Helles Fire
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

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From:
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Smoked Beer
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.83 | pDev: 15.4%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
20
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 14, 2015
Added:
Mar 11, 2012
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by kaelingirl:
Photo of kaelingirl
Rated by kaelingirl from Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +11%

Jun 13, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.45 by BeerForMuscle from New Jersey

Apr 14, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by maq89 from Pennsylvania

Jun 01, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Phillyz from Pennsylvania

Apr 29, 2013
 
Rated: 1.75 by NeoZaZ from Pennsylvania

Jan 15, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by hockeyfighter19 from Pennsylvania

Nov 10, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by JDizz from Maryland

Aug 08, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by gwags3 from Pennsylvania

Aug 05, 2012
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

3.54/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Draft at The Boilermaker in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a slightly hazy golden orange color with golden yellow edges and a half finger white head that quickly settles.  Minimal spots of lace left behind.

Slightly smokey aroma but kind of bland really. Subtle notes of charcoal and meat followed by light fruit and earthy hops.

Medium bodied with a clean, crisp mouthfeel and a good balance of lighter notes and smokey aftertaste.  Earthy hops up front with some light fruit and pale malts that are countered by a lingering smokiness.  Nice roast character with light campfire notes.  Well balanced with hints of  charcoal, BBQ and smoked meats lingering in the finish.  The aroma was weak but it tastes very good.
Jul 31, 2012
Photo of Gavage
Reviewed by Gavage from Nevada

4/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: light orange in color with a 2" head.

Smell: caramel and a light smokey tone is pleasant on the nose.

Taste: caramel, green apples, a mild bitterness, and a soft but noticeable smokey tone.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Lightly crisp throughout with the smokey flavors lasting briefly in the mouth.

Overall: this smoked beer would go nicely with BBQ. The smoke is not overpowering and this went down rather quickly.
Jul 11, 2012
Photo of Eddxii
Reviewed by Eddxii from Florida

3.7/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The Victory Helles Fire smoked märzen pours a dark but clear golden color with a medium fluffy head.

There’s not much aroma coming off the beer, but there are definitely hints of light and dry smokiness.

Helles Fire is medium bodied with a light hop character–mostly its piney notes–on the initial taste. The smoked malt comes in gradually in the finish and lingers for a while. It’s quite pleasant and not overpowering at all. Could this be a light and summery smoked beer? What will they think of next?

The more I drank of the Helles Fire the more I thoroughly enjoyed it. And given its 5.8% ABV, it was certainly not due to the influence. Its balance and lightness makes it a very drinkable beer for many different appetites.

Overall, this was a great find and offers a solid summer alternative for those who enjoy rauchbiers or any other smoked beers.
Jun 22, 2012
Photo of Bierman9
Reviewed by Bierman9 from New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bier #2 on my 02JUN12 Victory visit. Got a 0.5l glass, checking in at 5.80% ABV. A smoked Märzen, with beechwood smoked malts and Tettnang hops, according to their bier-book.

The glass held a clear, medium to deep copper bier. Carbo was solid and steady, with a creamy white head topside. The foam was solid and lasted well, with excellent lacing on display. The nose had some dryish, smoky malts. The rauch aspect was pleasant yet subtle. Middle of the road is the best way to describe the medium body and fairly smooth feel of this offering.

Flavor was a touch bready but a bit more toasty, with some caramel also in the malt mix. Smoke chimes in nicely, entering softly and never overpowering things. Some floral hops appear in the finish, though the malts and mild smoke take center stage, with light smoke lingering in the dry finish. Very much like the Rauch Lager at Spezial in Bamberg. Zum Wohl!!

4.03/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1468
Jun 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Jun 02, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by kjkinsey from Texas

May 26, 2012
Photo of WVbeergeek
Reviewed by WVbeergeek from West Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Flowing at Fathead's with a big billowing white head, the body is a bright copper golden color not to be messed with...What a beautiful day in the smoked beer category. Aroma has smoked fire, meats, and a hint of bacon amongst a grassy hop note and bread like biscuit malt character. Flavor is super smokey with a hint of smoked meat/bacon/ham notes and a grassy floral hop character with honey sweet biscuit malt character colliding a damn fine beer. Overall mouthfeel is lighter moderate beautiful carbonation flowing deep...I really enjoy the flavor and texture of the beer without difficulty which tells me depths about it.
May 24, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by HarmonMW from Missouri

Apr 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by JeffTheJuice from Pennsylvania

Apr 19, 2012
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Max's

Described as a smoked marzen, this beer pours amber with a thin white head with decent retention and lacing. The nose is mildly smoky, quite lovely, with a little meat coupled with a mild smouldering wet wood and green hop character. Some caramel, and a nice bready Munich malt character are present. The palate opens mildly smoky with some caramel, bread (really nice Munich malt character) and a very distinct hop character, rather green, herbal and woody. The smoke is milder on the palate. The mid palate exhibits some nice sweetness. Drying, bready and hoppy on the finish, this beer is light in body, has a medium-high level of carbonation and is mildly smoky throughout. Neither a helles not a rauchbier, this is more of a smoked beer. Recommended.
Apr 02, 2012
Photo of garuda
Reviewed by garuda from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the brewpub

A - Brilliantly clear copper, with a thick white head that retains well with some lacing.

S - Light toastiness on the nose with some grassy hops and a little breadiness.

T - This is where the blending of styles really comes out. Starts out with smokey malts, but then the pale malts and hops come through and lighten the body with a grassy, herbal quality. A light breadiness comes in mid palate, finishing dry with moderately bitter grassy, lemon, herbal notes.

M - Surprisingly light in body, medium carbonation, finishes crisp and dry, a little astringent.

O - Solid blending between a marzen and rauchbier. Easily drinkable, and nicely complex. I'd like to drink more of this!
Mar 31, 2012
Photo of FeDUBBELFIST
Reviewed by FeDUBBELFIST from Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Served in a tall 20oz Victory glass at the brewpub for $5. Sampled 3/10/12. Described as a Smoked Helles Lager.

A: Served with a solid cap 1 finger high, creamy foamy in texture and off-white in color. The body falls somewhere between bronze and copper - darker than expected - but appropriately bright for the style. Thick web-like lacing lays down covering much of the glass. A meager amount of bubbles rise slowly throughout.

S: Helles Fire is certainly a smoke-forward beer that lets the sweet, grainy malts and spicy Noble-like hops play the background. Smoke chip aromas of mesquite and hickory, campfire, and liquid smoke.

T: Smokey with balanced malt sweetness plus a light tang in the middle and a gentle, spicy bite on the end. Underlying fruity lager esters. Bitterness is moderate. Different from Scarlet Fire in that it doesn't have the stand out beef jerky flavor.

M: Medium body with crispy carbonation producing a tingling feeling across the tongue. Smooth maltiness throughout with a refreshing snap to the finish. As with nearly every beer Victory produces, the carbonation is spot on and inviting.

O: While I was ambivalent about this beer after the first smell, I thought it opened up really nicely and became all too easy to drink by the middle of the glass. Pairs nicely with bratwurst and cabbage.
Mar 11, 2012
Helles Fire from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 20 ratings