Helles
Bierstadt Lagerhaus
Beer Geek Stats:
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- Style:
- Lager - Helles
Ranked #9 - ABV:
- 4.9%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #6,652 - Avg:
- 4.17 | pDev: 7.43%
- Reviews:
- 12
- Ratings:
- From:
- Bierstadt Lagerhaus
- Colorado, United States
- Avail:
- Year-round
- Wants
- 5
- Gots
- 1
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Notes:
We get that color is an oversimplified way to describe a beer, and a Helles can often be dismissed as yellow and fizzy. What it should be is the purest expression of malt in any brewer's portfolio.
Our Helles is around 5% abv so it shouldn't leave you unable to defend your views on politics and religion. We often find those things are the only things worth talking about anyway. The people that say "you shouldn't discuss such things because it's rude" aren't drinking enough Helles.
Our Helles is around 5% abv so it shouldn't leave you unable to defend your views on politics and religion. We often find those things are the only things worth talking about anyway. The people that say "you shouldn't discuss such things because it's rude" aren't drinking enough Helles.
Reviews: 12
| Ratings: 40
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NCSapiens from Indiana
3.66/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Clear straw yellow with ample white head and tons of carbonation bubbling to the top. Crisp and clean with no off flavors, but kind of one dimensional. How much one enjoys this beer hinges entirely on one’s appreciation of yeasty malt flavor. Neither sweet nor bitter, it tastes like cold mountain water carbonated and flavored with a light bread tasting malt. I can easily imagine a person who finds this outstanding. For me it is more of an intellectual exercise in simplicity than an attempt to make a well rounded flavor profile.
Nov 01, 2020
3.66/5 rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Clear straw yellow with ample white head and tons of carbonation bubbling to the top. Crisp and clean with no off flavors, but kind of one dimensional. How much one enjoys this beer hinges entirely on one’s appreciation of yeasty malt flavor. Neither sweet nor bitter, it tastes like cold mountain water carbonated and flavored with a light bread tasting malt. I can easily imagine a person who finds this outstanding. For me it is more of an intellectual exercise in simplicity than an attempt to make a well rounded flavor profile.
Nov 01, 2020
Alieniloquium from Florida
3.88/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz. can. Clear golden. Smells of sweet doughy malt and light earthy hops. Tastes of doughy malt, a touch of sweet maltiness, and an even slighter amount of spicy hops. Light body. Easy to drink. Very clean. Very light hop profile. Very nice.
Oct 30, 2020
3.88/5 rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz. can. Clear golden. Smells of sweet doughy malt and light earthy hops. Tastes of doughy malt, a touch of sweet maltiness, and an even slighter amount of spicy hops. Light body. Easy to drink. Very clean. Very light hop profile. Very nice.
Oct 30, 2020
Sabtos from Ohio
4.17/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Clear but darker gold than the pils, the soft off-white head settles to a persistently fluffy blanket.
The frothy medium-light body is sweeter with notes of white grape, and finishes lightly dry, exhaling lightly bready notes.
Sep 15, 2020
4.17/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Clear but darker gold than the pils, the soft off-white head settles to a persistently fluffy blanket.
The frothy medium-light body is sweeter with notes of white grape, and finishes lightly dry, exhaling lightly bready notes.
Sep 15, 2020
barneyrubble from Colorado
4.06/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 16 oz can into a tulip glass a white foamy head of 2 fingers leaves a loose lace over a pale yellow transparent liquid.
On the nose a very light fresh yeast and malt with a whiff of banana.
Sweet mouth filling malt and a nicely slick finish without any bitter hops. A trace of banana shows off some neutral yeast and a light dry finish with perhaps a touch of green hop.
Very smooth fine light carbonation on the light medium body. Great smooth slick feel enhances the easy drinking mode. after a nice taste you want to jump right back in for more.
Overall a super delicious and clean refreshment. I have personally ranked the Slow Pour Pilsner at the top of my list but have not reviewed it here. This Helles is right behind it and although different reminds me of the 4 Noses Oktoberfest I recently enjoyed for drinkable fun.
Sep 12, 2020
4.06/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 16 oz can into a tulip glass a white foamy head of 2 fingers leaves a loose lace over a pale yellow transparent liquid.
On the nose a very light fresh yeast and malt with a whiff of banana.
Sweet mouth filling malt and a nicely slick finish without any bitter hops. A trace of banana shows off some neutral yeast and a light dry finish with perhaps a touch of green hop.
Very smooth fine light carbonation on the light medium body. Great smooth slick feel enhances the easy drinking mode. after a nice taste you want to jump right back in for more.
