Texas Helles

Brewery: Community Beer Co.
Style: Munich Helles (4A)
Package:  12oz Can
Packaging Date:  3/6/18
Purchased:  Whichcraft – Mueller, Mar 2018

Details from the Brewer

ABV: 5.0%
OG: 12.5P
IBU: 78
Style: German-Style Helles Lager

Helles: German for pale or light in color, this beer is made for Texas!  Texas Helles is a crisp, golden lager fashioned after the highly drinkable beers found in the boisterous beer halls of Baveria.  All-German malts create a slightly sweet front balanced by nobale Hallertau hops in the finish.  Our long, cold lagering process ensures the smoothest, cleanest lager around. Y’all take a sip and try tellin’ us it ain’t.

Review

Aroma – 9/12

Low to moderate grainy malt aroma presents itself first. Light crackery and dough character is also present. Low levels of noble hop character with a mix of spicy and herbal. Low level of sweetness is also apparent. No yeast character or off flavors.

Appearance – 3/3

Liquid pours a deep gold with excellent clarity. A mix of medium and small white bubbles provide an average head on a vigorous pour. Average head retention that fades to a thin ring within a minute, eventually to nothing.

Flavor – 16/20

A medium grainy malt character with an equal sweetness is at the front of the taste. In the mid palate, the same noble hop character from the aroma peaks out. A low-medium level of spiciness and herbal bite. The malt and hop notes fade toward the finish, where a low to medium sweetness lingers briefly. Balance is slightly in favor of the sweet malt character, with a tongue prickling bitterness present. No fermentation flavors.

Mouthfeel – 4/5

Medium bodied which persists throughout the taste. Medium carbonation. Very low astringency. Drying character present on tongue and roof of mouth on the finish.

Overall Impression – 8/10

It’s always great to be able to drink a light lager close to room temp and actually enjoy it. The noble hops and continental pilsner really are showcased in this excellent example of a Munich Helles. It could benefit from a bit more pilsner malt expression in the aroma, and lowering the hop flavor expression a touch. This and a slightly softer finish would push the beer into the outstanding category.

Rating – 40/50

Barely 10 reviews and I’ve already doubled up on a style.  I really enjoy a good Munich Helles, and find it a great beer style to help battle the heat of an Texas summer.  This is definitely a better beer than recently reviewed Independence Brewing Helles, but it doesn’t quite stand up to the better lager breweries of Austin.   That said, it’s actually a really well executed and refreshing version of the style.   On sale for $5 a sixer, this a steal.

Note: at the time of this review Community Beer Co is rebranding this beer to Texas Lager