Hauptstadt Helles
Freigeist Bierkultur

another one from these guys made at urban chestnut, which im sure gets us cheaper beer than them actually being imported, but our group was disappointed that this one still kind of had that imported long journey staleness to it, which is unflattering anyway, but with this being designed on the hoppier side, its especially problematic. i think the overall quality is good, or it was, this seems like it spend some extended time on a warm shelf, but whats left of it isnt great, well below expectations for a sneaky favorite brewery of mine. the first part of the pint can is pretty clear, saturated yellow with an average white head and quite a bit of fizz, it looks a little more unfiltered by the time i get to the bottom of it, but its never sedimented or messy, just a tad unvarnished. it smells and tastes about the same, a little dusty, some middle sweetness, hay and straw and old world slightly funky maybe floor malted pils malt, a clover and floral thing to the hops, also riding some sweetness, trace juniper, preserved lemon or lime, and earthy spice, nice flow and i can see how this could be real nice, but the freshness is far enough off that this misses for me and my crew. some bitterness in the finish, wet paper there too, unique citrus character though, and its good with the grain. the lager yeast seems of interest too, german yes but not generic, and this has a unique flavor profile before the age breaks it down. a shame because this is both traditional and also modern to me, and i want to love it, being such a freigeist fanboy, but those involved with the distribution and sale of this have to find a way to take better care of it, isnt that half the point of making it domestically? great carbonation, and light in body without being minimal or thin, but the aftertaste is not nice. had way higher hopes for this, think its a fun play, still a helles but different enough to be a little curious, about as much liberty as i think one can permissibly take with a helles, but i am not catching it anywhere near its finest form unfortunately...

Slightly hazy amber brew with exuberant foam in the New Belgium snifter. Interesting aroma of orange peel and cooking rice. Pleasantly sudsy on the tongue. Taste is rather sweet and I think of sweet bread with more than a hint of apricot nectar. Cornbread and canned peaches. Drinkable enough but definitely odd. From the 16 oz can purchased on the West Coast. Not dated.

Drinkable, but only once. Having enjoyed other Urban Chestnut lagers, I was unimpressed with Haupstadt.

Hazy yellowish orangeish pour from a pint can with non-descript ingredients. Very heavy which was nice. The taste was more of a typical American "sessionable" IPL where they use those funky citrusy hops. Definitely not a Euro/German style. That was a big turn off for me.

Meh.

2024-10-06
16oz can served in a snulip. "Brewed and canned by Urban Chestnut, Saint Louis, MO for Freigeist Bierkultur," no date that I see.

Pours mostly clear, light amber, smallish head, not much carbonation though there is some. Smell is grain tea, a little grass and leaves, mostly barley.

Taste is similar, heavier on the grass and leaves, a little honeysuckle.

Mouthfeel is medium to light, effervescent. Overall, it's pretty good.

 

 

Poured from 16oz can into a dimpled mug.

Appearance: pale golden hue with a light-to-moderate haze and a finger of ivory foam atop. Looks nice.

Smell: sweet with a bready/crackery malt character. Not much in the way of hops, but still, I like this.

Taste: a bit heavily toward the sweet side for my taste, but there’s a nice rich maltiness here. It’s good, but the sweetness is almost cloying and not entirely balanced by hops.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good level of carbonation and a really nice, smooth creaminess.

Overall: a decent helles, if a bit sweet for my taste.

 

On tap at Churchkey in Washington, DC.

This one pours a slightly hazy golden yellow color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like biscuits, spicy hops, lemon, and crackers.

This tastes pretty spot on, with a really crispy and bready malt backbone, a light touch of spicy hop character, and very little overt sweetness.

This is super smooth and super drinkable, with a very crisp finish.

This just tasted wonderfully fresh, and really hit the spot after trying some heavier beers.

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a slightly hazy, medium golden amber with a three finger white head with good retention and solid lacing. Aroma of grainy pilsner malt, grassy hops, hay and a touch of floral. Flavor is bready pilsner malt, grassy and floral hops, crackers, whole grain bread; mildly sweet with a light to moderate finishing bitterness. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. A spot-on helles profile, lightly sweet with lots of balanced grain and continental hop character. Tastes like many of the classic German helles, but fresher and more interesting malt. Enjoyable.