Procrastinator Helles
People's Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Helles lagers and bocks: my two favorite German lager styles. Let’s see how this hybrid turns out.

A: Pours a burnt orange, pristinely clear but with a lot of fizz. Short, sandy head that unfortunately has no staying power.

S: Aromas of peat and toasted wheat bread dominate, almost like an Irish dry stout. Clean, sweet scents in the background: hints of banana bread, maple, and oatmeal balance the sharper grain character.

T&M: Bready, chewy flavors: this palate comes across as a tribute to toasted malt. Notes of pie crust, burnt toast, sesame, and black tea make up the malt base, though they only make a quick statement before dissipating – gives it that classic lager clean quality. Hops, though, are quite apparent, providing a Noble, slightly skunky lemon-pepper crispness toward the back that leaves the palate slightly dry in the aftertaste. Goes down with a slight spritz and a refreshing lightness, sticking slightly to the back of the tongue after that hoppy finish.

O: This is a drinkable lager, but it doesn’t last too long on the tongue: the palate is here and gone in a flash. Not a bad drink at all, though – in fact, it’s one of my favorites from People’s.