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
