Glasshouse Helles
West Sixth Brewing Company

Built for beer gardens, multiple rounds and great conversations, West Sixth rolls out a light German lager that shows that these moments aren't reduced to the least common denominator beer.

Glasshouse Helles pours strikingly clear with a golden-straw hue. As a light and arid white froth meets the rim, the light and fresh-kilned scent of light bread is joined by light floral scents, spicy hops and touch of earthy grains and hay. As its gentle sweetness graces the tongue, its the light sweetness of powdered sugar, light bread and a hint of honeysuckle that bridges hops to malt.

As the lager washes the thirst from the middle palate, its sweetness dissolves to allow a brisk and dry taste to take hold. Floral hops turn herbal with tea, fresh grassiness and a peppery bitterness to balance what's left of the grain sweetness for a slight tilt toward a lightly bittered finish. Hints of raw grain linger with accents of straw, lemon pepper and a nearly mint-like evaporative cooling.

Light, crisp and refreshing, the session is more about drinkability than it is about boldness in flavor. Perhaps somewhat forgettable as a beer, what's not forgettable are the moments that the beer helps to facilitate.