Here is another classic German pilsner but with a twist, the price! Fully imported from the Oettinger group of breweries in
At first glance all signs point to the fact this is a budget beer, the bottle labels are bland, the bottle cap has no markings, and the ‘carton’ isn’t really a carton but four 6-packs shrink wrapped together, but for $29.90 a carton who really cares. Fist appearances aside this beer has a dry bitter taste. The hops bitterness is not overpowering in any way but makes itself noticed. Much like other pilsners it has a sweet aroma and a pale yellow appearance.
Oettinger Pils is an above average cheap beer. If you’re after an inexpensive night of drinking and one that won’t leave you with a throbbing head the morning after you should give this understated beer a go.
BeerAdvice rating (out of five):
March 19th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
no way, this is the only beer i can honestly say i dont like at all. it was terrible.
March 19th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Pat that’s a fair enough comment, but can you elaborate a little more?
Was it to bitter for you?
March 25th, 2008 at 1:01 am
It is of course a German beer and tastes accordingly. If you like those ice cold nothing tasting beers like say, Swan Gold or XXXX Light, then this is not for you.
I agree it’s not Germany’s best but for that price I don’t complain.
March 28th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
I’ve come to love it and agree with Hans, it beats any of the crap commercial Australian beers that we’re getting ripped of by. Word of caution though, the bottles are fairly loose in their six pack and easily fall out just as your getting them into the fridge!
April 6th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
I agree with Adrian about the flavour and particularly about the loose packaging (though, perhaps I was just lucky, but the bottles seem fairly robust; I dropped a couple from freezer height (emergency chilling), and they didn’t break).
Must say I’m feeling a little guilty about the beer miles, though…
April 15th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Tastes great, simple packaging that does the job and is far cheaper than the locally brewed beers here.
It seems a little low on the alcohol volume….I know that the 330ml bottles say 4.7% alc vol but I find this hard to believe. I did an experiment and after sinking 14 of these beers last night, I didn’t feel very intoxicated at all. They taste like a full strength German pilsner though.
Anyone else find they are not affected as much by the alcohol content of these beers compared to other beers?
April 18th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I’m planning on drinking 18 of these tomorrow so will let you know how my experiment goes Sam.
Urdie Gurdie
JR
April 19th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Bought two at the local Woollies and impressed. Was expecting crap for the price. Strong germanaic beer flavour I like in small doses - two stubbies enough for my session, but easy drinking. Use by date 22.10.08 so okay though the Woollies storage condition (on pallet that gets full morning sun leaves a bit to be desired). Overall, acceptable drinking at a fair price.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Drinking them right now.
Why drink fourex gold at the same price? I’d rather drink battery acid than fourex gold (or other terrible domestic beers).
This is my second carton of “Oettinger”, and I have another to go.
Just for thought.. if it costs $30 a carton landed here, is it $20 a carton in Germany?
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:01 am
this is not one of germany’s best by any stretch of the imagination. Beck’s , selling at twice the price is certainly not considered as a ‘premium’in deutchesland but sells much better. Dont know why. Marketing has a lot to do with this, cant recall the last oettinger add on foxtel.
If you want a top beer, try Warsteiner. Its not cheap, but smooth, you will not get a better exported bottled beer from germany.
I have extensive knowledge of widely known popular beers and am a true taster. I must state that you cannot beat a locally brewed german house beer that is brewed on site. Takes time to pour but you can always order 3 or 4.
Nutshell, at $30 bucks, this aint a bad drop
May 17th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
I like this beer. It is a very pleasant beer for the Australian climate. Good for a quaff with a pleasant dry residual palate. Goes well with a good variety of foods as well. Also well priced now (in AU) . I have sampled many other German beers and this one rates well. Frankly - just about any German beer rates better than most Australian beers.
Thumbs up on this one !!
May 30th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
It’s Friday night and I’ve just got home after purchasing a carton of this beer. Already on my second so it can’t be too bad. I agree with some of the previous comments; while this beer aint no Heinekan it’s good value for $30. It’s nice n dry on the palate and very German in flavour…it’s definitely got character unlike many Aussie beers…..it will do nicely while I’m in between home brews!
