- Founded
- 1848
- Brewed in
- Jever, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Owner
- Radeberger Group (Oetker)
- Known for
- Pilsner, Alcohol-free
- Try first
- Jever Pilsener
- In Australia
- Mainly at specialist and independent bottle shops with a strong imported range; big chains carry it only now and then.
- Beer types
- Pilsner
- Official site
- jever.de
Jever is the beer for people who like their pilsner properly bitter. Brewed in Friesland near the North Sea coast, it is one of the driest and hoppiest beers in Germany.
The story of Jever
Diedrich König founded the brewery in 1848 in Jever, a small town in Friesland in north-western Germany. The brewery grew slowly until the 20th century, when its distinctive dry pilsner became popular across Germany.
Jever’s advertising, featuring a lone man on a windswept North Sea beach, became famous in Germany. Today the brewery is part of the Radeberger Group and still brews in Jever, where it runs popular brewery tours.
Jever beers to try
- Jever Pilsener (4.9%): The classic. Pale, sharp and very dry, with a long bitter finish.
- Jever Fun: The alcohol-free version. More options are in our alcohol-free German beers guide.
What does Jever taste like?
Jever Pilsener is “friesisch herb”, or Frisian dry. Expect a light, pale body, grassy and herbal hops, and a bitterness that lingers. Fans of hoppy Australian pale ales and IPAs often love it. If you prefer something softer, try Warsteiner or Krombacher.
Food pairing: Smoked fish, oysters, fish and chips, and rich, fatty dishes such as pork belly.
Where to buy Jever in Australia
- Specialist bottle shops with a European range are the most reliable. See our Sydney, Melbourne and Perth pages
- Larger Dan Murphy’s stores stock it from time to time
Compare it with other pilsners in our best German beers guide.
Jever FAQs
Is Jever available in Australia?
Jever is available in Australia but is less common than Beck’s or Bitburger. Look for it at specialist bottle shops with a European range, and occasionally at larger Dan Murphy’s stores.
Why is Jever so bitter?
Jever is brewed in the “Friesisch herb” (Frisian dry) style, with a high hop rate and very soft local water, which makes the bitterness taste crisp and clean. It is often described as one of the most bitter mainstream beers in Germany.
How strong is Jever?
Jever Pilsener is 4.9% ABV. Jever Fun is the alcohol-free version.
Who owns Jever?
Jever belongs to the Radeberger Group, part of the Oetker family business, which also brews Radeberger and Schöfferhofer.
← Back to all German beer brands · Ranked #17 in our list. Last updated 2 October 2026.