Krampus (Imperial Helles Lager) | Southern Tier Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Southern Tier Brewing Company
New York, United States
southerntierbrewing.com
Style: American Double / Imperial Pilsner
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.00%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by brewdlyhooked13 on 07-15-2008
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 445 | Ratings: 1,222
3.59/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First had poured from 22-oz. bomber, stamped "DOB 10/26/15," into nonic pint. Doesn't completely reflect the style, but does a good job of hiding the high ABV.
★ 160 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First had poured from 22-oz. bomber, stamped "DOB 10/26/15," into nonic pint. Doesn't completely reflect the style, but does a good job of hiding the high ABV.
★ 160 characters
4.19/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bomber into a tulip glass.
L: Pours an amber/orange color... 2 fingers of off-white head. Generous lacing.. great legs... definitely a sexy sassy beer.
S: Biscuits and malts... noble hops, slightly floral.
T/F: Fresh baked biscuits, bready malts, with a nice soft hop pinch at the finish. Great carbonation, well hidden ABV but warming. It makes my tongue tingle a bit.
O: An Imperial lager... not bad at all, although nothing really close to a lager. An overall well rounded and presented brew.. more of an Imperial Amber to my taste. Call it what you will... it's an easier drinker than it should be, and a fine offering from Southern Tier.
★ 670 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bomber into a tulip glass.
L: Pours an amber/orange color... 2 fingers of off-white head. Generous lacing.. great legs... definitely a sexy sassy beer.
S: Biscuits and malts... noble hops, slightly floral.
T/F: Fresh baked biscuits, bready malts, with a nice soft hop pinch at the finish. Great carbonation, well hidden ABV but warming. It makes my tongue tingle a bit.
O: An Imperial lager... not bad at all, although nothing really close to a lager. An overall well rounded and presented brew.. more of an Imperial Amber to my taste. Call it what you will... it's an easier drinker than it should be, and a fine offering from Southern Tier.
★ 670 characters
3.68/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: Lovely reddish-copper color with a moderate head.
S: Excellent aroma, with plenty of malt, and some nice floral hops.
T: Highly bitter, certainly more bitter than any Helles I've ever had, with a dry grassy, floral hop flavor, that almost overwhelms the malt. There's a little sticky sweetness at the finish, but it doesn't feel like a Helles in any way to me.
M: Big bodied, as expected by the strength.
O: Eh, drinkable enough, if you don't care that you're not getting a Helles in any way.
★ 496 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: Lovely reddish-copper color with a moderate head.
S: Excellent aroma, with plenty of malt, and some nice floral hops.
T: Highly bitter, certainly more bitter than any Helles I've ever had, with a dry grassy, floral hop flavor, that almost overwhelms the malt. There's a little sticky sweetness at the finish, but it doesn't feel like a Helles in any way to me.
M: Big bodied, as expected by the strength.
O: Eh, drinkable enough, if you don't care that you're not getting a Helles in any way.
★ 496 characters
4.04/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into tulip glass. It pours a pretty copper color with a two-finger, milk-white head and extensive lacing. It smells of floral malt with a faint whiff of caramel. The taste opens with sweet citrus and bready malt and finishes with sharp pine. It's a terrific blend of sweet malt and bitter hops. This lager is medium bodied and pleasantly carbonated. It's easy to drink in spite of its 9% ABV. Overall, it is very good. It is very flavorful and it packs a punch. It would stand up well with a hearty meal or on its own. Southern Tier is a quality brewer with great offerings
★ 590 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into tulip glass. It pours a pretty copper color with a two-finger, milk-white head and extensive lacing. It smells of floral malt with a faint whiff of caramel. The taste opens with sweet citrus and bready malt and finishes with sharp pine. It's a terrific blend of sweet malt and bitter hops. This lager is medium bodied and pleasantly carbonated. It's easy to drink in spite of its 9% ABV. Overall, it is very good. It is very flavorful and it packs a punch. It would stand up well with a hearty meal or on its own. Southern Tier is a quality brewer with great offerings
★ 590 characters
3.94/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep caramel, soft dark fruit, hoppy, full body, nice balance. Mildly bitter. Interesting mouth feel, tangy. I'm not lager fan but this could change my mind!
