Weihenstephaner Original Helles
Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

Pours a beautiful clear straw color, topped by a couple fingers white foam that grudgingly gives way to a frothy cap that lasts.

Crisp bready malt and rounded yeast tart with spicy hop notes in the back make for a balanced and inviting aroma.

Very blended combo of the flavors in the nose, less crisp than aroma, less spicy hop than aroma, lighter tart to the yeast than aroma, and more breadiness for sure. Highly attenuated flavors here, with little sweet, and the sip ends with just a hint of spice to keep it on the dry side.

Full bodied, medium carb., nice finish, highly refreshing, frames the flavors well.

Nice simple Helles, less hoppy than others, very refreshing, clean brew. Recommended.

 

A 330ml poured into a Nonic.
A gold pour with high clarity and a generous head that produces some intricate lacing.
The toasted malt is grainy in character, and pungent aromatic German hops flavor with earthy and enjoyable bitterness.
A very good Helles Lager!

Definitely my favorite brewery name to say out loud. Tried and true Helles lager.

 

 

 

 

A good looking beer that smells better than it tastes. There isn't much flavor when you first taste it, and not all of the aftertaste is my cup of tea (on the sweet side for me, but I do like the grain flavor coming through). That being said, it is a solid lager with a good feel to it. Poured from a bottle into a pint glass in the US. I suspect that if I had it on tap I would like it much more.

 

 

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours orange yellow with a fluffy white head. Smells of nice sweet grain, slight fruit. Tastes of sweet grain, especially wheat and banana. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.

Poured from bottle, the body is a clear light yellow with white foamy head. Light lacing.

Aroma is malt, crackers and light floral hop.

Taste follows nose as the malt and hops are the show. A bit more hop flavor in taste but the hop-malt balance is exceptional. Upon finish things dry up quickly with a wee linger of hop. Very nice.

Mouthfeel is good with modest carbonation.

Easy drinking Helles. Light but impressive.

 

I walked into a random bottleshop on a business trip in November 2025, saw this one and bought it for no reason other than that it was there. I drank it maybe six weeks later.

L: Light golden straw coloured, with an initially large, rocky white head that fades away to a thin rim. A few large bubbles work their way slowly up the glass.

S: The nose is crackery malt with the slightest touch of floral hops.

T: This beer almost defines the word balanced. The sweet, crackery base promised by the nose asserts itself before a mild floral hop note finishes things. The finish is dry and moreish, demanding a follow-up sip. This beer takes you to a beautiful summer's day, a tucked-away, shady beer garden, tables strewn under the trees, and lazy time to while away the hours in its company.

M: The mouthfeel is full and smooth, carbonation and kick are minimal, making this beer an easy quaffer.

O: There's a reason this brewery has stuck around for nearly a thousand years: they know how to make great beer.

Cheers!
#767

Great malty flavor, very crisp, nice carbonation, beautiful gold color.

Phenomenal beer. An all-time favorite.

 

Not the bready goodness of the genuine article in Germany, but less "imported" aftertaste than you get in, say, a Hofbräu. Think sourdough vs. baguette.

Deserves it's place near the top of the thin U.S. helles rankings. Mildly prefer the Augustinerbrau, but this one worthwhile. Wish more U.S. micros pursued good helles.

Consumed 197 days before expiration on the bottom of the 16-ounce can. Poured into small tasting glass.

Smell of malt. Taste of malt. And very clean with short finish, not too hoppy. Very good Helles.
Drink this beer anytime or all the time.

Presentation 16.9 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Look: rich golden color. Moderate carbonation. Frothy head that lingers.

Smell: strong grassy and floral aroma. Crisp hops aroma. Faint malty odor. Very pleasant smell.

Taste: strong hops flavor initially, and faint citrus and grassy notes. Nice crisp aftertaste. The taste is impeccably balanced.

Feel: creamy mouthfeel. Doesn’t feel watery at all.

Overall: this is an impeccable beer. Easy to drink, and lots of flavor. You really can’t go wrong with that.