Sudwerk Helles
Sudwerk Brewing Company

 

 

A good drinkable lager. Good looking, clear and golden with a nice head and solid retention. Not a lot of lacing down the glass however. Has a lot of bready characteristics with light hoppiness. I got it locally so it was nice and fresh. Goes down easy, you can drink two or three without thinking twice.

 

Pours a hazed straw color with a bit of sediment. Aroma of green apple bread fruityness and cereal grains. In the taste, biscuity malt and apple tartness, more than likely an old sample. Mild grassy hop character still holding on. Smooth medium to light bodied feel. Overall, this is a decent lager.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the time of this review, this is #13 on the "Top Beers - Munich Helles Lager" list on beeradvocate.com. Poured into a tulip pint glass. Beer is yellow and clear, dark yellow, white head, moderate to low retention. Looks good.

Aroma is weak, sweet and yeasty, mild Munich malt character.

Beer is clean with a nice finish, a little thin weak on the front but a wet finish, very "chuggable" as a beer. I love craft lagers and this is a good one. I"d have it again, light a clean with a wet finish.

 

 

Bottled on 10/12/11.

Pours a clear golden color with a 1/2 inch foamy bone colored head that settles to a film on the top of the beer. Thin broken rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grains/malt and some light fruity aromas. Taste is of grainy malt and a sweet fruity finish. There is a very slight bitterness that quickly fades after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good lager that is very easy drinking and very refreshing.

 

 

Pours an effervescent apricot with a pinky of ivory colored head. Above average lacing & average head retention

S: Bready with apple skins, slight bit of lemon as well

T: Follows the nose, nice pear notes and floral hops up front, some leafy & metallic hop notes as well, they blend together nicely. Pear & white grapes, plus a nice touch of grainy/bready sweetness as this warms, along with lemony hops. Finishes crisp, grainy & with a hint of King's Hawaiian Bread sweetness

MF: Medium bodied, firm carbonation, great balance as well

So easy to drink, as good as many of the Helles I enjoyed in Bavaria. Only Augusteiner & a handful of others best this. Well done Sudwerks!

This is a real pleasant surprise. It's never easy find well-made, fresh helles lagers. This has the classic character with an aroma and flavor of caramel, toasty bread, and a hint of earthy hops. It's clear, flavorful, and very drinkable. So much so, I had a hard time writing this review before my glass became empty. I'll take another.

Poured from a bottle into a Pilsener glass.

Look - light golden color, fairly clear, with about three fingers worth of off-white colored foam that dissipates somewhat slowly.

Smell - fairly typical pilsner type of smell, but lighter. Slightly sweet, and ever so subtle hints of hops.

Taste and Mouthfeel - Not at all a pilsener type of taste. It's much sweeter, and reaches the back middle of the palate better than a pilsener does. The mouthfeel is very light and smooth, the texture being a little more on the watery side.

Overall - a refreshing change from the normal Pilsener taste. I liked it and would come back for more.