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Tannenzäpfle

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The brewery's pilsner has carried the Tannenzäpfle name since 1956 and is also sold simply as Rothaus Pils. It pours a bright golden yellow under a fine-bubbled white head. The nose opens with a waft of meadow herbs from Tettnang and Hallertau hops over pale summer-barley malt. On the palate a firm hop bitterness and a soft malt sweetness wind around each other, with fresh bread, cracker and a spicy, grassy hop edge before a dry, clean finish. Original gravity is 12.3 °P.

ABV
5.1%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter31 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold3
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
hoppycleanherbal
hoppy
clean
herbal
grassy
bready
spicy hop
Aroma
The nose opens with a pronounced meadow-herb character from Tettnang and Hallertau hops, lending a fresh, spicy quality to the profile.
also:malty
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Tannenzäpfle

◎ Appearance

Bright golden yellow with excellent clarity and a fine-bubbled white head that clings persistently to the glass. The carbonation is visible and lively, creating a refined visual presentation characteristic of well-crafted German pilsners. Light retention and structure indicate proper conditioning and serving technique.

bright goldenfine white headcrisp carbonationexcellent clarity

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with a pronounced meadow-herb character from Tettnang and Hallertau hops, lending a fresh, spicy quality to the profile. Underneath sits a soft, clean pale malt base with subtle notes of fresh bread and cereal grain. The overall impression is delicate yet clearly hop-forward, with an herbaceous and grassy edge that speaks to the noble hop varieties at work.

meadow herbsspicy hoppyclean maltfresh grain

◐ Taste

The palate enters with a firm hop bitterness that integrates smoothly with a soft malt sweetness, creating a balanced interplay across the mid-palate. Flavors of fresh bread, cracker, and a distinctive spicy-grassy hop bite sustain the drinking experience without heaviness. The bitterness is clean and defined rather than aggressive, allowing the delicate malt character to remain present throughout.

firm hop bitternessbalanced sweet-bitterbread and crackergrassy spice

◑ Finish

The finish is notably dry and clean, with the hop bitterness resolving quickly into a crisp, refreshing aftertaste. No lingering sweetness or residual flavors persist; the beer leaves the palate fresh and ready for the next sip.

dry finishclean aftertasterefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
80
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve well-chilled at 4–6°C for maximum crispness. A pilsner served too warm loses its defining snap.

Pilsner glass

The tall, narrow pilsner glass preserves carbonation and showcases the golden clarity that defines the style.

Drink fresh and cold. Pilsners do not improve with age — within 3 months of packaging is ideal.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Tannenzäpfle

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About German Pilsner

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a German Pilsner?

Pilsners are crisp golden lagers with 4–5.5% ABV and IBU 25–45. Defined by spicy, floral Saaz hops over a light malt backbone — bright carbonation and a dry bitter finish.

Finding a similar German Pilsner

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same hoppy, clean, dry character as Tannenzäpfle will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all German Pilsner beers in hopIQ →New to German Pilsner? Read our guide →Browse Germany beers →