★ 157 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep caramel, soft dark fruit, hoppy, full body, nice balance. Mildly bitter. Interesting mouth feel, tangy. I'm not lager fan but this could change my mind!
★ 157 characters
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A quality beer from a quality brewery! I've had this several times before but never submitted a review. Pours a nice, clear, copper color with a decent foam head which recedes to a persistent layer of thin foam. Smell is mildly aromatic. Taste is quite satisfying, although more hoppy than one might expect from a lager. Overall a very delicious beer.
★ 356 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A quality beer from a quality brewery! I've had this several times before but never submitted a review. Pours a nice, clear, copper color with a decent foam head which recedes to a persistent layer of thin foam. Smell is mildly aromatic. Taste is quite satisfying, although more hoppy than one might expect from a lager. Overall a very delicious beer.
★ 356 characters
4.44/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Really enjoyed this beer! Smooth pour of golden orange with a nice thick creamy head and great lacing. The smell is sweet and malty. The taste is rich and flavorful with fruit and pine flavors. I will buy some more to drink after the Christmas season.
★ 251 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Really enjoyed this beer! Smooth pour of golden orange with a nice thick creamy head and great lacing. The smell is sweet and malty. The taste is rich and flavorful with fruit and pine flavors. I will buy some more to drink after the Christmas season.
★ 251 characters
3.93/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
A nice clear, dark gold. The egg shell white head leaves a good amount of lacing.
Smells pretty sweet. Light bready malts. Decent amount of floral.
It tastes like club crackers and sweet doughy bread and some citrus followed by biting pine and floral hops.
It feels a little to full and syrupy.
Overall, this is a very good beer. A bit boozy, and overly hoppy for the style, but the base beer is to point. Not crisp enough to be a pilsner like the listing, but it is billed as a Helles, so I am scoring more along those lines.
★ 534 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
A nice clear, dark gold. The egg shell white head leaves a good amount of lacing.
Smells pretty sweet. Light bready malts. Decent amount of floral.
It tastes like club crackers and sweet doughy bread and some citrus followed by biting pine and floral hops.
It feels a little to full and syrupy.
Overall, this is a very good beer. A bit boozy, and overly hoppy for the style, but the base beer is to point. Not crisp enough to be a pilsner like the listing, but it is billed as a Helles, so I am scoring more along those lines.
★ 534 characters
3.85/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Not what I expected for the style, but after I adjusted to the hops, this is pretty tasty. Pours copper with thin, clingy white skim. Aroma is all citrus and pine despite my attempts to sniff some malt. Flavor is similar - hoppy with the slightest sweet in the hoppy aftertaste. This is okay, but one-time.
★ 306 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Not what I expected for the style, but after I adjusted to the hops, this is pretty tasty. Pours copper with thin, clingy white skim. Aroma is all citrus and pine despite my attempts to sniff some malt. Flavor is similar - hoppy with the slightest sweet in the hoppy aftertaste. This is okay, but one-time.
★ 306 characters
3.25/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I had this at a tasting from tap. Somewhat sweet, but expected. Very nice mouthfeel for a lager and would do well on a cold night when a stout is not wanted.
★ 159 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I had this at a tasting from tap. Somewhat sweet, but expected. Very nice mouthfeel for a lager and would do well on a cold night when a stout is not wanted.
★ 159 characters
4.22/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer was a surprise....I was thinking helles lager....not pseudo ipa. This beer poured a nice copper with thin white head that did not lace. The scent was pine and citrus. The taste was a crisp hoppy goodness. Pine and citrus definitely present and came off the pallet clean. The mouthfeel was medium in body with good carbonation. Overall this was a good beer.
