Nikšićko Pivo

Shortly after I arrived in Podgorica, I found myself staring into a florescent-lit cooler at a small market nearby my apartment. I had sampled a Nikšićko Pivo on my first day out and about, and was in search of something different. I found it. In a cooler packed with bottles and cans of Nikšićko, half a shelf was filled with bottles of Jelen Pivo, the national beer of Serbia.

Bringing my bottle of Jelen to the cash register I was greeted with a wagging finger. Not yet proficient in Montenegrin, I was unable to understand the cashier, and opted to place my bottle of beer next to the register and take out my wallet. No sooner did I release the bottle of Jelen from my grasp, then it was picked up by the attendant, brought back to the cooler, and exchanged for a bottle of Nikšićko.

Montenegrins are very proud of Nikšićko Pivo. It is the one beer produced nationally, and the only beer that is widely available throughout the country. Wikipedia currently describes Nikšićko Pivo as “the favorite and unique national lager” of Montenegro. While anecdotally I can confirm that Nikšićko is “the favorite” of many Montenegrins, I can personally assure you that there is nothing “unique” about this brew.

Unwilling to offend the sensibilities of the otherwise pleasant cashier, that day I returned home with a Nikšićko in my bag. 

Nikšićko Pivo, the highly esteemed national beer of Montenegro, leaves much to be desired. Brewed in the style of a Czech Pilsner (or ‘European macro-lager’), Nikšićko weighs in at 5% a.b.v., and is brewed in Nikšić, Montenegro by a subsidiary of the beverage giant Anheuser-Busch InBev.

Visually, Nikšićko is translucent and golden in color. The head is as white as snow and composed of very fine bubbles. When poured from a bottle, Nikšićko has good head retention that leaves lace-like rings around the inside of your glass. Its flavor lacks significant complexity and depth. Nikšićko starts slightly bitter, and ends slightly sweet. Like most lagers, Nikšićko doesn’t give off intense aromas. If there is any nose at all, its mildly sweet-wheat smelling.

Having had Nicksicko on draft, out of a can, and out of a bottle, I’d have to say that the difference is negligible. I could not distinguish one as more fresh than the other. Wonderfully (and quite unusually), both bottles and cans are printed with a ‘sell by’ date. The InBev site reports that Nikšićko should be “enjoyed within 60 days.” If it is true that the date on the bottle or can is 60 days after the beer was brewed or bottled, all Nikšićko would (in theory) be quite fresh. Additionally, InBev recommends that Nikšićko is consumed at a temperature of between 3°-6° Celsius. This is both typical for the pilsner style and, I think, indicative of the limited complexity of its flavor profile.

In Montenegro, Nikšićko is available comercially at every café, restaurant and corner-store. It is sold in 500ml glass bottles, 500ml cans and 2 liter plastic bottles (family size?). 

Overall, I consider Nikšićko a decent “session beer,” i.e. a beer that you could quite easily drink more than one of. That said, there is a reason why you don’t find Nikšićko on the shelves of specialty beer stores in the US and elsewhere. Don’t believe me? At least 4 reviewers on BeerAdvocate.com do, giving Nikšićko an underwhelming grade of C.

 

Have you tried Nikšićko Pivo? If so, post your thoughts here!

 

 

Related Links:

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/12226/44075

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niksicko_pivo

http://www.inbev.com/go/brands/brand_portfolio/local_brands/niksicko_pivo.cfm