SunFest Lager
Ham's Restaurant & Brewhouse

I'd first like to offer an apology to brewmaster TL for trashing this brew in a previous review. I was not worthy and did not appreciate its subtlety and nuance, and I apologize for my subsequent uninformed criticisms. This brew is a multiple fest medalist-- and I'm a lowly hacker that knows jack shit... so...sorry, and let's get down to it... :)

Unless you specify your preference to the bartender at Ham's, the draft serving will arrive in a frosted shaker pint. Knowing this, I request a cold water-rinsed glass, and am rewarded with a truly sexy Munich Helles! Hoooyah!

The brew arrives sporting a finger of bright white foam astride a sparkling-clear glassy-golden-bronze body. As the head relaxes into a silky sheet, it deposits wide scattered webs of lacing onto the glass.

The smell is is grainy with a touch of mystery fruit and a buzz of mildly citric, herbal hops. A mellow toasted note of dryish malt perfectly complements a note of unidentified spice.

The taste is grainy and toasty-malt sweet with a bit of peppery spice in the finish. The drink is soft and mellow, yet crisp and refreshing with the barest trace of bitterness and a nice dry finish.

Quaffable, perfectly carbonated, and delicious. Whipass refreshing on a warm February eve.

Well, what do you know -- a lager done right. A sparkling straw colored brew brought on a light, airy head formation, but settled quickly. Aromas of very clean pilsner malts with a nice boquet of German hops, subtle raw-grain flavor, and void of any detectable sulfers. Tastes equally as clean, with a moderate malt base, but hops that begin to dominate the brew, cleaning it up all the while with a mild grassy-hop flavor, moderately intense bitterness, and mild drying quality. Finishes very clean, with a mild malt sweetness and a hoppy, lemon-grass flavor.

On tap at the Ham's brewpub in Greenville NC. Yellowish golden pour with a white head. A little bit of lace on the glass. Sweet malt and biscuit malt flavors predominate with a little bit of hop bitterness. A really pleasant summer session beer, and a perfect crossover beer to lead some of our less informed brethren to the delights of craft brewed beer.

Appearance: Pours a clear golden color with a modest head that fails to lace the glass

Smell: Clean, slightly grainy aroma

Taste: Clean flavor, slightly grainy

Mouthfeel: Light body and medium carbonation

Drinkability: A good example of the style and a winner at the GABF

Thanks to hoppedup for sharing his growler tonight,poures a light straw color with not much head to speak of.Aromas are pretty faint and not really noticable there is a slight toasted grain note but its faint and thats about it,now the flavor has a little more toasted grain presence its quite nice and gives this lager somewhat of a profile a little fruity sweetness is detected as well in the finish.a no brainer here something to drink alot of on a summer day with more pizzaz than a macro but really nothing to write home about.