Smoked Helles
Oxbow Brewing Company

 

 

Rating a little more on the smoked beer side of things than the Helles, for which it seems a little dry:
A very light haze diffuses light on this straw gold beer with a nice white cap. The beer has a nice, grain malt that seems a mix of the grain and bread that might be made from it. There's smoke licking at the edges, akin to a campfire from the next spot over the morning after the dinner it was used for the night before.

The smoke is sneaky in the taste, perhaps due to the mix of malt and dry grass/earthy hops. It comes across as a slightly watery, dry pale lager with a nice noble bitterness at its core. The smoke seems to mix with the bitter grass to drive the earthiness home. It's like they pseudo-mask each other to produce something new - though it's a toss up if the pairing works out better.

I am having a slightly more positive reaction to this one today than I did the other day, and if my next one continues the trajectory, I could take my overall enjoyment up a notch.

Poured from a 16 oz can dated 10/22/22 into the test glass.
A - Beautiful to look at, goldenrod color, clear as a bell, allowing for clear viewing of the delicate carbonation dancing toward the surface. White pillowy froth caps the offering.
S - Hints of smoked malt, mainly beautiful pilsner malts, grassy noble hops.
T - Pilsner malt forward, biscuit, white toast, some lemongrass, a bit of honey spread on that toast.
M - Delicate, crisp, light, semi sweet finish, bone dry.
O - A very easy drinking, flavorful Helles. The smoked malts are subtle, working in harmony with the base malts. Water treatment is just right, The hops are delicate and pop at the right time and level.