Helles
FrauGruber Brewing

 

 

Poured from 440mL can into a dimpled mug.

Appearance: pale straw hue with a moderate haze and a finger of frothy white foam atop.

Smell: sweet and toasty malt, along with a fair dose of yeastiness. There's also kind of this flat, almost-sourness that I associate in my head with gluten-free beers (this is made with barley so clearly not gluten-free); not my favorite thing.

Taste: malt is mildly sweet and has kind of a crackery character to it. That odd flavor from the aroma is also here; it's not strictly BAD, but it's not my jam.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good carbonation and creaminess. The texture is the best part of this beer.

Overall: I'm not sure exactly what it is that is lending the odd flavor I'm not a fan of, but whatever it is, I could certainly do without it.

Copenhagen 23/3 2021. 44 cl can from Best of Beers web-shop. Very simple orange and pale yellow can with drawing of three corn ears.

Pours slightly unclear pale yellow with a big white head. Settles as thin, patchy layer of foam. Moderate lacing.

Aroma is medium intense with a sweet, malty odor and light sourish notes. Sweet pale malts, bread, fresh grass. Citrus and sour grains. Spicy black pepper.

Light carbonation. Medium thick, soft, oily, lightly tingling texture.

Flavor is medium intense with a medium strong sweetness followed by a moderate bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter with a sweet undertone. Lingers for a bit. Finish is sweetish and a bit flat.

Solid, traditional Helles.

 

 

14.9 ounce can, no dating.

It pours a lightly hazy straw yellow with a heap of foam, good lacing.

It smells of grassy hops, bread, some citrus, a sweet note or two.

The taste has some real hoppy goodness, grass, citrus, somewhat spicy. Some bready malt here but bows down to the hops. 5 different ones listed on the can.

Medium bodied, carbonation is fine.

A tasty Helles and tastes very fresh.

Edit: The more I taste, the more I think I'm sensing Brett.

FrauGruber Brewing "Helles"
440ml can coded "MHB:BBD 02/05/22 FRESH BEF 12/21". Sampled on 4 October 2021.
€2,19 @ Naiv, Frankfurt, DE

Look: Mostly clear straw gold body beneath a short head of dense white foam.
Smell: Floral, lightly herbal, lightly grassy, and just slightly citrusy over a touch of sweetish malt.
Taste: The flavor is fuller than the aroma suggests with more grassiness, some spiciness, and a touch of lemon. Well balanced by a median bitterness. Dry, short lingering finish.
Feel: Medium bodied and gently crisp.
Overall: An interesting helles that remains traditional but has a slight twist in the hops. Enjoyable and refreshing.
Review #7,716

 

De Labirratorium. En copa hefe de Bavaria. Jugando a Roblox (Cruise Story) con Asun. Fresca y agradable, aunque le hecho en falta algo más de malta para estar a la altura de las más clásicas. No tiene nada especial viniendo de Fraugruber, de ellos espera uno algo más.

 

Pours a clear, pale straw coloration with a large, frothy head and slightly visible carbonation. Smells of faint, doughy, grainy malt and quite floral, slightly grassy hops. Taste follows the nose, with a poor balance of rather light and unremarkable doughy, slighty grainy malt and somewhat washed-out, overly floral and slightly grassy hops, with perhaps just a hint of citrus. Finishes with a very light bitterness and some floral hops lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a light/medium body and medium/strong carbonation.

I really wanted to like this, but unfortunately FrauGruber are proving once again that while they are brewing the best IPAs in Germany, that's really the only style they do well, this being far outclassed even by any macro Helles that I've had. It's just completely missing a nice, full malt body and feels rather light-bodied and watery, with the hops also being far too floral for my personal taste, almost feeling a bit chalky as well.