Overall a super delicious and clean refreshment. I have personally ranked the Slow Pour Pilsner at the top of my list but have not reviewed it here. This Helles is right behind it and although different reminds me of the 4 Noses Oktoberfest I recently enjoyed for drinkable fun.
Sep 12, 2020
Stevedore from Oregon
4.26/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Crisp, clean, incredibly refreshing, a very nice expression of malt, mild noble bitterness. I think I prefer SPP by a fair margin, but this is a great drinker, especially on the water.
Jul 31, 2020
4.26/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Crisp, clean, incredibly refreshing, a very nice expression of malt, mild noble bitterness. I think I prefer SPP by a fair margin, but this is a great drinker, especially on the water.
Jul 31, 2020
jrc1093 from Connecticut
4.34/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
No canning date
Pours a crystal-clear deep gold straw body topped with a finger and a half of delicate, eggshell-white foam; solid head retention yields a thin curtain of cap, moderate froth collar, and denser, webby splotches of lacing around the glass.
Aroma is absolutely vibrant, opening with crisp, fresh bread with a dollop of honey and bolstered with light backing of crackery malt; light floral tones course just beneath the surface, brilliantly intermingling with a slightly herbal honeysuckle largely informing the bouquet; soft straw and a clean minerality tie into lemon essence deep in the backdrop and come in waves on the close.
Taste brings hints of honey malt upfront into lightly toasted bread crust touched with lemon progressing over the mid-palate; some herbal honeysuckle on the back end guides to a denser, bready lingering fading steadily past the swallow, capping off a robust malt character shining deftly across the profile.
Mouthfeel presents a supremely clean, light body against a moderate-high carbonation offering a fluffy prickle over the palate; touches of background grit linger delicately past the mid-palate, adding a mild heft to an otherwise snappy, completely effortless finish/swallow.
Such precise, defined malt character as this imparts a remarkable complexity to a Helles that is at its core comprehensively approachable and without any rough edges or abrasiveness; pure and plush, yet somehow wildly bright, this is what expertly done lager looks like.
Jul 06, 2020
4.34/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
No canning date
Pours a crystal-clear deep gold straw body topped with a finger and a half of delicate, eggshell-white foam; solid head retention yields a thin curtain of cap, moderate froth collar, and denser, webby splotches of lacing around the glass.
Aroma is absolutely vibrant, opening with crisp, fresh bread with a dollop of honey and bolstered with light backing of crackery malt; light floral tones course just beneath the surface, brilliantly intermingling with a slightly herbal honeysuckle largely informing the bouquet; soft straw and a clean minerality tie into lemon essence deep in the backdrop and come in waves on the close.
Taste brings hints of honey malt upfront into lightly toasted bread crust touched with lemon progressing over the mid-palate; some herbal honeysuckle on the back end guides to a denser, bready lingering fading steadily past the swallow, capping off a robust malt character shining deftly across the profile.
Mouthfeel presents a supremely clean, light body against a moderate-high carbonation offering a fluffy prickle over the palate; touches of background grit linger delicately past the mid-palate, adding a mild heft to an otherwise snappy, completely effortless finish/swallow.
Such precise, defined malt character as this imparts a remarkable complexity to a Helles that is at its core comprehensively approachable and without any rough edges or abrasiveness; pure and plush, yet somehow wildly bright, this is what expertly done lager looks like.
Jul 06, 2020
stevoj from Idaho
3.5/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
16oz can thanks to Steve. Golden pour, small white head. Malty, grainy aroma, abit of savory notes from the hops. Taste is malty, grassy. Full mouthfeel. Pretty good rendition of the style.
Apr 30, 2020
3.5/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
16oz can thanks to Steve. Golden pour, small white head. Malty, grainy aroma, abit of savory notes from the hops. Taste is malty, grassy. Full mouthfeel. Pretty good rendition of the style.
Apr 30, 2020
GreesyFizeek from New York
4.51/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
This one pours a clear golden straw yellow color, with a small fizzy head, and lots of lacing.
This one smells like honeyed malt, grassy hops, baked bread, and lemon.
This is really, really nice. It's like delicious baked bread with just a hint of honey and lemon, along with a very light and supportive grassy hop bitterness. It's so simple and clean, and clearly incredibly well brewed. It's a great expression of simple and delicious malt.
This is light bodied, with a soft but snappy level of carbonation, and a tremendous drinkability.
I pretty desperately need to try more from this brewery.
Oct 01, 2019
4.51/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
This one pours a clear golden straw yellow color, with a small fizzy head, and lots of lacing.
This one smells like honeyed malt, grassy hops, baked bread, and lemon.
