Edelstoff | Augustiner-Bräu Wagner KG

3.41/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours clear and golden in color with a small amount of head that quickly dissipates. Faint lacing on the glass as you drink. Aroma is sweet grains with a bit of earthiness and floral, grassy hops. Taste follows the aroma pretty well. Grassy hops dominate up front with a sweet, buttery malt profile towards the back and a lingering grassiness on the swallow. Finishes crisp and dry. Mouthfeel is light with ample carbonation. A bit thin, but some substance. Overall this is not a bad helles, but it doesn't offer any complexity and it isn't the best tasting in my opinion.

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4.49/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into a Libbey style pilsner glass.

Beaming crystal clear body, with minimal carbonation, some large some very minuscule. Rich lathery rocky bright white head, making easy three fingers of foam, with little retention but a small settling puck. Real nice looking lager.

Big aroma of clean chewy grains, with light touches of herbal hops. Comes off like a giant classic loaf of fresh bread. Hits with a wallop and almost feels like you could bite into it. Faint hints of layered white cake as well.

Real impressive palate. Large chewy mouthfeel full of excellent bready aromas and flavors. Thick rich malt and dough quality mixing with a smattering of herbal bite that just pops in the mouth. Clean but full and rich filling on the finish, touches just a hair of sweetness but almost toying with your senses. Spreadable touches of bakery bread and green herbs all over.

This might be one of the best Gerrman Helles I've ever had.

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3.99/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Crystal clear gold, big two-inch head, good rentention and a little spotty lacing. Delicate grain & malt aroma and flavor. Slightly sweet and very light, thin, & easy on the feel. Overall, a nice Helles but a bit pricey. I'd probably be more inclined to go with a domestic one that's about half the price with all the aroma & taste and a more substantial feel.

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3.45/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a three-finger white head that slowly fades leaving some lace. Crystal clear yellow/green color. Medium carbonation and light bodied. Grainy nose and flavor is cereal, citrus, and honey with a light sweetness. $3.25 for a 330ml bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

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4.14/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

The clear light bright yellow colored beer pours out into a Duvel glass with a 1/2” bright white head that slowly but eventually recedes to a thin cap of foam and a ring around the glass while leaving lacing on the sides. Eventually the foam thins out to an irregular island on the surface but the ring and some lacing persist. Sipping creates a couple of thin arches and several scattered spots and legs of lacing.

The aromas are mostly about the crackery malt that is nicely backed up by some floral and slightly grassy hops.

The flavors are mostly about the crackery malt and some light malt sweetness. The floral, lightly grassy hops provide a moderate amount of bitterness.

The mouthfeel is on the light side of medium bodied and crisp with the prickly finely bubbled moderate carbonation. The clean crisp finish begins as the malt and sweetness begin to fade to a slightly floral, lightly bitter dry ending with just a bit of grassiness which moves to the back of the palate before disappearing.

Overall this is an enjoyable and quite drinkable beer which is both flavorful and refreshing. There’s some nice maltiness and the light bitterness serves as a counterbalance to add a touch of hop flavor. I’ll expect I’ll be having this one again and will probably do some side by side tastings with locally brewed Helles lagers.

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3.67/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I tried this at Augustiner in Berlin near the Hilton hotel. It poured a clear golden with white head that left some lace. The scent had faint grain. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall its a good beer.

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4.26/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance - clear straw colored body with white head

Smell - lemon zest, grain, honey, biscuit

Taste - Grain, biscuit, slight honey sweetness, some lemon zest, bready malts

Mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium prickly carbonation, bready upfront, honey sweetness in the back end, crisp, clean and refreshing, so easy to drink this one

Overall - very good Helles lager that is worth a re-visit

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4.38/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Had this on 2018-06-17 in Columbia, PA from a 330ml bottle

A - Golden-straw with a 1-finger white head that dropped quickly leaving mild lace.

S - White bread, white grape, grassy and floral hops.

T - Delicious. Everything I like in a Helles. The white grape sweetness is very present over an enticing french bread (minus the crust) malt base. The noble spicing is perfect with honey and floral notes. Bitterness is low but enough to balance the lingering fruit/grain sweetness.

M - Light-medium body and carbonation. Smooth.

O - Top notch; really.