★ 372 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer was a surprise....I was thinking helles lager....not pseudo ipa. This beer poured a nice copper with thin white head that did not lace. The scent was pine and citrus. The taste was a crisp hoppy goodness. Pine and citrus definitely present and came off the pallet clean. The mouthfeel was medium in body with good carbonation. Overall this was a good beer.
★ 372 characters
4.1/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bright copper orange in color with a light, viscous haze. Poured with a short white foam that reduced to a soapy cap with medium retention. Medium pilsner malt aroma. Medium light herbal hop aroma followed by sweet bready and boozy notes. Medium bodied with a creamy smooth feel and medium light carbonation. Medium malty flavor up front followed by light herbal hops and medium light hop bitterness. Definitive booziness from the middle to the end. Finished cleanly with a light bitterness and booziness. Certainly a boozy pilsner. The alcohol is smooth and warming, although a bit dominant.
★ 594 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bright copper orange in color with a light, viscous haze. Poured with a short white foam that reduced to a soapy cap with medium retention. Medium pilsner malt aroma. Medium light herbal hop aroma followed by sweet bready and boozy notes. Medium bodied with a creamy smooth feel and medium light carbonation. Medium malty flavor up front followed by light herbal hops and medium light hop bitterness. Definitive booziness from the middle to the end. Finished cleanly with a light bitterness and booziness. Certainly a boozy pilsner. The alcohol is smooth and warming, although a bit dominant.
★ 594 characters
3.22/5 rDev -17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
First sip and I am overwhelmed by citrusy hops, predominately grapefruit, followed by an unpleasant bitterness. There is also a grassy, piney quality that I did not enjoy. First Southern Tier that I did not enjoy.
★ 217 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
First sip and I am overwhelmed by citrusy hops, predominately grapefruit, followed by an unpleasant bitterness. There is also a grassy, piney quality that I did not enjoy. First Southern Tier that I did not enjoy.
★ 217 characters
3.94/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From the 650 ml. bottle dated 10/25/15. Sampled on November 20, 2015 so less than one month.
Heady, amber-orange pour. Moderate clarity. The head fades some.
Interesting pine and sort of tropical fruit or floral aroma with those roasted malts.
Medium,, smooth body. Good texture.
The taste has a vibrant sweet, cooked malt character with a clean, crisp bitterness pouring in from behind.
★ 395 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From the 650 ml. bottle dated 10/25/15. Sampled on November 20, 2015 so less than one month.
Heady, amber-orange pour. Moderate clarity. The head fades some.
Interesting pine and sort of tropical fruit or floral aroma with those roasted malts.
Medium,, smooth body. Good texture.
The taste has a vibrant sweet, cooked malt character with a clean, crisp bitterness pouring in from behind.
★ 395 characters
3.87/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured 22 oz. bottle into snifter. Dark amber with a 2 finger white head. Great retention and loads of lacing line the glass.
Sweet malts,some caramel and bread. Plenty of piney, green hop scents that are floral and earthy. Maybe a few hints of citrus. Starts off with sweet malts with a caramel flavor along with a breadiness to it. Transforms into a big hoppy finish. A bitterness comes in with earthy and piney notes, even a bit of citrus. This has a nice flavor and excellent balance. Light to medium-bodied, smooth and nice carbonation, some lingering bitterness.
I can see why some dislike it, but it is a big malty lager that has loads of hops. If you like IIPA's, give it a try.
★ 691 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured 22 oz. bottle into snifter. Dark amber with a 2 finger white head. Great retention and loads of lacing line the glass.
Sweet malts,some caramel and bread. Plenty of piney, green hop scents that are floral and earthy. Maybe a few hints of citrus. Starts off with sweet malts with a caramel flavor along with a breadiness to it. Transforms into a big hoppy finish. A bitterness comes in with earthy and piney notes, even a bit of citrus. This has a nice flavor and excellent balance. Light to medium-bodied, smooth and nice carbonation, some lingering bitterness.
