Helles
pFriem Family Brewers
- From:
- pFriem Family Brewers
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- Helles
Ranked #13 - ABV:
- 4.8%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #7,313 - Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 8.19%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 18
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 16, 2025
- Added:
- Jul 13, 2015
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
In 19th century Germany, pilsners were all the rage so Munchen brewers created a malty hoppy beer of their own called Helles. pFriem Helles Lager builds on that history with a toasty lager that’s savory and smooth with aromas of fresh bread and a hint of honey. So let’s toast this beer’s storied and delicious history with a hearty, “Helles Yeah!”
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by CoasterRider from Washington
4.34/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.34/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Not a fan of light beers, but this is really a good one with a solid malt backbone and refreshing taste. Pours light like you would expect with a nice golden color and small to medium head. 25 IBUs Rated 11-1-2020
Jan 16, 2025
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.66/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.66/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Taster at brewery. Golden pour, foamy white head. Aroma is bready, malty. Taste is smooth with grainy flavors, finishing with a light bitter bite. Easy drinker.
May 08, 2023
Reviewed by TheBricenator from Oregon
4.35/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: Clear straw yellow with a bountiful head that explodes on the pour and mounds up for a bit, slowly receding and leaving sheets of lacing behind
Aroma: A bouquet of floral hops, soda crackers, honey, a light herbaceous note, fresh cut grass, and pilsner malt
Taste: Starts out with a rush of herbaceous and floral hops – star jasmine, oriental lily, and tea olive stand out in the mix. Soda crackers and honey follow the floral punch and grassy notes weave in and out as well before closing with more floral hops and bready pilsner malt
Mouthfeel: Light but full, extremely clean throughout, medium-high carbonation, and a crisp and clean finish
Overall: This is outstanding. I couldn’t believe in all my dances with this beer I’d never reviewed it as not only do I feel that these folks are one of the top lager brewers in the state, but also that this is one of the best American-made Helles lagers available. A delicious mix of floral and herb-driven hops in perfect harmony with pilsner malt and honey and with a superb feel make this one a winner. Highly recommended
Jun 04, 2022Aroma: A bouquet of floral hops, soda crackers, honey, a light herbaceous note, fresh cut grass, and pilsner malt
Taste: Starts out with a rush of herbaceous and floral hops – star jasmine, oriental lily, and tea olive stand out in the mix. Soda crackers and honey follow the floral punch and grassy notes weave in and out as well before closing with more floral hops and bready pilsner malt
Mouthfeel: Light but full, extremely clean throughout, medium-high carbonation, and a crisp and clean finish
Overall: This is outstanding. I couldn’t believe in all my dances with this beer I’d never reviewed it as not only do I feel that these folks are one of the top lager brewers in the state, but also that this is one of the best American-made Helles lagers available. A delicious mix of floral and herb-driven hops in perfect harmony with pilsner malt and honey and with a superb feel make this one a winner. Highly recommended
Reviewed by sloejams from Oregon
4.54/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.54/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Now that I am blessed to have this is available in 16 oz cans all over Oregon, it is a staple in my refrigerator. It ticks a lot of boxes. It's sessionable, goes well with most food and perfect balance for any weather. pFriem has never lead me wrong and this is one of their best.
Mar 26, 2022
Reviewed by MaltsOfGlory from Oregon
3.91/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
16oz can
A very smooth pour yields a finger of dense white head into my Pilsner glass. Retention is average, and the head mostly fades within a couple of minutes. Initial lacing looks pretty good. Body is pale yellow, crystal clear, with a good amount of bubbles coming up. Looks decent so far.
Definitely a nice touch of honey here, some bread. Unfortunately those aromas are also mixed with a very noticeable sulfur smell, which is an issue. There is certainly a nice base to this beer, and it’s really trying to get out, but it’s quite overshadowed by the sulfur - come on guys.
Luckily the flavor shows basically zero of that character. Spicy hop flavor is a welcome addition to a palate that showcases that honey as its main flavor, not a lot of breadiness. A solid flavor, simple, tasty.
