Gold Coin Helles
Backpocket Brewing

I thought I found a gem when I poured it. Well defined head, larger than normal. with just a subtle hint of haze. Awesome golden look. Was getting hints of orange (?) and malt. Pretty pleasant. Taste was a let down though. Too bitter for a Helles and it clashes with the sweetness. Medium carbonation, doesn’t really help or hurt the bitterness, but almost an awesome Helles.

From a bom can into a pint glass. Pour had a 1/2" head of white foam over a clear, pale golden body with some effervescence. Scent is classic helles -- slightly herbal, mildly hoppy (pine/grass/hay), and a bit of toasty malt backbone. Taste inverts a bit to bring the malt upfront (crackery, a touch sweet) which transitions nicely to a more balanced hop profile of spice and floral notes. Feel is on the lighter side with a bit of carbonation bouncing on the tongue with a pleasantly slightly sweet aftertaste. Overall a great tasting!

Appearance: Pours a gold body, ever so slight haziness and a brief, white head.

Smell: Presents a light aroma, a scantly sweetish grain note with a low, light level of background spiciness.

Taste: A bit sweet and grainy with a taste of soft Wonder Bread sans the crust. Subtly spicy, floral hops and no more than a smidgen of tempering bitterness. Small tingle of carbonation on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-light carbonation.

Overall: Not so good or bad you'll come unglued, but it's a simple, easy-drinking lager and I am okay with that.

A Microbrewery Beer Club selection. Pours a gold color with a minimal head that disappears quickly. No discernable aroma. Taste is sweet honey and spices. No hoppy bitterness.

 

On tap in nearby Des Moines at Carissa's rehearsal dinner. Everything about this beer is low key from the carbonation to the smell to the flavor. More bite and flavor than Bud, but not as flavorful as an Urquel.

 

 

Appearance: Pours a clear, but bright, medium golden color with a bubbling and spotted white head. SRM of 9. (4.00)

Aroma: Mild aromas of honey, some earthiness and corn. Hints of orange and Belgian spice. (3.75)

Flavor: Flavor is mild and follows with more light honey with croutons. Bready, but sweet honey. Finishes mildly sweet from the malts. No hop presence or bitterness as expected. (3.75)

Feel: Medium-bodied. Low carbonation. Finishes silky and smooth. Honey lingers. (3.50)

Compared to Bent Paddle's Classic Cream Ale 6/29/20: Pours a similar color. Milder aromas and flavors. More generic pale malt and honey. Less earthy honey and German flare. Lighter. I much prefer Classic.

Compared to New Glarus Two Women Lager 7/31/22: Pours a darker color. Stronger. More orange and bread. Less pale malt and yeast. More honey and sweeter.

Compared to Utepils Helles 7/31/22: Pours a darker color. Stronger. More orange, bread, sweeter. Less earthy yeast and German bread. Sweeter and heavier.

Overall: A decent drinking helles. Flavors and aromas are darker and sweeter of honey and crouton. Low carbonation. Some hints of Belgian spices of oranges and bread. Begins to lean toward a Blue Moon, but not quite there. Listed as a Blonde lager on their site, might be more up that alley given the sweeter body... (Final Rating: 3.69)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clear light gold color with white cap.

Pleasant aroma of mild malt and floral hops.

Flavor on entry is a touch richer than the scent implies with a small but noticeable bit of sweetness. Relatively low 15 IBU is sufficient to balance the malt and add a bit of dry spiciness. It finishes clean and refreshing with a nice roundness.

Light-medium texture with balancing carbonation.

A low key but satisfying Helles Lager that is worthy of the name.

Look - super clear bear and oddly it has no filter action, good skimming too
Smell - earthy grainy smell
Taste - grainy with slight spice and toast
Feel - smooth easy going with a crisp crab
Overall - not to bad