Newert Helles
Trauger Brewing

 

Sampling a lightly chilled 16 oz can poured into my .5L dimple mug. Picked up the can at a shop in Pennsylvania a few weeks ago. Date stamp says 23082, which I take as August 2nd 2023, But I am just guessing.

The beer can looks a bit swollen at the top, and foams a little when I pop the top.
I pour very gently, but end up giving myself an unintentional mliko pour and get maybe 25% of the can into my mug.
The beer eventually settles and leaves some scattered windowpane lattice as the bleached white creamy foam recedes.
Several very active streams of carbonation rise to the surface.
the aroma is grainy bread and some white grape with a bit of herbal tea hop note on the back. generally sort of mild nose.
First sip reveals a light body with soft and smooth texture and features fine tingly carbonation. Flavor is similar to what the nose advertises with some sweetish bready malt notes and a bit of light fruitiness. A little bit of tea hop bite on the finish and this also dries out after each swallow.
A pretty drinkable beer that is interesting enough. The foaminess put me off a bit on the pour, but the beer turned out to be fine.

16oz can purchased from the fridge as a single for $3.99 plus tax. Canned on 23082, which corresponds to March 21, 2023 so this beer is almost 3 months old.

Look: Pours a deep golden color with a very slight haze. Steady stream of very tiny bubbles rising up the glass. There was an initial finger of off-white head, but it completely dissipated.

Smell: It has a nice crackery / biscuity malt nose. There is also an earthy and citrusy hop presence on the back end. It smells like it's going to be very clean and crisp. It has a very "doughy" aroma. Secondary aromas of floral notes and honey.

Taste: Very tasty. It's super drinkable and this is basically what I was expecting from the nose. The finish has a mild to moderate bitterness that actually lingers for longer than expected. The foundation of this beer is a rich, malty base and in order to showcase the malt and also let the hops come through in a supporting role without overpowering the delicate malt base is impressive. I get citrusy notes including lemon zest, lemon curd, and some orange peel. I also get iced tea kind of vibes with the tannic, earthy bitterness. It's very interesting and enjoyable.

Feel: This beer is very crushable and can almost be considered like a "light" beer. However, it has a bit of complexity to it as the malt has a nice richness to it and it is noticeable in the mouthfeel and body of the beer, and the hops are used with restraint yet also make their presence known. I would say that the beer is on the lighter side of medium bodied. It's nicely carbonated; however, I wouldn't mind if it was just a bit more carbonated.

Overall: This is my first Trauger beer, and I am glad that it was available at my local store. It's a tasty Helles lager. I have not had so many other Helles lagers; this is definitely solid and a good example of the style and I look forward to trying more Trauger beers in the future!

From instagram:
Many people see Helles as your standard German Lager, but to me it’s anything but. It’s a very nuanced beer that can easily be titled in one direction or the other that just throws it completely off balance. It’s not as malty as a Maibock and the hop forwardness of a Pils would surely be out of place, especially a North German-style Pils. Balanced, yet complex, Newert is a single decoction mash with imported Pilsner malt from @bestmalz and hopped in the kettle with my favorite Old and New World hops in Tettnanger and Mandarina Bavaria. Floral with a hint of earthy spice and notes of clementine and orange on the backend from the Mandarina, this beer is more than an everyday drinker. Its simplicity is what makes it esoteric in a world of craft beer today that that can be so over the top.