Who the Helles on First
New Trail Brewing Company

Pours a light amber with a cream colored head.

Smells of fruited grain lemongrass hops and floral.

Crisp lemon hops with fruit grain ( slight raspberry) and a dry earthy finish with some oak notes.

During New Beer Sunday (NBS) (Week 784), I realized that I really have an affinity for New Trail BC in Bill Town (Williamsport), PA. I had a number of CANs gifted to me for The CANQuest (tm), plus I was able to procure several more in the interim. Unfortunately, many (all?) of them required an approved pic to be in-place before I could proceed. Now, all is in readiness.

From the CAN: "Who the Helles on First Golden Lager"; "Batter Line Up (Order/Player/Pos.)[:] 1/Tomorrow/PTCH[,] 2/Today/CTCH[,] 3/Who/1st[,] 4/What/2nd[,] 5/I Don't Know/3rd[,] 6/I Don't Give A Damn/SHRT[,] 7/Why/Left".

Given hockey's postponement, I was CANxious to get this ballgame underway! I beCAN with a Crack! of the vent to acCANpony the Crack! of the bat. Next up was a slow pitch gentle C-Line Glug into the awaiting glass, standing by to catch the cascade. This resulted in two-plus fingers of foamy, soapy, rocky, eggshell-white head that did not stay in the ballpark long, quickly falling away to wisps, leaving behind minimal lacing. Color was a lightly-hazy Straw-Yellow (SRM = > 2, < 4). Nose was very bready with just enough bittering hops to offset the malt's inherent sweetness. Mouthfeel was medium, very soft on the tongue & in the mouth. Interesting, given that most of PA has hard water due to our limestone bedrock. The taste remained very bready with a lightly bitter hoppiness. It was perfect for my non-existent ballgame! Finish was on the warning track between semi-sweet & semi-dry. I allowed the unidentified center fielder to make the call & wave off the others. YMMV.

 

Poured into a narrow lager style glass - color is straw gold, light effervescence, head is off white with fine to small bubbles, head presented at least 1 inch thick initially and then dissipates to thin top with some deeper head along the glass sides, some lacing as well.

Smell is slightly fruity, then some toasted malt, light spicy hop character.

Taste is quite crisp, almost sharp but the pilsner malt comes through then the noble hop spiciness overtakes.

Mouthfeel is crisp, moderate to strong carbonation, lingering sharp spiciness on the tongue.

Overall a good beer that hits some of the helles lager points, the mouthfeel seems a bit sharp and a subtle fruitiness appears in the aroma.