Carbonation is pretty high. Light, but there is a surprising amount of body for the style. Dry, but that honey adds a nice perceived sweetness in the finish. Also finishes with a touch of bitterness. The mouthfeel does quite a bit of work here - wonderful.
Drinkability is this beers calling card. It has enough flavor to stay interesting, and the mouthfeel gives it character and an incredible crushability.
Appearance turned out pretty alright. The lacing was patchy and had a hard time holding on, but it was ok. There was a nice patch of foam that hung around all the way down, and that’s always welcome.
A tale of two perspectives here. The nose is damn near off putting, the flavor is quite nice, and then the mouthfeel is good enough to make me question the whole thing. Overall I’m enjoying it, but it would be nice is the nose wasn’t so crooked.
Mar 21, 2022A very smooth pour yields a finger of dense white head into my Pilsner glass. Retention is average, and the head mostly fades within a couple of minutes. Initial lacing looks pretty good. Body is pale yellow, crystal clear, with a good amount of bubbles coming up. Looks decent so far.
Definitely a nice touch of honey here, some bread. Unfortunately those aromas are also mixed with a very noticeable sulfur smell, which is an issue. There is certainly a nice base to this beer, and it’s really trying to get out, but it’s quite overshadowed by the sulfur - come on guys.
Luckily the flavor shows basically zero of that character. Spicy hop flavor is a welcome addition to a palate that showcases that honey as its main flavor, not a lot of breadiness. A solid flavor, simple, tasty.
Carbonation is pretty high. Light, but there is a surprising amount of body for the style. Dry, but that honey adds a nice perceived sweetness in the finish. Also finishes with a touch of bitterness. The mouthfeel does quite a bit of work here - wonderful.
Drinkability is this beers calling card. It has enough flavor to stay interesting, and the mouthfeel gives it character and an incredible crushability.
Appearance turned out pretty alright. The lacing was patchy and had a hard time holding on, but it was ok. There was a nice patch of foam that hung around all the way down, and that’s always welcome.
A tale of two perspectives here. The nose is damn near off putting, the flavor is quite nice, and then the mouthfeel is good enough to make me question the whole thing. Overall I’m enjoying it, but it would be nice is the nose wasn’t so crooked.
Reviewed by Reidrover from Oregon
4.03/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16 oz. can, very attractive design.
Purchased from American Market on State Street in Salem (the old Capital Market).
$11.99 a 4 pack.
Pours a nice pure golden coloured body with a gorgeous frothy off white head. That goes down fast but leaves great lace.
Really nice traditional nose. Warm freshy baked bread and slight grassy hops. Simple yet beautiful to those that like Helles. Also a little light citrus finishes it off.
Taste similar to the nose with a nice zesty finish.
Mouth feel is great..medium low body medium carbonation. Goes down fast. Does not lose my interest.
Great Helles.
Mar 18, 2022Purchased from American Market on State Street in Salem (the old Capital Market).
$11.99 a 4 pack.
Pours a nice pure golden coloured body with a gorgeous frothy off white head. That goes down fast but leaves great lace.
Really nice traditional nose. Warm freshy baked bread and slight grassy hops. Simple yet beautiful to those that like Helles. Also a little light citrus finishes it off.
Taste similar to the nose with a nice zesty finish.
Mouth feel is great..medium low body medium carbonation. Goes down fast. Does not lose my interest.
Great Helles.
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle from Whole Foods.
A clear straw yellow with a dense white head with good retention and lacing this looks great. The nose is fantastic. Crisp, clean, lightly doughy with straw, honeydew, light lemon and snap. Light floral hops. The palate opens lightly sweet with a delicate but deep dough, straw, cracker and honey character, followed by a mildly grassy, lemony and floral hop character. Drying, crisp, clean, snappy on the finish. Quenching, clean, awesome.
