Wildbräu Helles
Brauerei Grandauer - Wildbräu Grafing vor München

 

 

 

 

 

Poured a 500ml bottle into a pint glass. A one finger fine white head on a clear straw. The head soon diminishes to a thin layer. Some patchy lacing.
Grainy smells. A little soapy.
Sweet malts.
A creamy texture. A light body and medium carbonation.

500 mL bottle from the LCBO; best before 01/11/2024 and served slightly chilled.

Pours a crystal clear, pale straw-yellow colour, producing one finger of foamy, frothy white head that persists for a couple minutes before being whittled down to a bubbly cap and collar of resilient suds. An arching pattern of sticky lace clings to the glass - a beautiful glass of beer. Grainy, cereal-like sweetness on the nose, with hints of bready, biscuity malts and honey, with just a whiff of spicy, herbal hops.

Robust pale malt flavours remain dominant throughout the sip - bready, biscuity & grainy, with a hint of doughy, honeyed sweetness. Subtle notes of grassy, spicy hops on the back end, with a touch of floral bitterness preceding a slightly malty aftertaste that doesn't linger. Light-medium body, with assertive, frothy carbonation that contributes to this lager's smooth and satisfying mouthfeel. Effortlessly easy to gulp back - buy two just to be sure.

Final Grade: 3.84, a B+. Wildbräu Helles is a darn good German lager that I am thrilled to see available in my neck of the woods, however temporarily it may last. This showed up locally alongside their Grandauer Festbier, which I'd say is the better of the two lagers - not that this is a competition or anything. Besides, the Helles is still a great German lager: I just wouldn't necessarily call it a superlative helles. Well worth trying, especially here in Ontario where supplies are presumably available for a limited time - lager lovers in this province should seek it out while they can.

500 ml bottle served cold into a pint glass. LCBO purchase for $3.30 CDN. Best before 1/11/2024.

Appearance - Clear golden brew with great clarity, plenty of bubbles and a small half finger of head.

Smell - Lots of grain, some bready aromas and a faint sweetness.

Taste - Light and crisp with a sweet bready flavor, the slightest taste of flowers and honey too. Good depth and intensity of flavor.

Mouthfeel - Medium-light bodied with crisp carbonation and very easy to consume quickly.

Overall - Very fine and easy drinking Helles, and with the current price point I'd be remiss if I didn;t pick up a few more.

 

 

Rich golden colour, clear, with nice carbonation and head. Bread smell.
Sweet bread taste, with some cereals and a pleasant refreshing mouth feel.
A really good helles from a less known brewery.