South End Lager
Queen City Brewery

 

 

I tried this beer at the brewery. It poured a clear golden with thin white head that left some lace. The scent had faint grain notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with subtle grain and earth presence. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall its a good beer.

On tap at the brewery

 

 

It really makes me want pretzels when i drink this beer; it makes my mouth water, well, like the salt from a pretzel...hell, these make me want pretzels. It's a paradox of taste and feel: sweet malt richness, but crisp and light. And to a fault, rivals a pils in color (pale straw) and body (bubbling lightness). Regardless it's a great bridge between the straight-laced, spice accentuated crispness of a pils and the more contemplative malt foundation of a Vienna lager.

 

a solid and refreshing classically styled glass of helles lager, clear yellow and bright, upbeat carbonation, and authentic german flavors from all three elements, but with the light honey note in the malt and the old worldy german lager yeast character jumping out well in front of the noble hop profile this finishes with. there is a little sweetness to this, not as dry as some, but i really dont mind that, it lets me taste the fresh malt a little longer than i usually do in the style, and its so clean in other respects that the little bit of leftover sugar doesnt matter. light spice and grass to the hops, low bitterness though, even for a low bitterness style. lager yeast is biscuity to me, flakey and rustic, yet clean in its fermentation. overall a really drinkable pale beer that i have to imagine has enormously wide appeal, even for macro lager drinkers. refreshing for summer time but flavorful enough for all year. i thought the beers in here were really solid from a technical standpoint too. not the best helles in the world, but a fine example of the style!

 

L - Clear, near-golden pour with one finger, white foamy head. Noticable carbonation with nice lacing.
S - Definitely maltiness. Pretty nice.
T - Smooth and sweet breadiness.
F - Smooth with a light mouthfeel.
O - Really liked this beer. Went down smooth and easy. Will seek this out again.

 

 

 

This was poured into a pilsener glass. The appearance was a transparent golden yellow color with fast rising carbonation to fill a one finger white foamy head that dissipated fairly quickly. Light lacing here and there. The smell took in sweet grassy hops over top of some sweet bready/German yeastiness, clean and pronounced. The taste was basically the same with a nice smooth crisp sweet bready aftertaste leading on into the finish. On the palate, this one sat light on the body with a great sessionability about it. Could pound this all day in the Summer if I wanted to! Overall, for a dortmunder/helles lager this was extremely well brewed! Pairs exceptional with some grilled bratwursts!

 

 

12 oz. bottle

Pours clear golden yellow with a creamy white foam head. Smells like apple, pear, malty golden grains, lemony orange citrus rind, some spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like apples, pear, bready malty golden grains, lemony orange citrus rind, some spice, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium-light bodied, creamy and crisp with moderate carbonation. Overall a real nice helles lager.