June 1st, 2008 at 9:19 pm
i agree with sam (not me the other one) the alcohol percentage is not quite right .. good beer for the price its got a small fan club in the snowys and its growing
June 8th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
This beer is shit. Only half a mug out of five for this poor attempt by hitlers crazy ancestors.
June 9th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
#14
racist prick. hitler was austrian incidentally.
good beer and a good price.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I’m a big fan. For as long as this remains $30 I’m sold. Out of the 4 cheap imports (Coles - Hollandia/Bavaria Woolworths - Amsterdam/Oettinger) I prefer this one.. crisp full taste.
Good point though re: alcohol content. It certainly doesn’t have the punch that 4.7% would suggest.
Another thing, I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s dropped bottles.. I thought I was just a butterfingers (doing the freezer quick-chill)..
June 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Here in tassie this beer seems to go for $40 to $50 a carton. Mind you, we also dont have alcohol for sale in our supermarkets like they do on the mainland.
Like most I think this ia a good cheap German beer, and will be a semi-regular purchase. It will also feature along with 10+ other German beers at my Oktoberfest birthday party this weekend
June 18th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
… oh and in regards to the packaging. Yes I also had problems! After i got a 6 pack from the bottle-o fridge a few fell out and hit the ground while i was headed to the counter. Fun fun.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Fantastic value here in North Queensland, far better than any Australian beer at anywhere near the price, only my home brew is better value and taste!!
How do they import it for the money? Hope it lasts at the amazing price of 29.99 a slab.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
excellent value. i tried this initially after thinking “hrmm, german, cheap, can’t be THAT bad” and was very pleasantly surprised.
i just hate the whole issue of having one or two of these then heading out to places riddled with nothing but carlton draught in warm, soapy glasses. UGH. now that causes a nasty hangover….
July 8th, 2008 at 4:40 am
I have been reading all the comments. I lived in southern Germany from 2001 until April 2006. I have drank a lot of different German beers. I find the taste of Ottengier Pils to have a great taste and the price is unbelieveable. I believe that the marketing is not letting this beer be known. Keep it simple and keep it cheap. I need to know if this beer can be shipped to the United States. If someone could e-mail the distributors address or the retail sales address I would certainly appreciate it. Thanks.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
A different taste and is great with a pie and chips. Is a mood beer but at the price i bought two cartons at the same price i pay for one carton.
cheers
July 15th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I loved this beer and cannot believe the price. I am a fan of all German beers, and other European beers like Pilsner Urquell, and I must say that Oettinger punches way above its weight.
July 16th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I like that Oettinger Pils too. I wish Oettinger Export would be available in Australia too simply I love it more!!! And if the carton would cost in Australia half as much, well it would still be more expencive than in Germany!!!
August 1st, 2008 at 1:24 am
Well, came across this little beut by pure accident in the Aldi supermarket here in wet ole Wales U.K.
Purchased a six 500ml pack of cans for the sum of £4.29p
that works out at just over 71pence per tinny.
Tastes a lot better than Becks (dogs breath beer) and doesn’t give you gut rot the morning after drinking it
Just like you guys n shelias over in Aus, we appreciate a good cheap un also
Happy slurpin to all
August 19th, 2008 at 1:41 am
all i want to say about is. buy it! it is really high quality german beer for less than 5,49 for 24 bottles! and also much better then any other budget beers.
August 24th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Normally a stalwart purchaser of NZ’s finest - Steinlager (sorry - but I like it), but when the rates notice came in there wa a discount coupon for Oettinger Pils from the local BWS. They even let me taste it before I bought a slab - I was very impressed.
I’m a convert.
Just as good as the Steinies but @ 2/3rd’s the price & like NZ’s finest, it doesn’t come with all the hangover crap they insist in putting in Australian poor mans piss such as VB, NEW, etc, etc, etc.
God love the German Purity laws!
August 26th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
I saw the brew today at woolies and it was a real import. Had to look at it twice for I couldn’t believe the price tag.
As I didn’t know the brand I googled it and thus found this webpage - two tumbs up!
Anyway, I’ll go back after work and get me a box (hopefully without dropping a bottle).
