Hoppy Helles
Wander Brewing

 

draught
Moderate amount of creamy alabaster head. Nearly clear, light gold look. Bright, herbal and flowery aroma, almost rosy, on a light caramel malt base. Flavors are a little brash and clashing. Sharp notes of a medicinal sort, over a light toast malt base.

Gorgeous light and bright yellow body, mildly hazy; excellent carbonation; huge, thick, white head; dense and spongy; sticky sheets and patches of foam line the glass. Fresh cut pear aroma; light malt note in the background; mild herbal note. Incredibly balanced and robust taste; lightly toasted grain; a suggestion of cracker and biscuit; moderately intense hop bitterness; herbal flavors; grassy. Medium-heavy mouthfeel; soft and velvety; light dryness from start to finish.

This is a beautiful beer in appearance and taste. The rich golden color and thick, velvety head are things of beauty. The taste also works well, hoppy - sure, but it doesn't cross into the pale ale or IPA area, thus providing one with a nice, smooth, gently hoppy beer. The low ABV is also a plus, making the beer quite crushable.

Pouring temperature: 44 °F; canning info: unreadable

Pours a cloudy, bright golden color. Three - four finger white sudsy head forms on the beer before dissipating until no head remains. Some lacing sticks around on the glass. Aroma has notes of pilsner malt, white bread, some woody hop notes, a touch of fruity sweetness and a touch of green hop.

Taste follows the nose with some white bread, some pilsner malt, giving way to a strong hoppy presence. Hops have some light citrusy notes, a touch of woodiness, and some green, grassy hops with a slight hint of pine. Feel is light, crisp, and bright. Bright carbonation.

Is this a Hoppy Helles? an IPL? an American pilsner? Yes it is. But it is also quite tasty and delicious and I enjoyed drinking it.

Pours a beautiful straw color that is mostly clear with just the slightest bit of suspended haze, all underneath a sudsy, foamy 3+ finger white head that provides significant lacing. The nose is really focused on the noble hops, with lots of grass and floral notes.

A nicely bitter taste, with the aforementioned grass and floral notes, leads to a crisp, clean finish that has a bit of a cracker flavor. This is a beer you could easily sit and crush a can or three of and enjoy each can more. Very well done.

 

16oz can (dated 4/7/21) poured into 12oz goblet. Poured a lightly hazy pale straw color with 1/2 inch of white head that had low-moderate retention, and very light lacing.

The aroma wasn't as hoppy as the name would lead one to expect. Not the big,bold American hops, but more the "traditional" Noble hops that typify the style: Grassy, floral, a bit of spice. The grain oriented malts offered a nice base.

Pretty similar on the tongue, nice earthy grains and hops.

The body was light-medium, smooth, and had a medium-dry finish.

Drinkability was good, I foresee draining a few more while it's around.

Overall, a nice brew. Worth a shot if you see it.