I can see why some dislike it, but it is a big malty lager that has loads of hops. If you like IIPA's, give it a try.
★ 691 characters
4.5/5 rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Brilliant clear copper to amber topped with a 1” foam collar that dissipates quickly leaving good lacing with very strong hop aromas. Aggressively hopped but has good clean malt as well to back up the hops – the hops are where the action is and it is almost like a tonic.
★ 275 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Brilliant clear copper to amber topped with a 1” foam collar that dissipates quickly leaving good lacing with very strong hop aromas. Aggressively hopped but has good clean malt as well to back up the hops – the hops are where the action is and it is almost like a tonic.
★ 275 characters
3.25/5 rDev -16.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
This is obviously from last year.
Aroma is floral, with a significant amount of caramel malt and that classic lager yeast character. There's a touch of specialty malt fruitiness.
Flavor reveals a more dominant fruitiness, likely attributable to specialty malt and citrusy hop character, with a crisp lager finish and fairly high bitterness. The toasted malt character is tea-like, and a boot overly done.
I'm not a huge bitter fan, so this is not to my liking. The citrus hop character is the only redeeming quality.
★ 519 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
This is obviously from last year.
Aroma is floral, with a significant amount of caramel malt and that classic lager yeast character. There's a touch of specialty malt fruitiness.
Flavor reveals a more dominant fruitiness, likely attributable to specialty malt and citrusy hop character, with a crisp lager finish and fairly high bitterness. The toasted malt character is tea-like, and a boot overly done.
I'm not a huge bitter fan, so this is not to my liking. The citrus hop character is the only redeeming quality.
★ 519 characters
4.1/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed in a snifter from the bottle. This nice little Belgian pours a lightly hazy amber on the verge of orange with a beautiful head of off white foam that dissipates to ta thin layer, nice ring, and excellent lacing. Nose of grapefruit, citrus and piney hops, rich caramel, and some grainy alcohol. Flavors exceed the nose with caramel notes to the fore, then a fade into hops that is citrus forward and then piney on the back followed by a light honey aftertaste. Excellent for the style. Not being a hop head, this one dances with enough malt that I am not beaten over the head with the flavor profile. Alcohol burn comes through on the back and is smoothed out by a nice lightly creamy and sweet aftertaste and moderate carbonation. Exceptional.
Christmas in July
Cheers.
★ 786 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed in a snifter from the bottle. This nice little Belgian pours a lightly hazy amber on the verge of orange with a beautiful head of off white foam that dissipates to ta thin layer, nice ring, and excellent lacing. Nose of grapefruit, citrus and piney hops, rich caramel, and some grainy alcohol. Flavors exceed the nose with caramel notes to the fore, then a fade into hops that is citrus forward and then piney on the back followed by a light honey aftertaste. Excellent for the style. Not being a hop head, this one dances with enough malt that I am not beaten over the head with the flavor profile. Alcohol burn comes through on the back and is smoothed out by a nice lightly creamy and sweet aftertaste and moderate carbonation. Exceptional.
Christmas in July
Cheers.
★ 786 characters
3.77/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap, pint glass.
Clean clear golden color. 1F white head, heavy fat lacing.
Mild spice hop and malt aromas, some caramel.
Caramel malt, grassy, some hops.
Lots of bite, medium body.
Nice take, tasty and drinkable.
★ 216 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap, pint glass.
Clean clear golden color. 1F white head, heavy fat lacing.
Mild spice hop and malt aromas, some caramel.
Caramel malt, grassy, some hops.
Lots of bite, medium body.
Nice take, tasty and drinkable.
★ 216 characters
2.99/5 rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
Served from tap in a snifter at Beelow's.
