Helles
Wren House Brewing Co.

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: Munich Helles Lager
Glass: 8-oz. hotel Styrofoam cup
Price: $3.29
From: Taste of Tops in Tempe, Ariz.
Purchased: May 18, 2022
Consumed: May 22, 2022
Misc.: Canned on April 7, 2022 at 4:06 p.m. PT

Grabbed a can of this at Taste of Tops after drinking some of the beers there first (think KnB Wine Cellars). Untappd description called for “Helles is finally ready after just over 8 weeks total production time… one of our most loved styles of lager to consume. Generally difficult to find fresh, but quite the treat when you do. Helles lager is a pale German style beer, meant to be drank by the liter, with a malt and hop balance that leaves you wanting more. We started with heritage Barke Pilsner malt and just a touch of Barke Munich malt to get that classic soft honey biscuit character. Step mashed using natural sour wort for pH adjustments. Hopped before and during the boil using quality German grown Tettnanger and Tradition hops. Fermented extra cold with our house lager yeast. Complete natural carbonation to our standard high volume for lagers. Lagered for 7 weeks at ice cold temps. A beautiful balance of complex German hop character and sweet bread. Notes of fresh biscuits, wildflower honey, hazelnut, fresh dried hay, dandelion flowers. A very satisfying lager at 5.2%. #clearbeer #helles #lagerislife.”

Tough to see because of the Styrofoam, but appeared to be a pale yellow clear color with four fingers of rocky white head. Couldn’t see any bubbles because of the cup. World-class foamy lacing. Almost-perfect foamy retention. (Sight - 4.75)

Smelled white toast, sweet bread, biscuit, honey, hay, Noble hops, floral, black pepper and earthy pilsner malt. About as good from the can with the addition of nuts and herbal notes. (Smell - 3.75)

Tasted a little better than the nose. In order got sweet bread, biscuit, honey, white toast, bitter aspirin, Noble hops, black pepper, oak, grass, hay, floral and earthy pilsner malt. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Lively carbonation. Long, dry finish. (Feel - 4.50)

This was a really good Helles. Outstanding overall. (Overall - 4.00)

4.09 | 91 | A-

Had on tap. Clear golden pour with two fingers of white foam, trace lacing flung about. Smell features bready yeast with lager malt, honey, grassy and moreso floral tones. Taste is malt forward but in a non-sweet malt, clean yeast too with cracker and white dinner roll meeting grassy hops and a whisper of minerals. Feel is malt yet crisp and smooth, light bodied in a good way