What The Helles
Church Brew Works

On-tap at the Church Brewworks.

Bright clear gold with a thin snow-white head. No lace to speak of. Smells of sweet pale malt. Some light German hops but mostly sweet malt.

Taste is a sweet and slick pale malt. A bit of balancing hops but not much. Thicker tasting than it would appear. Finishes very clean, no real aftertaste at all. This is a nice beer, an easy drinker. Nothing complex, just pleasant and tasty.

On tap in Church.

Light golden with only a minimal head by the time it came to the table. Pretty color, little on the light side.

Smell is very warm and inviting, grains are the star here, with hops serving a balancing role if anything. Grains and honey that are very well balanced. Tart apples are definitely in there, too.

Taste is similar, big grainy thing, which I love. Honey and some fruity apple kind of hints here and there, kind of reminded me of when we made apple cider in Boy Scouts. Really nice, well rounded brew.

Mouthfeel is a little light and slick and maybe a tad bit watery.

I could easily drink this for awhile, really nice beer.

Soild, light golden with a pretty fluffy head of egg-white foam. Foam lasts and leaves decent lacing to boot. Aromas are all grassy malts and herbal German hop variatels. Taste is hoppy up front with a very clean malty lager taste as well. Middle is doughy with pretzel-like malts and some nice earthiness that I found in most of the brews here. Maybe it's the water? Who knows? Mouthfeel is medium bodied, drinkability is good. kinda weird, as I found most of the brews here to be, but at least this one was not bland or boring...solid. But the cherry quad is the real standout of this brewpub!

Served in a pint glass at Church Brew Works. The color was godlen, with a wispy white head. The smell was a slight maltiness. The taste was golden malt sweet, with a good bit of grassy noble hops in the balance. Mouthfeel was average. As for drinkability, quite nice and one I'd down a few more of.

The first time I tried this, my palate must have been wrecked because I thought this was simply awful. After having a sample the Thursday before the gathering and then having a full pint that night, I definitely realized that I was wrong (or that it was mis-served or something). A nice German lager, and certainly one that I would drink again.

Appearance: Golden amber body strikingly amazing appearance for what I thought would a light lager, full white head assertive carbonation this head didn't have a chance to dwindle it was to good for that after each sip specks of lace formed. Aroma: German hallertau didn't pick up any Crystal or citrus toned hops they must have changed the recipe up from last year, but there is a lemongrass tone that is bread from the pale malts and herbal noble hop melodies. Taste: Cereal grains awesome clean tasting authentic and done right down to the T, pure balance with extremely tasty malt to hop mixture here. I know Helles means light but I think they were refering to the color not flavor because this beer is tasty. Mouthfeel: Crisp medium to light in body perfect carbonation for the style. Drinkability: Incredible, would love to find a keg of this baby.

Minimal head atop a crystalline pale amber body. Very hoppy aroma is surprisingly assertive for a Helles-style lager. It is citrusy, almost with a soapy note. It smells very fresh, though. The taste is a touch of malt sweetness countered by a balanced hop note. The hops display citrus, pine, and again that peculiar soapy note. However, it is very enjoyable and draws you further into this beer. It holds your attention. Upon inquiring, I was informed that the brewer uses Crystal hops in this beer. It creates an impressive effect, from the initial enticement of the nose right down to the lingering bitterness on the finish. The mouthfeel is solid, and the drinkability is excellent. A surprisingly good and exciting beer from CBW.