Ruekeller: Helles
The Bruery

Of the dozen Bruery brews I've reviewed, this is the only lager. (I'm a Belgophile, so concentrate on those offerings which are often exceptional... and for which I give The Bruery very good Overall Hugs.)

The yeast on this Helles ain't right... at least not to the standards that The Bruery performs. Not only does it Look flaccid and somewhat sickly, but, related, the malt Smells are muted. However, Tastes are well-balanced between the malts and hops and neither tries to win the finish. Medium-mouthed, except for the yeast's lack of liveliness.

Over the years (particularly over the holidays), I have been a fan of The Bruery's Belgians. They are one of the great innovators of the Belgian tradition. While I'm glad I tried Ruekeller Helles, I will stick to their knitting.

RB transfer

 

Draft at Belmont Brew House. Foggy golden pour, thin fine white layer of foam. Bready aroma, biscuity. Taste is bready, fruity, sweet, full mouthfeel. Good, but I'm nothing the high ratings.

 

 

 

 

On tap, into a pint

Straw yellow appearance, clear. Little patches of lacing remain after a 1/4 in head dissipates.

Grassy, floral nose. Fresh, spring-like essence. Hint of raspberry at the edge of the bouquet.

Floral flavors at the front…honeysuckle, hibiscus. Perfectly balanced with honey sweet malts. Finish is crisp and clean and quick, with little lingering residuals.

Amazingly quaffable lager. 5.2% ABV is actually pretty high as you can crush these so quickly.

 

Canned 7/6. Pours a clean, clear golden amber. Frothy head fades to a skim coat. Light aroma of bread dough. Taste is exceptionally clean, light bitterness with plenty of tasty malt. The result is a slightly-sweet beer with plenty of taste. This is an excellent example of the very high quality of the brewery's team.

16oz can immediately fizzes over the top with foam as you open it. Pours a hazy golden yellow color with a generous and very dense white-colored head that slowly fades away. Smells of nice grains and noble hops. Solid bready malt flavor with some honey notes and an even smaller sweetness than I would expect from a Helles. Very little hop flavor and bitterness. Medium body and a nice plushy mouthfeel without too much carbonation feel. Hops close out the beer to a crisp finish and a slightly malty and bitter aftertaste follows.

A good Helles, but I probably wouldn't buy this again. Just didn't stand out much compared to the other beers I've tried in this style.

16oz can

Poured at fridge temp into a nonic glass

Pours a cloudy golden with a 2F white head

Textbook helles aroma, sweet and malty with subtle hops

Flavor follows and it was so tasty, really good grains, grassiness and sweetness

Light soft body with plenty of effervescence

Overall would love to have again on the regular

 

Crystal clear golden with one finger white head. Nose is pale malt and floral hops. Taste opens with a white cracker malt with cereal notes followed by a smooth floral bitterness with lemony overtones. Body is light with light to medium carbonation. Ends crisp with a lingering floral hop. Overall a very smooth and easy drinking helles and is wonderfully balanced and a great example of the style

Crystal clear yellow body with a white head and lacing, classically beautiful. Super bready nose: country loaf, grain, grassy hops, kiss of mineral water. Tastes like beer, emphasis on the malt, yeast and classic hop interaction though more honey than nose. Feel is lighter but not thin, malt first, yeast second but larger, hop finish is faint but pale. Nice, especially with pizza

Fantastic helles, pick it up if you can. These guys have priced it perfectly and I hope to see it on more shelves. Up there with the better helles offerings from Goldfinger, Dovetail, and Humble Sea. I am starting to think America is on par with the best of the best from German in this style.