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4.41/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

From wooden kegs at Augustiner Keller in Munich

Pours a beautiful pale gold, with 3 fingers of head in my mass. Settles relatively slowly. Smells crackery,sightly floral/herbal. Taste is light malt, a touch of honey, incredibly well balanced

Dry, crisp, drinkable.

Pinnacle of the style

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5/5  rDev +27.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I apologize for not being as refined as most reviewers, I'm simply a guy who loves German Helles style lagers. This beer is my absolute favorite beer that I can buy in the US. I've spent some time in Bavaria off and on during my military service and this is the only beer that makes me think I'm sitting in the garden of a gasthaus drinking a litre. It's just that great.

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4.29/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Updated on 4/11/18 - found a much fresher bottle to re-review.

Appearance is unchanged. Aroma has much more noticeable toasted bread coming through on the nose, not as much grain on the nose. Delicate spicy hop notes gently caress the nose. The taste is where this fresh bottle really shines. Nice slightly sweet bready malt backbone. Feel is largely unchanged. Overall this bottle is much fresher and perhaps most surprisingly the biggest change isn't the hops but the lovely malt backbone to this beer.

(Reviewed blind - 4/16/18)
Pours light straw color. Completely crystal clear with medium effervescence. Pillow-y white head dissipates leaving a ring of white foam along the outside of the beer with some partial spots of foam on top of the beer. 4.25

Aroma has notes of grain, bread, lightly toasted. Maybe a whiff of noble hops, but quite subtle. 4

Taste is predominately grainy – but does have some notes of white bread malts. Bit of sweetness comes through in the flavor – kind of fruity. More pronounced bitterness on the finish – floral. 3.5

Medium bodied. Vibrant carbonation. Semi-dry finish. 4.25

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4.04/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice clear yellow and has a nice doughy smell. Taste is very light with just a bit of malt. Drinks very smooth. Definitely drinks like a light beer. Nice and refreshing.

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4.03/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

From Decervecitas. In Teku glass. Watching Dunkerke. Malt-forward beverage, with a clean and refreshing profile and very, very crushable. At first may seem flat, but you end wishing for another

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4.44/5  rDev +13%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is my favorite beer. At 5.7 ABV, this "light" beer does not mess around. If you like imported lagers, this is a must try. If you don't, I still try a bottle of this nectar of the Gods. Trying this on tap is definitely on my bucket list.

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3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I don't know what everyone else is looking at, but it doesn't get much more proper looking than this for the style. Perfectly clear light yellow, Billowing foamy white head, excellent retention and lacing.

The aroma is dominated by freshly crushed grain and yeasty doughy bread, followed by grassy and flowery hops. Again, pretty solid.

Flavor follows but a bit more grassy than I was anticipating.

Feel is light and crisp and pretty well balanced, but finishes a bit dry and "dirty" feeling.

Overall, I think this is a pretty darn good Helles. I wouldn't pay the price tag often for it as there are other great beers of this style readily available, but I definitely wouldn't turn one down. Prost!

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3.72/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

From the 330 ml. bottle. No date that I could see. Sampled on September 11, 2017. My 3,200th Beer Advocate review.

The pour is a clear looking yellow color with a quick lasting white head that dissolves to nothing. Bubbly.

The aroma emits a traditional German bread and biscuit maltiness, crackers, and grass.

The body is light or a bit better. But smooth for sure.

Same sweet white bread and toasty sweetness in the taste with a twist of citrus and a mildly dry and clean, crisp finish. Highly quaffable.

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3.9/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured into a Celebrator pokal. Pours a light to medium golden amber with a half finger white head that dissipates to patches and light lacing. Aroma of grainy biscuit malt, light lemon citrus with a hint of tartness and grassy noble hops. Flavor is mixed grain biscuit malt, grassy noble hops, slight lemon citrus. Finishes very smoothly with grainy, but gentle biscuit malt and light grassy hops. Medium bodied with light creaminess. Although not as deep flavors as others of the style, it has the classic profile and a very nice, mellow finish that has a lot less grain husk bitterness than I remember. It tastes "bright" throughout with a satisfying integrated finish. I liked this more than I expected. Not earthshaking, but well done and enjoyable.