Jul 11, 2021A clear straw yellow with a dense white head with good retention and lacing this looks great. The nose is fantastic. Crisp, clean, lightly doughy with straw, honeydew, light lemon and snap. Light floral hops. The palate opens lightly sweet with a delicate but deep dough, straw, cracker and honey character, followed by a mildly grassy, lemony and floral hop character. Drying, crisp, clean, snappy on the finish. Quenching, clean, awesome.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.09/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Crystal clear gold body, finger of white foam, sporadic lacing. Honey grains, very lightly toasted bread, a hint of cereal, lemon peel, and lightly grassy old world hops. Taste is bright grains meeting minerality, light earthy hops, and biscuit malts. Feel is light and crisp, almost pilsner like, but with decent hop and grain character on the finish. Crushable helles for sure. Pairs well with aged gouda
May 27, 2021
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington
3.79/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2020-07-12
500ml bottle served in a crystal pint glass. Dated 04/10/20.
Pours clear, light, yellow, smallish head. Smell is yeasty/funky, a little honeysuckle, pretty mild.
Taste is sweet and grainy. Lager funk. Some honey or honeysuckle. Moderate grassiness.
Mouthfeel is very light, smooth. Overall, light, tasty beer. Not exciting, but enjoyable.
Jul 12, 2020500ml bottle served in a crystal pint glass. Dated 04/10/20.
Pours clear, light, yellow, smallish head. Smell is yeasty/funky, a little honeysuckle, pretty mild.
Taste is sweet and grainy. Lager funk. Some honey or honeysuckle. Moderate grassiness.
Mouthfeel is very light, smooth. Overall, light, tasty beer. Not exciting, but enjoyable.
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
4.11/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.11/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle poured into a Russian River Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours golden yellow with a frothy white head that settles to a firm layer and laces beautifully.
S: Nobel hops, floral and herbal notes, grainy, slightly toasty bready malt, a hint of citrus, a little yeasty, and some honey sweetness.
T: Grainy, lightly toasty bready malt, big noble hop floral and spicy herbal tones, a little citrus, lemon and orange, yeasty, slight fruity notes, pear, rounded out with a some honey sweetness.
M: Light to medium body, moderate carbonation, every so slightly creamy.
O: Definitely not a style I have consumed much of, but I'm definitely enjoying this one. I feel like I need to go lie on a grassy hill with a picnic basket.
Jun 25, 2019A: Pours golden yellow with a frothy white head that settles to a firm layer and laces beautifully.
S: Nobel hops, floral and herbal notes, grainy, slightly toasty bready malt, a hint of citrus, a little yeasty, and some honey sweetness.
T: Grainy, lightly toasty bready malt, big noble hop floral and spicy herbal tones, a little citrus, lemon and orange, yeasty, slight fruity notes, pear, rounded out with a some honey sweetness.
M: Light to medium body, moderate carbonation, every so slightly creamy.
O: Definitely not a style I have consumed much of, but I'm definitely enjoying this one. I feel like I need to go lie on a grassy hill with a picnic basket.
Reviewed by Tucquan from Pennsylvania
4.6/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.6/5 rDev +10.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Had this on 2019-05-26 in Portland, OR from a 500ml bottled on 2019-04-09 and again on 2019-05-27 from a growler acquired 60 mins ago at the brewery in Hood River.
A - Beautifully clear straw gold with a 1.5 finger white head.
S - Sourdough bread, noble hops, floral.
T - Rich, semi-sweet Pilsner malts, lightly toasted bread with honey, grassy/herbal spice. Appropriate bitterness.
M - Light-medium body and carbonation. Smooth.
O - A delicious beer, especially after an 8 mile walk on this perfect day 5/26/19 in Portland. Even better fresh from the tap today 5/27/19.
May 27, 2019A - Beautifully clear straw gold with a 1.5 finger white head.
S - Sourdough bread, noble hops, floral.
T - Rich, semi-sweet Pilsner malts, lightly toasted bread with honey, grassy/herbal spice. Appropriate bitterness.
M - Light-medium body and carbonation. Smooth.
O - A delicious beer, especially after an 8 mile walk on this perfect day 5/26/19 in Portland. Even better fresh from the tap today 5/27/19.
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