This is really, really nice. It's like delicious baked bread with just a hint of honey and lemon, along with a very light and supportive grassy hop bitterness. It's so simple and clean, and clearly incredibly well brewed. It's a great expression of simple and delicious malt.
This is light bodied, with a soft but snappy level of carbonation, and a tremendous drinkability.
I pretty desperately need to try more from this brewery.
Oct 01, 2019
metter98 from New York
4.13/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On-tap at Freshcraft, Denver, CO
A: The beer is crystal clear straw yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high dense bright white head that gradually died down but consistently left a short head covering the surface.
S: Light to moderate aromas of breads malts are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and is very malty with flavors of bready malts. There is just a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, clean and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This Helles Lager is very malty yet also very drinkable.
Serving type: on-tap
Aug 28, 2019
4.13/5 rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On-tap at Freshcraft, Denver, CO
A: The beer is crystal clear straw yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high dense bright white head that gradually died down but consistently left a short head covering the surface.
S: Light to moderate aromas of breads malts are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell and is very malty with flavors of bready malts. There is just a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, clean and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This Helles Lager is very malty yet also very drinkable.
Serving type: on-tap
Aug 28, 2019
tylerstravis from Colorado
4.54/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is the best Helles I've ever had and one of the best lagers. $5 for a crowler makes this nearly unbeatable. If you aren't too cool for lagers this is a must.
Mar 04, 2017
4.54/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is the best Helles I've ever had and one of the best lagers. $5 for a crowler makes this nearly unbeatable. If you aren't too cool for lagers this is a must.
Mar 04, 2017
StonedTrippin from Colorado
4.03/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
its not easy to make a lager like this, so light but also keeping it creamy and interesting in texture instead of watery or too thin, great job there. the flavor here is super fresh too, the grain is clean and light, cereal, dry, a little dusty as is appropriate in the style, but i think this beer is great because you can taste and appreciate this house lager yeas strain far better than you can in most other beers these guys are making, save maybe the pils, which has already become somewhat of an institution, at least for me. very little residual sugar, hop bitterness, or grain flavor interfering with the yeast on the back end, so it can be tasted in its truest form. it would be a mistake to think about this beer as a light crowd pleaser or throwaway beer from these guys, its enormously difficult to produce a beer of this delicate but distinctive nature, and it demands to be appreciated in that context. sure you can drink ten of them, but its so much more than that. cool place to check out too, with the rackhouse and the cidery inside. some weird rules about walking around with beers which is really lame, and the cash only downstairs is a frustration, but impossible not to have a good time here!
Nov 20, 2016
4.03/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
its not easy to make a lager like this, so light but also keeping it creamy and interesting in texture instead of watery or too thin, great job there. the flavor here is super fresh too, the grain is clean and light, cereal, dry, a little dusty as is appropriate in the style, but i think this beer is great because you can taste and appreciate this house lager yeas strain far better than you can in most other beers these guys are making, save maybe the pils, which has already become somewhat of an institution, at least for me. very little residual sugar, hop bitterness, or grain flavor interfering with the yeast on the back end, so it can be tasted in its truest form. it would be a mistake to think about this beer as a light crowd pleaser or throwaway beer from these guys, its enormously difficult to produce a beer of this delicate but distinctive nature, and it demands to be appreciated in that context. sure you can drink ten of them, but its so much more than that. cool place to check out too, with the rackhouse and the cidery inside. some weird rules about walking around with beers which is really lame, and the cash only downstairs is a frustration, but impossible not to have a good time here!
Nov 20, 2016
Parmesan from Colorado
4.54/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
L: Bright and clear straw gold color with a small frothy white head and about and inch of lacing on the glass.
S: Lots of floral and spicy noble hops balanced out by a sweet cereal malt and a slight hint of caramel.
T: Floral and spicy hops at forefront with a nice sweet cereal malt, and in one or two sips a slight hint of caramel. Very little bitterness. Wonderful and easy drinking.
F: Light crisp, clean and very easy drinking.
O: An absolutely fantastic helles, one of my favorite of the style.
Aug 27, 2016
4.54/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
L: Bright and clear straw gold color with a small frothy white head and about and inch of lacing on the glass.
S: Lots of floral and spicy noble hops balanced out by a sweet cereal malt and a slight hint of caramel.
T: Floral and spicy hops at forefront with a nice sweet cereal malt, and in one or two sips a slight hint of caramel. Very little bitterness. Wonderful and easy drinking.
F: Light crisp, clean and very easy drinking.
O: An absolutely fantastic helles, one of my favorite of the style.
Aug 27, 2016
Helles from Bierstadt Lagerhaus
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
40 ratings
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