Karsten Premium Lager
Switchback Brewing Company
- From:
- Switchback Brewing Company
- Vermont, United States
- Style:
- Helles
Ranked #61 - ABV:
- 5.1%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #16,372 - Avg:
- 3.98 | pDev: 6.78%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 21
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 11, 2025
- Added:
- Jul 17, 2018
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 4
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
A crisp & clean helles lager.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut
3.54/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.54/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
A: crystal clear; pale gold in color; a 1 finger white head that receded to a moderate tight collar; OK lacing;
S: wheat, corn, and earthy;
T: nothing stands out - there's a bit of several things; lemon, floral, malt sweetness; not as grainy as I would expect from a helles;
M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: easy drinking;
Dec 11, 2025S: wheat, corn, and earthy;
T: nothing stands out - there's a bit of several things; lemon, floral, malt sweetness; not as grainy as I would expect from a helles;
M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;
O: easy drinking;
Reviewed by QuietlyJudgingYou
4/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy light golden color. Head vanishes in an instant.
Smell: Herbal hops, wheat crackers, peanut shells.
Taste: Light lemon peel, bit of a spicy floral taste from the hops, thin biscuity malt and the tiniest bit of honey.
Feel: Light bodied, carbonation is spot on. On the drier side.
Overall: Tasty and easy drinking. Good beer.
Dec 20, 2023Smell: Herbal hops, wheat crackers, peanut shells.
Taste: Light lemon peel, bit of a spicy floral taste from the hops, thin biscuity malt and the tiniest bit of honey.
Feel: Light bodied, carbonation is spot on. On the drier side.
Overall: Tasty and easy drinking. Good beer.
Reviewed by AccipiterofBeer from New York
3.71/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Looks quite hazy, smells quite typical. The taste is more what you expect from the style done well. The feel is as a lager should - light. Overall its an okay lager.
Sep 04, 2023
Reviewed by tekstr1der from New Hampshire
3.6/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.6/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
On tap. Well, this actually smelled pretty decent, and I didn't detect any sense of the rather over-hopped sharp bite of the flavor and dry finish. This seems more akin to a Pilsner style than a Helles. But it rates fairly well and perhaps it wasn't my palate's day to enjoy.
Mar 19, 2023
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York
3.63/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pours a slightly hazy straw yellow, big fluffy 3" head with excellent retention and lacing, lots of visible carbonation. Nose is lemon and lemon oil, straw and hay, light yeast ester and alcohol, dough. Taste is highly spice with lots of noble hop notes, black pepper, and coriander; it does border on harsh, however, as the bready/doughy notes aren't prominent enough to provide balance. Mouthfeel is crisp and refreshing, with a little bit of greasiness to finish. Lots of things to like here, but a little bit out of balance.
Feb 13, 2023
Rated by Freeheeler68 from Connecticut
3.84/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Perfect Apres-Ski refresher
Dec 27, 2021
Reviewed by Pivopijak from Washington
3.88/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
can into glass
Long lasting, thick, creamy head, with a little bit of undulation on the surface. Almost completely clear, light golden straw look. Faint, lightly toasted malt, with a touch of yeast, for the aroma. Ample, lightly roasted malt and pilsner like, amount of noble a.k.a. floral hops, that gives a pleasant and lingering bite to the finish.
Oct 30, 2021Long lasting, thick, creamy head, with a little bit of undulation on the surface. Almost completely clear, light golden straw look. Faint, lightly toasted malt, with a touch of yeast, for the aroma. Ample, lightly roasted malt and pilsner like, amount of noble a.k.a. floral hops, that gives a pleasant and lingering bite to the finish.
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