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3.35/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Note: I bought this by accident, thought I was buying Augustiner Bräu Lagerbier Helles. Oops.

Consumed 7/19/17

A: Golden yellow - crystal clear, as it should be - pours with a medium sized white head, fades to a wispy cap and retains a small collar, leaves some lacing

S: Not as clean as I anticipated, but I also was anticipating a different beer (see above) - bread and crackers, but they come second, as the first aroma is mild skunk - some grain - grass and herbal notes, some lager yeast, spice - skunky grain

T: Bready, crackery, and grainy - lightly malty overall - lager yeast with some light spice - grassy and lightly herbal, floral - some adjunct-like weirdness, not a far throw from an American macro - minor touch of booze - hint of grape - some sweetness, touch of lingering grainy sweetness

M: Light body, medium carbonation, mostly crisp finish

O: Edel who now?

I can't say I am particularly impressed with Edelstoff. It tastes more like a Dortmunder (or maybe American Adjunct Lager) than a Munich Helles. Maybe I've just had too many stellar examples of German Helles lately, or maybe this just isn't for me.

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3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle. Straw colour. Quickly settling head. Highly effervescent.
Grainy aroma. Hint of lemon. Biscuit malt is just about present.
The taste is reflective of the aroma.
Light to moderate feel. Over carbonated.

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3.75/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Another light, crisp German beer. Pours a clear dark gold color with a medium size white head that fades quickly to just a covering of the glass. Some lacing. Aroma and flavor feature malty beer - mostly bready malt, some graininess, and hint of mild bitterness from grassy hops. Mouthfeel is crisp and light but without that smooth, light pillowy mouthfeel that Helles usually feature. Ovaerall, a very drinkable beer but not a top Helles.

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3.97/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

I stumbled on a six-pack sale of this (very) old favorite: $12 a sixer. That's a $5 saving for around here. I couldn't find a dating code on the bottle or six-pack, or anyone at the store with time to answer a question (big favorite retailer in these parts that always seems to disappoint me with their CS), so I'm rolling the dice.

I don't remember when I last had this beer, but it may have been in Munich. Poured from a brown (yes, imported brown) 11.2 ounce bottle into my short Becher glass.

L -- Crystal clear, pale gold bordering on straw colored. Fluffy, but firm white head.

S -- Mildly herbal noble hops with a touch of DMS.

T -- Light bready to crackery flavor up front, balanced nicely with light, bitter herbal hops in the finish. The bready, crackery flavor lingers through the aftertaste with a light citrus touch -- hopefully from hops and not age of some sort.

F -- Mouthfeel is very soft overall with a dry finish and a light body -- about perfect for a Bavarian Helles.

O -- The malt character isn't as big in melanoidin character as the Helles I remember in Munich, but this has been Pasteurized and traveled an ocean -- the Augustiner I had in Munich traveled a few blocks. To me, this beer isn't much better than the fresh HB Original I find at almost half the price (not counting a sale) here in the U.S. Someday I'll update my reviews from Munich proper.

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3.86/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

11.2 ounce bottle poured fairly hard into a gravity pint glass. Light gold and crystal clear. Two finger foamy head that dissipates rapidly leaving a thin layer all the way to the bottom. Some lacing. Up front malt the carries through from nose to taste. Fruity hops and with a very faint sour smell that adds a wonderful twist to this excellent beer. This sourness/tartness carries over adding a very pleasant flavor to the brew. A light bodied beer that remains smooth on the palate.
This is a really good beer. Leaves you wanting another which I figure into my rating. If tasting for the first time at home make sure to buy two. You can thank me later.

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3.83/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured from fridge temp. Pours a perfectly transparent yellow with little head. Nose is piney, citrus, earthy, and a bit hoppy. Taste follows the nose - definitely a nice bitter hoppy taste. Lots of flavor - very woody and citrusy. Good mouthfeel.

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4.18/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours clear, gold in color with minimal head. Taste is grass and grain with honey sweetness. Light bodied, crisp, moderate carbonation, and sweet. Really tasty helles lager. Could drink this beer all day. Nice and smooth and well worth a try.

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3.6/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 11.2 oz. bottle. Has a bright yellow color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of malts, sweet. Taste is malts, grassy, light hops, a touch of sweetness. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a refreshing and easy drinking beer.

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