Pete's Wicked Helles Lager
Pete's Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A drinkable brew but not the best I've ever had. This one poured a golden color with a slightly frothy white head that faded quickly. The smell was grainy with a little bit o Saaz hoppiness in there. The flavor was quite weak with a little bit of spicy hops but not much else. If you are looking for a good Helles, go somewhere else!

Pours out to a lightly-hazy light bronze, forming a small white head with poor retention and no lacing. Suspended fine solids visible when held to the light. Carbonation is moderate to mild. Tiny little flocculant bits of head linger. Aroma is very Euro...a crisp spicy hop (Saaz, Tett, Hallertauer?) nose with suggestions of fresh mown hay and straw, some suggestions of caramel and honey with a pale malt body, crisp water and a clean lager ferment. Mouthfeel is initially spicy with a round finish and medium-light body. The taste echoes the aroma exactly, with a spicy hop profile, medium spicy bitterness, lingering hay and caramel in the middle, and a crisp and clean finish. No perceptable off-flavors, other than a slighty oxidized ruddy tinge in the finish.

Nicely balanced in the European tradition of the style. A decent stab and probably the best of Pete's line, although I've heard this has been discontinued. A good example of the style, but hardly exciting in any respect.

This beer pours a yellow color with a fluffy white head that dies off quickly. The aroma was malty with hints of wheat and had a grassy tone to it. The flavor was a little yeasty/wheaty, but not nearly as much as a wheat beer. There was a hint of grassyness in the flavor as well. The taste of this beer is just a little too bland in my opinion.

A rather average Helles that is typically clear golden in hue with a decent white head and a bit of spotty lace. The aroma is lager malty with small hop hints and a bit of citrus undertone. The flavor is fairly straightfoward Helles with nice malt notes and bit of finishing bitterness. Clean enough finish but an unimpressive feel. Drinkable enough if not highly impressive.

I was a little bit disappointed with this Helles from Pete's. While it isn't heavily flawed, it just seems to be sitting on the fence of mediocrity in all facets. Still a notch ahead of most mainstream macros, this is a good choice if all that is available is the same old stuff.

Pete's Wicked Helles pours a very nice golden color, but the thin, fizzy/foamy head that forms disappears in under 30 seconds into nothingness. The smell has some light malt and some mild hoppy aromas, but I thought I detected some corn, which would explain the "cheap smell" in the aroma. Mouthfeel is thin and a bit over-carbonated. The flavor is rather unspectacular as well. There is an almost decent malt presence here, lending some cracker-like notes to the beer, but what I perceive to be corn arrives here as well. There is an herbal/lightly fruity hoppiness present, and the finish is moderately drying. Aftertaste has some neutral grain flavors, and yes, light corn. This one finishes off with a very light alcoholic warmth.

I certainly expected more out of this, but it ended up tasting like a middle-of-the-line macro lager to me (see Michelob). A decent, drinkable beer, but probably not worth the admission Pete is charging.

The beer pours the typical lager clear golden yellow, head is moderate in size, bright white in color and a frothy texture with a decent covering of lace. Nose is citrus crisp and fresh, somewhat sweet as is the start, top is light to middling in feel. Finish is crisply acidic, hops apropos to the style, very dry after taste, a drinkable beer, but nothing that thrills me much.

Dark golden color, with a fluffy white head. Nice and bubbly. Scent is light and clean, with a touch of hops. Flavor has a good balance of malt and crispness from hops. Good drinking beer, but nothing all that spectacular. I do like the light, airy appeal to it, though.

Overall, I'd call it light, clean, drinkable, and simple.

Dayton, OH AleFest:A light bodied beer that was very smooth on the palate.When poured, this beer had a large creamy white head that contained fine sized bubbles.The body was clear and there was some carbonation noted.The hue was straw yellow and the nose was malty and also clove.The flavor was lightly bitter.

Pours to a clear golden color with a white head that disappears immediately. The aroma, where is it?? It has a slight sweet malt aroma, with a barely noticeable hop aroma. In the flavor there is alight sweet maltiness, with a light crisp hop flavor. Not much flavor and aroma. It is very clean, and crisp. An easy drinking summer brew if you don’t desire much complexity in your beers.

another good beer from Pete's. I rated it alittle above average
as I had nothing in the house left to drink during the Patriots superbowl
victory and these 8 beers just rode out the tense second half win
with me and I enjoy drinking it when its around. Its not my favorite
of Pete's but I honestly like most of everything they put out. I
tried Pete's Wicked Ale for the first time in London and ever since
I love their beers, Oktoberfest, my favorite seasonal.

Clear medium golden appearance, a nice 1/2 inch light head on a hard pour. Scant lace, marked by incomplete rings. Aroma is malty, some sense of rolled oats, slight bits of bran and papery elements. Flavor is fairly laid back, malty with a touch of gritty grain and a reserved hop that sits on the sidelines. The overall impression is tight but a little too consistant, could have used better attenuation and hop tang at the end. Not bad, drinkable enough. This beer has been sitting at the back of my fridge since maybe January, but only the slight paper in the aroma suggested oxidation.

The beer pours a light golden color with a frothy white head that fades quickly and laces the glass. The nose is of pale malts and bitter hops. They say this is a tradional Munich style lager. I have no idea what that means. It tastes just like any other lager I've ever tried. The taste is clean and crisp, but lacking any real character. The mouthfeel is good; a low body. The beer is a gusler, no doubt. It just does nothing for me, like most lagers.

This beer poured into the glass a straw yellow/gold color that was very clear and well carbonated. The head that was produced was thick and white in color, lasting fairly well. It left behind a sticky, patchy lace on parts of the glass. The aromas were of faint fruits, spicy peppers, malt, hops, and some grains. The flavors were of rich dark malt, spicy peppers, some hops, grains, flowers and some light fruit (citrus). It finished dry and grainy, not overly done but present. Decent combination of sweet and dry tastes through out the sip. Fairly smooth and a good example of a helles lager IMO. Drinkable.