Foeder-aged Smoked Helles
Upright Brewing Company

god i love upright, this is another glorious specimen from them, unique because its more fermentation forward than most of these, more than just classic german lager yeast, almost some funky wild character to it, the wood vessel has certainly influenced this a lot, and the smoke us different too, almost a fruity note carried along through it, yet the whole thing so so light to drink while also being autumnal, i love it and so does my wife! nice clarity on this, just a little bit of a golden hue but pale overall from the tap, an inch plus of white head on it, lively and well refined looking, pale for a smoked beer. the nose is awesome, smoke first, but not that big thick campfire smoke, its softer, more delicate, not dominant, weaving in and out lazily, earthy and drying, tied up with the oak profile here, golden raisin and red apple notes, light funk to this from the ageing, well grounded, some dusty german pils malt character underneath it all too, noble hop bitterness is light proportion, and just a tickle of brett, way cool! the smoke is similar in the taste, more delicate than a lot of these, but still with some iodine and minerals with it, with the funk here it teases lambic for just a second, then its got mid palate bitterness, warming softening wood later, notes of birch and maple and cider, freshly lit palo santo stick. the grain is familiar and fits for a helles once the smoke settles, and there is a lager yeast breadiness to this that keeps it rightly authentic. ever so slight tang from the foeder, a lemony thing too, but nobody would call this acidic. really rustic and different and seemingly old worldy too, amazing for the onset of fall here, puts me in a festive mood, truly special stuff here, unique and of the finest quality!

Crowler from the source.

A clear straw yellow with a dense white head with good retention and lacing. The nose is excellent. This is more helles than smoked helles, but the balance is fantastic. Softly smoky with a smoldering undergrowth, warm and enlivening, along with a rich, Munich malt heavy base beer, bready and deliberately sweeter than most, with the biscuit sweetness complementing the soft, woody, oak tones. Wow. The palate opens clean, soft, doughy and smoky, with a brightness that in conjunction with the smoke is just truly spring-like. A gorgeous continuum of flavors - bread, smoke, dough, lightly floral hops, soft, wet wood - just wonderfully structured. Drying, clean, beautiful finish. Fantastic.