Helles Lager
Wissahickon Brewing Company

Wissahickon Brewing Co. "Helles Lager"
16 fl. oz. can coded "031423" and sampled on 6 May 2023

Notes via stream of consciousness: This is hopped with Hallertau Blanc so I'm expecting a little bit of gooseberry and white grape in the flavor and aroma but we'll see. It's poured a deep golden body with fingerprint-through-the-glass clarity and a standard-sized head of white foam. I'm not getting a whole lot of hops in the aroma, which is fine, that's to style - well, I'll get to that later, and I'm also not sure that what I am getting is really like white grape but it is lightly fruity. It's also a bit herbal, and I get some of the malt as well, which is to be expected. On to the flavor then, the malt is basic, grainy, and grassy. It's got a firm bitterness and an interesting herbal and spicy character. I'm getting more passionfruit than I am white grape or gooseberry although there is some of that. A firm bitterness balances it and it finishes quite dry with herbs and spiciness lingering. In the mouth it's medium bodied and crisp. It's a daring interpretation in many ways, and yet it's really not. What I started to say earlier is that, at least in Germany, a lot of brewers are stepping away from the standard Munich helles guidelines and doing things like using newer varieties of hops and adding more of them to the aroma. Helles just means light in color, and refers to their light colored beer that's not a Pils or other specific style so it makes sense. The only thing that i can fault it on is appearance as neither the head retention or lacing was really that great, but on the other hand it has a perfect clarity and you rarely find that anymore.
Review #8,614