Edel-Hell
Occidental Brewing Co.

Don't remember the beers from this brewery specifically as it has been a number of years since we were there. But I do remember there was not an even an average one in the beers I tried. All were very good

12oz can. Poured out a clear, golden yellow color with a small, white head of pillowy foam. It left sudsy lace. It smelled of bread crust, caramel and floral notes. Sweet caramel taste with toffee and a mild bitterness.

draught
Sustaining, alabaster head. Very clear, really light gold look. Very light amount of light toasted malt, with a touch of an herbal note, for the aroma. Light and easy, slight herbal hop note and light toasted malt flavor.

Look: Clear light yellow with a sudsy head that quickly forms and subsides almost equally so, leaving spotty lacing along the edge of the glass
Aroma: Soda crackers, floral hops, straw, pilsner malt, cereal grains, and wafts of honey
Taste: A lightly sweet honey note jumps out first and is immediately followed by a conglomeration of crackery malt, grains, straw, and pilsner malt that all play nicely together. Flowery hop notes join in with notes of mimosa, andromeda, and tea olive all in the mix. Closes with more malt depth and flavor
Mouthfeel: Light but full, very clean throughout, medium-high carbonation, and a crisp and clean finish
Overall: I dig it. This is a tasty and well-made Helles lager that is very refreshing and way too easy to drink. I love what these folks do and though it’s currently cold and wet outside, this beer hits the spot anytime, not just in warm weather

Served from the can in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Pours a clear golden-brass topped by a finger or so of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises cracker, flowers, cracked wheat, and light lemon zest. The taste brings in more of the same, with a bit more zest and a touch of lemongrass for good measure. The body is a hefty light, with a light moderate carbonation and a wet feel. Decent bit of helles, though I tend to go for the cleaner ones myself.

I've been drinking this almost exclusively for the past few weeks. Sent the wife and FIL to the store to pick up a 1/6 barrel I had ordered and they came home with a 1/2 barrel. I know, first world problems! Great tasting helles lager. Clean and refreshing with none of the residual bitterness that accompanies a lot German beers brewed in the PNW. Pours crisp and clear with a decent head. Not as malty as some of Occidental's other brews but has very clean mouth feel. It is definitely a beer that you can drink all day. It reminded me of a lot of the kellerbeirs I sampled during my last trip to Germany. I let one of my in-laws who happens to be from Bavaria drink it for a few days, and he gave it the seal of approval, said it's the Best German beer he's had since he's been in America.

 

dude below me hit this smack on the head: "Clear, bright golden, soft head. Full, bready aroma. Taste is also light malts, bread, crackers. Big, full mouthfeel too. Slides down your throat. Really good." dead F on!

 

Draft at BitterCreek. Clear, bright golden, soft head. Full, bready aroma. Taste is also light malts, bread, crackers. Big, full mouthfeel too. Slides down your throat. Really good.

 

As per usual from Occidental the pour is gorgeous, in this case a brilliant clear yellow. The head is thick and foamy, lacing is impressive. The taste is Uneeda Biscuity with an appreciable bitter bite and dries quickly.

I've never been to Germany so I can't unequivocally say Occidental dials up the flavor profile verbatim (particularly when they go with Northwest Hops) but I can say they consistently deliver clean flavorful takes on German profiles Everytime and this Helles Lager was no exception.

another absolutely rock solid german classic from these guys, who have these styles down perfectly. this is a great take on a helles, light and dry, incredibly refreshing, crushable for sure, but not at all boring, with quite a bit of fresh pilsener malt graininess running through it and a soft floral hopping that lingers a little bit after the swallow, i think somewhat more flavorful than a lot of these are, especially domestically, but no heavier as a result, just super well made beer. the can is sharp, the german lager yeast is evident in nose and taste, and the fermentation here is crisp and clean, drying, and very much old worldy and well refined. i love the balance here, the inclusion of the hops in this way at the end, and all the life it has on the palate, really active carbonation, it feels like happy beer, and i like that a lot. summery for sure, but a lager for all year drinking as far as i am concerned. occidental has impressed me time and time again, definitely my regional go to brewery now for classic german styles done incredibly faithfully and well. this is money.

 

 

A classic lager, light gold color, nice head and good carbonation. Light on aroma, as is typical, just hints of bread yeast. It has to us a bit more malt-forward taste compared to other brews, which is pleasant while still having a balanced hoppiness. Overall, very clean and tasty for a 5% ABV brew. It's listed as a seasonal offering, so if you see some around now (Mid-April '19), grab it.

 

 

The perfect Helles? Maybe, maybe not. But I know it tickles my fancy.

24k gold burst like sunshine with read the newspaper through the glass clarity. Bubbles constantly race upwards to support a bone white rocky foam. Moderate lacing sticks, but most of it descends back into the glass.

Simple, pure, and beautiful aromas of grass and grain, freshly cut and crushed, with a drop of honey dropped on a warm biscuit.

Respectfully, the flavor mirrors the aroma. Even better in fact. The initial sweet breadiness is amplified to just the right amount before being too sweet, but well above what can be commonly found as bland. Damp grassy and herbal notes finish it off wonderfully.

This is sweet, and clean, then lightly bittered, then dry, then mouth watering demanding sip after sip. In bi time flat, and his exceptionally balanced beer is gone.

As I suggested in my opening statement; perfection is relative. But this is damn near a perfect Helles if I've ever had one.

Prost!