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Samuel Adams Fresh As Helles
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Helles
Ranked #230 - ABV:
- 5.4%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #26,279 - Avg:
- 3.62 | pDev: 11.33%
- Reviews:
- 150
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 25, 2022
- Added:
- Dec 22, 2016
- Wants:
- 13
- Gots:
- 141
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good


Notes:
The soft citrus of orange blossom adds a bright accent to the slightly sweet honey malt notes in this Helles lager, leading to a round, smooth finish.
IBU: 18
IBU: 18
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Parmesan from Colorado
3/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
L: Pours a muted orange amber with a large white head that leaves about an inch on top and thick fingers of lacing all around the glass.
S: Little bit of blood orange, notes of honey and bread, not the strongest aroma.
T: Some blood orange mixed with sweet honey and some bread, the orange and honey kinda hide the rest of the helles characteristics.
F: Medium body and carbonation.
O: This one just doesn't do much more me, the honey and blood orange seem to overshadow the helles character of this beer.
Nov 26, 2018S: Little bit of blood orange, notes of honey and bread, not the strongest aroma.
T: Some blood orange mixed with sweet honey and some bread, the orange and honey kinda hide the rest of the helles characteristics.
F: Medium body and carbonation.
O: This one just doesn't do much more me, the honey and blood orange seem to overshadow the helles character of this beer.
Rated by Drak-Nib from Nebraska
3/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
“Helles lager with orange blossom.” This has a distinctive fruity taste with a slightly hoppy flavor underneath. Not bad. 2018/02/18
Nov 20, 2018Reviewed by JimboBrews54 from Michigan
4.3/5 rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a clear golden color with a foamy head. Aroma is floral with light fruit, and grassy. Taste of light fruits, bit of citrus and floral. Mild bitterness and a clean finish. Moderate body, quite smooth, clean and refreshing. Beer probably goes best with a BBQ.
Oct 17, 2018Reviewed by lwillitz from Wisconsin
3.67/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.67/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12-oz bottle into flute
A - half a finger of white over a crystal-clear golden body, high visible carbonation
S - light malts with a touch of citrus
T - light bread, oranges, pine and spice
M - crisp light body, high carbonation
O - on par for the style; good enough to drink again
Oct 06, 2018A - half a finger of white over a crystal-clear golden body, high visible carbonation
S - light malts with a touch of citrus
T - light bread, oranges, pine and spice
M - crisp light body, high carbonation
O - on par for the style; good enough to drink again
Reviewed by BlackBeerPirate from Illinois
3.24/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.24/5 rDev -10.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Taste: crisp, clean finish, caramel malts, with notes of orange blossoms. Same with the nose. Gold, clear, with white head and some lace. Medium/light body. Easy drinking Summer beer. 18 IBUs
Jul 16, 2018Rated by Esor from Canada (AB)
4.2/5 rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.2/5 rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very refreshing light and easy drinking very nice spring beer when I can find it in Canada.
May 28, 2018Reviewed by RozzieBoy from Rhode Island
3.62/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.62/5 rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L - Darker golden, light carbonation with thin off-white head. Minimal lacing.
S - Light breaststroke malt
T - Follows nose.
T - Smooth and medium bodied. Very nice.
O - Enjoyable, pretty easy drinking beer. Liked it.
May 12, 2018S - Light breaststroke malt
T - Follows nose.
T - Smooth and medium bodied. Very nice.
O - Enjoyable, pretty easy drinking beer. Liked it.
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming
3.73/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Single bought at Liquor Shed.
It pours a clear light gold with an inch of foam and good lacing.
It smells of oranges, sweet and cracker malt.
Taste is of oranges, sweet malt, crackers, hints of pine which make this an easy drinker. Pretty enjoyable.
Apr 30, 2018It pours a clear light gold with an inch of foam and good lacing.
It smells of oranges, sweet and cracker malt.
Taste is of oranges, sweet malt, crackers, hints of pine which make this an easy drinker. Pretty enjoyable.
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
3.67/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Picked up as part of a mixed 12 pack for $14.99. Best before April 2018.
Beer poured golden with a tinge of orange, nice white head that has some good hang time.
Nose has a touch of orange weaved in with a primarily malt forward aroma, nicely played.
Taste is crackers with a nice touch of orange. Finish is a tad on the sweet side and could use some balance.
Mouthfeel is light bodied and refreshing.
Overall this is a nice little refreshing beer, good change of pace.
Apr 29, 2018Beer poured golden with a tinge of orange, nice white head that has some good hang time.
Nose has a touch of orange weaved in with a primarily malt forward aroma, nicely played.
Taste is crackers with a nice touch of orange. Finish is a tad on the sweet side and could use some balance.
Mouthfeel is light bodied and refreshing.
Overall this is a nice little refreshing beer, good change of pace.
Reviewed by secondtooth from Indiana
3.49/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.49/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Clean golden amber with a light head of off-white suds and no lace.
Aroma: Malty with hints of fruit but not much of the orange blossom.
Taste: Enjoyable light and malty lager here, with a hint of orange fruitiness underneath. Decent, if subtle and forgettable overall.
Apr 25, 2018Aroma: Malty with hints of fruit but not much of the orange blossom.
Taste: Enjoyable light and malty lager here, with a hint of orange fruitiness underneath. Decent, if subtle and forgettable overall.
