren’t smart enough to bring your own beer and had to drink what they had in a keg on the back porch. But then I think that of pilseners in general, so don’t take my word for it.

A: Poured an extremely clear, bright golden yellow color, with a large, foamy white head that dissipated quite quickly to a thin film. S: Smells very lightly of herbal notes, and maybe a little corn in there as well? T: Very crisp and very clean; finishes slightly bitter. Seems again like there’s some cooked corn or something in there. M: Light-bodied and thin-textured, with average carbonation. Overall, a very drinkable pilsner... not exactly overflowing with flavor, but one of those beers that is just right for quaffing a few out on a hot deck (which is exactly how I experienced it).

50 cl draft. Clear light yellow body with big fluffy white head. Flavour is malt with a little hop.

Clear golden yellow with a bright white fluffy head and decent lacing. Smells reminded me of a field of wheat or stacks of hay. Slight hops bitterness included in the taste. Crisp, refreshing, but not spectacular.

Can. Small bubbles (light carbonized). I think it’s slightly more hoppier than other pilsners i know. Refreshing.

~Pours a light clear gold with big fluffy white head that leaves lacing. ~Sour hay scent, malts and light hop spiciness. ~Light malts and spicy hops in flavor. ~Medium to light feel, frothy, enjoyable spicy hop finish. ~Nice lager. I enjoy the hops.