Beer of the Weekend #720: St. Pauli Girl

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

I am dog sitting for my aunt and uncle over the holiday and weekend. They gave me free reign over everything in their fridge, so last night I enjoyed some Oasis hummus and a bottle of St. Pauli Girl, brewed by the St. Pauli Brauerei of Bremen, Germany (a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev).


Hmm… I always assumed St. Pauli Girl came from Hamburg and was named after the city’s St. Pauli quarter. I guess not.

I have never drank St. Pauli Girl before and have been meaning to try it for a long time. Why? I don’t know. It just seems like one of those macro German beers that one should try. I remember wanting to buy it back when I was in Huntington Beach. There was a small convenience store on 17th Street a few blocks from the PCH that had a St. Pauli Girl sign. Every time I passed that store and saw the sign I thought about buying St. Pauli Girl. In fact, I think I may have gone inside with the sole purpose of buying St. Pauli Girl — but it wasn’t there.

St. Pauli Girl pours a clear, clean, pale gold into a pint glass. A half-finger of off-white head leaves a skim in the center of the glass and a ring around the edge. The aroma is clean and grassy! Mmm — European lager! I love me some European lager. (Ironically, I don’t drink much of it.) There is a touch of skunk, likely the result of being light-struck, but it’s nothing I think is offensive; it fits the style. There are also scents of pale malts and lots of grassiness. There is a touch of citrus and fruit. The first sip is very reminiscent of a Euro lager (duh!). Pale malt, lots of grassiness, and light zest. The aftertaste features an adequate bitter bite. Light caramel emerges after half a pint. This is a tasty and easy drinking brew. It is nothing spectacular or special — just a solid European lager.

Fun facts about St. Pauli Girl:

• Style: It is classified on BA as “German Pilsener”

• Price: Dog sitting.

• Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV.


The Quiet Man’s grade: C.

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