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
3.71/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Clear, deep golden body; thin yet lasting head. Caramel and fresh bread aroma. The taste mirrors the aroma; some subtle hop bitterness. Medium body; warm.
An all-around, solid and tasty beer. It delivers some lager smoothness with a dash of ale warmth and flavor.
Apr 22, 2018An all-around, solid and tasty beer. It delivers some lager smoothness with a dash of ale warmth and flavor.
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey
3.76/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.76/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A: Coloring is medium-tarnished orange, with a very good clarity, a bit darker then i expected per style. Large building billowy white head forms and lapses after a moderate rate of stay. Nice covering still persists. The carbonation factor is very light, very loosely dense, but rises at a relatively quick pace. A nice film coating ensures on the vessel.
S: Good sense of the orange blossoms on the opening aroma, very fresh, aromatic, floral with some underlying notes of citrusy-grapefruit. Some definitions of hop spiciness adds a nice zing and spring feel, spicy, bright, very spring and Saaz like. Nice fruitiness, for a helles style has a strong aromatic presence.
T: The flavor had a very crisp nature, lemony-orange blossom, and grapefruit with a good orange floral touch. Fresh grains, breakfast fruit, melon, and cantaloupe with an apple-lager like yeastiness bite. A really nice finish expresses the strong nature of the orange blossoms with a fresh and vibrant nature, spicy, floral and perfumy, with some tulips, honey-suckle and orange blossoms with a crisp lager bite. Clean and and sharp nature, touch of apple yeastiness, with some sweet honeymalt.
M: Good crispness, honey like feel, lager bite with some bubbly sensation. Orange blossom expression coming on the swallow with a light dry grain finish.
O: Overall Sam Adams was my gateway beer, like so many others, and they tend to make very refined, clean drinking pub beers for the masses. This is a nice twist on the helles style, a very clean grain bill and brewing technique, with some added sauciness and spiciness of american hops and floral orange blossoms adds flavor and a very spring like feel. A very enjoyable beer that is multiple worthy by all accounts, very cleanly brewed, high crispness factor, and fills a void in the spring time offering of beers with orange blossom notes that is bright and spicy adding american influence with a great german malt backbone.
Apr 18, 2018S: Good sense of the orange blossoms on the opening aroma, very fresh, aromatic, floral with some underlying notes of citrusy-grapefruit. Some definitions of hop spiciness adds a nice zing and spring feel, spicy, bright, very spring and Saaz like. Nice fruitiness, for a helles style has a strong aromatic presence.
T: The flavor had a very crisp nature, lemony-orange blossom, and grapefruit with a good orange floral touch. Fresh grains, breakfast fruit, melon, and cantaloupe with an apple-lager like yeastiness bite. A really nice finish expresses the strong nature of the orange blossoms with a fresh and vibrant nature, spicy, floral and perfumy, with some tulips, honey-suckle and orange blossoms with a crisp lager bite. Clean and and sharp nature, touch of apple yeastiness, with some sweet honeymalt.
M: Good crispness, honey like feel, lager bite with some bubbly sensation. Orange blossom expression coming on the swallow with a light dry grain finish.
O: Overall Sam Adams was my gateway beer, like so many others, and they tend to make very refined, clean drinking pub beers for the masses. This is a nice twist on the helles style, a very clean grain bill and brewing technique, with some added sauciness and spiciness of american hops and floral orange blossoms adds flavor and a very spring like feel. A very enjoyable beer that is multiple worthy by all accounts, very cleanly brewed, high crispness factor, and fills a void in the spring time offering of beers with orange blossom notes that is bright and spicy adding american influence with a great german malt backbone.
Reviewed by mushroomcloud from Texas
3.76/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.76/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Best before June 2018
1" white sudsy head on top of a deep golden, clear lager...plenty of visible carbonation.
Big, sweet oranges in the nose. Citrus and soft malt.
Light. Pleasant orange blossom flavors. Honey sweetness?
Soft, soft mouthfeel, dry finish. Perceived low carbonation. Quick and clean.
Easy to drink, bordering on crushable but probably not a Helles?
Apr 14, 20181" white sudsy head on top of a deep golden, clear lager...plenty of visible carbonation.
Big, sweet oranges in the nose. Citrus and soft malt.
Light. Pleasant orange blossom flavors. Honey sweetness?
Soft, soft mouthfeel, dry finish. Perceived low carbonation. Quick and clean.
Easy to drink, bordering on crushable but probably not a Helles?
Reviewed by DingusKhann from Texas
4.1/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer is very nice to look at, its amber color and and pale head are very similar, nearly identical in fact, to other Sam Adams lagers. The truly delightful aspect of this beer is it's bright fruitiness. The bright flavors definitely hide behind this beers appearance. When first cracked the sweet scent of orange mingles with hoppy undertones. This parallels the beer's flavors. The flavor of the orange is not overpowering, yet the fruits sweetness cuts through the spiciness of the hops. The mouth feel is thin with moderate carbonation; a good balance in my opinion. This beer would pair well with spicy foods, such as Mexican or Asian foods. The sweet fruitiness will contrast well with the spice.
Mar 31, 2018Rated by Magnus_Yeflwulf from New York
4.08/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This is a bright and light lager, as it should be. The addition of orange blossom is noticeable on the burp. A very refreshing brew.
Mar 24, 2018
Samuel Adams Fresh As Helles from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
468 ratings
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