Schilling Stesti 13

STESTI 13 from Schilling is listed as an easy-drinking lager, and that category sets most of what you can expect. Lagers of this type usually pour pale gold to deep straw with a firm white head. The malt is clean and lightly bready or cracker-like, and the bitterness is gentle. Fermentation is cool and neutral, so there are few fruity esters. No ABV or IBU is given for this bottling, so check the label before assuming a strength. The "13" in the name could refer to a gravity figure, as it often does on lagers from some brewing traditions, but the product details don't say, so treat that as unconfirmed. Because it is built for easy drinking, the appeal is balance. It should be crisp enough to finish clean and soft enough to drink steadily without the palate tiring. Beers like this show the most when they are fresh and properly chilled, since warmth makes a simple lager taste flat or doughy. Serve it cold, around 3 to 6°C. That keeps the carbonation lively and the malt in the background. A tall pilsner glass or a straight-sided lager glass works best. Pour at a slight angle, then straighten the glass to build a finger or two of foam that holds the aroma. A plain mug is also fine for casual drinking. At the table, a light lager suits foods that a heavier beer would overwhelm. Good matches are grilled sausages, roast chicken, fried fish, pretzels, mild cheeses, pizza and salty snacks. The carbonation cuts through fat and salt, and the restrained bitterness stays out of the way of seasoning.