About to return to the theatre, I decided to revisit the Krampus, see how it comes across these days. It pours a clear sunset amber-brass topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises melon, apricot, caramel, light sweet cereal grains, and a twinge of booze for good measure. The taste holds notes of boozy grass, sweet cereal, light vinyl, and mild corn syrup. The body is a stolid medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, not terrible, but the booziness and slightly-fruity sweetness clash and create something akin to higher-end malt liquors. Still not my cup o' tea, really.
★ 674 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
Served from tap in a snifter at Beelow's.
About to return to the theatre, I decided to revisit the Krampus, see how it comes across these days. It pours a clear sunset amber-brass topped by a finger of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises melon, apricot, caramel, light sweet cereal grains, and a twinge of booze for good measure. The taste holds notes of boozy grass, sweet cereal, light vinyl, and mild corn syrup. The body is a stolid medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, not terrible, but the booziness and slightly-fruity sweetness clash and create something akin to higher-end malt liquors. Still not my cup o' tea, really.
★ 674 characters
2.97/5 rDev -24%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
Pours a deep golden color, clear, with average to slightly less average head and commendable lacing all around. Aroma is both hoppy and malty. First taste is very bitter hops and then a little sweetness. This beer may be out of date, as the flavors are weak and somewhat watered down. The bitterness is not that pleasant and lingers and lingers.......and lingers........Overall, the flavors are there, but they won't go together, kind of like oil and vinegar. Will; have to check date and if it is an old bottle, will revisit in the future...
★ 542 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
Pours a deep golden color, clear, with average to slightly less average head and commendable lacing all around. Aroma is both hoppy and malty. First taste is very bitter hops and then a little sweetness. This beer may be out of date, as the flavors are weak and somewhat watered down. The bitterness is not that pleasant and lingers and lingers.......and lingers........Overall, the flavors are there, but they won't go together, kind of like oil and vinegar. Will; have to check date and if it is an old bottle, will revisit in the future...
★ 542 characters
4/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Awesome label with a killer depiction of Krampus. Pours an amber color. Spicy/citrus flavor. Has a fair hint of malt with caramel/bread crust tones. Hoppy but not too much. I like it.
★ 184 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Awesome label with a killer depiction of Krampus. Pours an amber color. Spicy/citrus flavor. Has a fair hint of malt with caramel/bread crust tones. Hoppy but not too much. I like it.
★ 184 characters
4.25/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L-Light copper
S-Lots of aromatic Hops
T-Hoppy (earthy and piney, mostly). Intense, yet balanced and clean.
F-A bit viscous (in a good way)
O-Yet another super solid offering from ST. A nice change of pace for a winter seasonal. I've had other Hoppy Lagers/IPL's; this is the best I've had.
★ 291 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L-Light copper
S-Lots of aromatic Hops
T-Hoppy (earthy and piney, mostly). Intense, yet balanced and clean.
F-A bit viscous (in a good way)
O-Yet another super solid offering from ST. A nice change of pace for a winter seasonal. I've had other Hoppy Lagers/IPL's; this is the best I've had.
★ 291 characters
3.38/5 rDev -13.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
First off, let me just start off by saying that IPAs are really not my thing. Now, this tasted A LOT like an IPA to me.. So much so that if you put like 5 different IPAs in front of me & threw this in the mix, I probably wouldn't be able to pick it out from the others. If you like IPAs, you'd probably enjoy this, but it's a bit too piney for my liking.
★ 354 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
First off, let me just start off by saying that IPAs are really not my thing. Now, this tasted A LOT like an IPA to me.. So much so that if you put like 5 different IPAs in front of me & threw this in the mix, I probably wouldn't be able to pick it out from the others. If you like IPAs, you'd probably enjoy this, but it's a bit too piney for my liking.
★ 354 characters
Krampus (Imperial Helles Lager) from Southern Tier Brewing Company
3.91
out of 5
based on 1,222 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Best of this style (that I’ve tried ...Note: at that time). Dark golden body with adequate but thin head. Wonderful malty aroma, and robust taste. perfect all around.
★ 168 characters