Lager Feuer Smoked Helles
Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Smoked malts have done nothing to haze this sunny complexion; LagerFeuer shines like gold and is sparkling clear. It's a gorgeous beer with sustained bleach white head, a look that summons to mind a balmy September afternoon in Munich or a sunny summer day in Bamberg (or a crisp fall morning in North Olmstead, where this growler was filled).

Munich Helles are characterized by grainy notes and soft white bread flavours. Bamberg-style beechwood smoked malts offer cured meat-like tastes of bacon and kielbasa. A smoked helles therefore is kind of like sausage meeting bun - it's a perfectly complimentary pairing.

Those with any degree of hesitancy - anyone that's been turned off from the more aggressive aromas of Schlenkerla's Marzen or UrBock, for instance - need not be intimidated. The smokiness in this offering is restrained and considerably subtle, a feature that can comfortably be appreciated alongside a sturdy, wholesome maltiness. This is a refreshing beer through and through.

Indeed, throw out any ideas of burnt barbecue, Islay scotches, or ashy campfires. You're way off. Think instead along the lines of tastefully smoked meats and old-world quality kielbasa. Besides, the simple taste of bakery fresh bread has just as much (or more) presence than any deli-related flavour. It's a high-quality helles lager - it's going to be refreshing!

Drinking pretty much any beer made by Fat Heads can be thought of as taking a first-rate course taught by an expert teacher. Anyone curious to learn about the beers of Bamberg that doesn't have the time or money to go there need only travel no further than the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. LagerFeuer is a phenomenal recipe magnificently executed.

 

 

I love the Bamberg version of a smoked helles lager bier so why not give Fat Head's version a shot, I bought a growler. Deep honey golden body with a bright white head, forms thick fine speckled lacing between each sip.

Aroma smoked earthy notes, the clean base helles gives off some bread like grain notes and a hint of bbq smoke. Not pure bacon or smoked meat a really interesting mix of smoke and light German style beer.

Flavor smoked meat, beechwood character, a hint of bread and barely noticeable hop notes the grains were smoked over beechwood to create this beer.

Mouthfeel finishes a bit dry even flowing carbonation easy going beer overall, I'm a fan!

Overall, impressive effort to brew such a unique beer specialized buy breweries in Bamberg and they can make a version this comparable if not better.