Tomorrow River Helles
Central Waters Brewing Co.

Here's the second beer I had on that rainy midweek afternoon session in downtown Milwaukee, late May 2024. Cool place inside the old Pabst building.

Pours yellow-golden, 1/2" white head, standard looking fare. Damn good aroma on this one, hits that big time breadiness with a good hit of lager yeast. Hopping is very light and appropriately so. I'm not fair, so a helles getting a 4 in the aroma score is kind of a big deal.

Light hit of lemon bread like influence. Still pushing a lovely breadiness the depth of which is impressive alongside the relatively light mouthfeel. I wonder if I would like this beer even more under better weather conditions. I mean, I like helles on warm days, this was a cold rainy one. Nice levity despite it being thoroughly flavorful. I'd grab a 6 pack if I could every May. I think it can be appreciated for its depth, yet simplicity, there are "normal" people who would be into this as well as the hand wringing beer nerds who like Bud Light now because "problematic" reasons.

 

Not the cleanest Helles Lager. More of a toasted maltiness and earthy hops...clarity is lacking...aroma is light breadiness and earthy, herbal, lemony hops.....

Nothing off or bad but just misses the mark for the style...I like it and thought it was better out of the can at my truck after a recent bike ride but rating it from a glass it falls short for the style...decent enough beer though...

Seems to me to be more a Vienna Lager than a Helles. This being darker and more caramel and slightly toasty. I like it as it is not sweet and is a clean lager so it will automatically get an above average score.

Tomorrow River Helles pours a hazy, bronze color, with a small, but a long-lasting head. The aroma is light, but with bright cereal notes. The flavor is a little sweet, bright cereal, creamy, with a hint of butter (the good kind). Good body and feel. Overall, a top-notch, no-frills helles lager.

Appearance: Pours a clear, slightly orange, but mostly deep golden color with a strong white head. SRM of 9. (4.25)

Aroma: Moderate aromas of tart lemon citrus upfront. Some flower, yeast, with a little funk follow. Some honey underneath. (3.50)

Flavor: Strong tart lemon citrus upfront. Then it evolves into yeast and dry grain profile with a smooth white bread and earthy honey finish. (3.50)

Feel: Medium-bodied. Low carbonation. Finish is smooth and clean. The tartness upfront dissolves quickly and it drinks smooth and honey-like. (3.75)

Compared to Paulaner Muncher Lager 3/4/22: Pours a darker color. Milder aromas. More tart lemon citrus and less toasted German bread.

Overall: A pretty good American-made Helles here. Leans tart with the lemon citrus and finishes with some smooth honey. Some white bread intermingled. Probably not 100% accurate, and compared to Paulaner, a definite difference and not completely authentic. (Final Rating: 3.62)