Helles
Dovetail Brewery
- From:
- Dovetail Brewery
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Helles
Ranked #24 - ABV:
- 4.4%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #10,220 - Avg:
- 4.07 | pDev: 7.86%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 57
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Yesterday at 07:34 PM
- Added:
- Jul 28, 2017
- Wants:
- 9
- Gots:
- 7
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
Brewed especially for baseball season, this Helles is the ultimate easy-to-drink beer. Malty, floral, refreshing.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TreyIsWilson:
Reviewed by TreyIsWilson from Michigan
4.06/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a lightly hazed gold with a fizzy white head. The head fades into a thin ring leaving some light soapy lacing.
S - Aroma is floral hops, yeasty esters and
T - The taste is crackery malts, white bread, lemon and a nice floral finish,
M - Light body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a big crisp finish.
O - Really solid Helles. This would make a great warm weather beer.
Oct 12, 2024S - Aroma is floral hops, yeasty esters and
T - The taste is crackery malts, white bread, lemon and a nice floral finish,
M - Light body with medium carbonation. Soft mouthfeel with a big crisp finish.
O - Really solid Helles. This would make a great warm weather beer.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Bitterbill from Wyoming
2.61/5 rDev -35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
2.61/5 rDev -35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
From Beer Drop. Not fresh...
Pours a hazy light orange, 2 finger head of foam, lacing and retention excellent.
Smell is bready, lemon, light hoppiness, tartness?
Taste is lemon tartness, some bread, ugh, hard to drink. September 2024 canning, this is off.
Not interested in this again unless it's fresh.
Jul 08, 2025Pours a hazy light orange, 2 finger head of foam, lacing and retention excellent.
Smell is bready, lemon, light hoppiness, tartness?
Taste is lemon tartness, some bread, ugh, hard to drink. September 2024 canning, this is off.
Not interested in this again unless it's fresh.
Reviewed by argock from Virginia
3.73/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Served on tap in a shaker pint at Beer Run.
A: Clear, medium gold hue with short cap of white foamy head with appropriate lacing.
S: Aroma is light overall with some bread, pills, multi and light noble, herbal hop notes.
T: Flavor is on target for the style, but still misses on peak Reddy Martinez. A rather unobtrusive helles. Just
M: Light body, and easy to drink with moderate carbonation and dry finish.
O: Dovetail Helles is a solid helles that could use a little more malt character to my taste but no flaws and an eminently drinkable lager.
Dec 15, 2024A: Clear, medium gold hue with short cap of white foamy head with appropriate lacing.
S: Aroma is light overall with some bread, pills, multi and light noble, herbal hop notes.
T: Flavor is on target for the style, but still misses on peak Reddy Martinez. A rather unobtrusive helles. Just
M: Light body, and easy to drink with moderate carbonation and dry finish.
O: Dovetail Helles is a solid helles that could use a little more malt character to my taste but no flaws and an eminently drinkable lager.
Rated by Noahflan
4.36/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.36/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Crisp and clear I could have 100
Sep 29, 2024
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
3.98/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.98/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Dovetail's best-seller gives an interesting window into what makes them tick. Dovetail is rare because it is a lager house that takes the Lambic tradition seriously. It is almost like two personalities: one making clean and classic lagers, the other complex fruity-tart ales.
This Helles is easy to appreciate and comes close to the Bavarian masters. The malt/hop balance is classic. But there also are mineral after-tastes. And this gives me pause to ask: is Lake Michigan's mineral-like water better to brew lagers and help explain why so many German brewers made it in Chicago and Milwaukee. Maybe it is the water.
Speculation aside, Dovetail's Helles innovates this traditional Bavarian style just enough -- particularly its mildly lingering bitter hops -- to make it more interesting and give me good cause to want another. I suppose that helps make a cash cow.
Jun 27, 2024This Helles is easy to appreciate and comes close to the Bavarian masters. The malt/hop balance is classic. But there also are mineral after-tastes. And this gives me pause to ask: is Lake Michigan's mineral-like water better to brew lagers and help explain why so many German brewers made it in Chicago and Milwaukee. Maybe it is the water.
Speculation aside, Dovetail's Helles innovates this traditional Bavarian style just enough -- particularly its mildly lingering bitter hops -- to make it more interesting and give me good cause to want another. I suppose that helps make a cash cow.
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