September 2nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I got a case of this becasue of the price and being German thought it would be ok. It’s ok but i’d not get it again. The bitter taste seems nice at first but becomes cheapish tasting quickly. I’d honestly spend 10 bucks more and get more enjoyment ( after all a case can last a few days). Does not seem to get you drunk at all like others of the same percentage. If your really broke try it , you’ll be able to drink a case but i won’t get it again. I prefer the amsterdam beer for same price but thats my taste preference. Again it a cheapish tasting beer that gets dull quicky!!!
September 15th, 2008 at 2:24 am
Here in Yorkshire, Uk. Found this today in a branch of Aldi for £4.20 for 6 cans (500ML), thats about AU$9.40 according to some website.
Like most German offerings it tastes better than my local (British) offerings for the same price. Basically its a good quality german beer which to beat the quality you would have to pay more.
There are better German beers out there but you will pay more.
Take it for what it is.
I for one will be buying again.
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:22 am
Read most of the comments and true, it’s not Warsteiner. But it’s not Witte Raaf either. The best beer in Europe or I’m a Dutchman. However for $31 a carton I dropped the becks (brewed in Melbourne under license!!) and blew out my carbon footprint. I’ll let you know how I go. On the first and it tastes pretty good. Prost!
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 am
Unlike Becks,Carlsberg & Stella, this little champion is brewed on the continent.
At $30 a box its outstanding value. Paulaner & Spaten are better, but so much more expensive & thats if you can find them.
This has been my regular brew for almost 12 months now. The upside is I’m not only saving money by not drinking that sour muck which is served on tap in pubs, but I’m hangover free.
Win win. And win again.
It may not stay this way forever. Going back 5-6 years, Amstel was Woolies budget import. You could pick up a box for arond $25. Now thats close to what you’ll pay for 6.
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:25 am
First tried this beer in Switzerland for .80c last year. Loved it then and was stoked to see it being sold here. While it is not as good as other german beers, a bad german beer is superior to good aussie beers.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Noticed this was only $30 a case at Dan Murphys so picked up a single for $1.90 to sample, man I am impressed, I was kind of expecting something cheap and nasty like Amsterdam Mariner, but this is almost as good as DAB. I usually buy cartons of coopers green or microbrew like Grand Ridge or 3Ravens but I think this will be a good “tightass” brew for a long hot summer of heavy drinkin.
George G: I remember when Safeway Liquor in Vic had Amstel for $25.99 a carton, good times, good times!
November 25th, 2008 at 12:23 am
Come on people. Anybody who says this is a shitty beer is a retard. It’s the best beer I have tasted for the price.
I’ve been living in Germany for 2 months now, engaging in an orgy of beer drinking. I’ve had some feckin amazing beers. Oettinger is certainly not the best, but it is damned good and exceptionally so for the price.
I can buy an Oettinger Bock (1/2 liter bottle, 16.9 ounces) for .49 euro cents, and most of the other varieties (about 7 or 8 total) for .35 to .39. I WISH that such good beer was available in the USA for such a price.
Damn! In the US, even the crappy domestics are going for $6.50 to 7.50 a 6-pack (12 ounce cans). The nice micro-brew beers run between $7 & 12.50, depending on the company and the sale at the supermarket.
Without a doubt, Oettinger beers are the best deal in the world.
November 30th, 2008 at 4:21 am
I’d say the initial review stands!
I’m an American who has been working over in Dusseldorf for a few months now and I’ve also had some amazing Alts, Pils and Weissbiers.
I picked up some Oettinger and few weeks back when I got together with some co-workers to play some poker. Since drinking beer was second priority to poker (the only thing it could be second priority to) I decided to save a few Euros and buy some different types of Oettinger. Each one I purchased was between 0.35 and 0.45 Euro for a 1/2 Liter bottle. I enjoyed every type I tried! Was it the best beer I ever tasted, no. But for the price it was very tasty and has become a staple of my drinking whenever I’m not drinking in the bars and pubs.
Cheers!
December 30th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Only ever tried 1, loved it, off to try and find some for new years eve.
December 31st, 2008 at 9:07 am
This is a very fine pils lager, it is not Urquell or anything near the best polish or other Czech beers, but it is a fine substitute and has no call to hang its head in shame in any beer garden anywhere in the world, and for the price! it is the best value pils lager available by a very long shot.
Those who have rubbished this beer, simply do not like the traditional hops taste associated with Pilsner, this is easily understood, we drink what suits our taste.