Velvet Glow
Russian River Brewing Company

MattBeer from California

5/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is the best helles lager I've ever had, and I've had quite a few. It's like if you kidnapped George Heineken, gave him a trillion dollars, and forced him to work in your lab. Night and day, with his life and the lives of his loved ones in jeopardy, he perfected his craft, ultimately making the absolute best lager that could be made. Also you can drink it.

Mar 14, 2021

jkblr from Indiana

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

510mL bottled 042920 (67 days ago) poured into a pokal glass at fridge temp 4.75% ABV.
Note: I should have let it warm more. Totally different & better experience. The beer pours barely hazy light straw yellow with nearly white head. The head recedes to a thin cap and clings to the glass just above liquid level. The aroma is earthy & musty hops with a hint of pale malt. The taste is more of the same with a yeasty, earthy, musty note over the top of subdued malt. Mildly bitter. The mouthfeel is thin to medium bodied with average carbonation and a very dry finish. Overall, good lager. Thanks @beergoot!

As it approaches room temperature the chill haze disappears to leave it mostly bright. The fullness of the malt is more pronounced and the dry, mineral character integrates into the hoppy profile more seamlessly. Very good - just don't drink it cold!

Jul 05, 2020

beergoot from Colorado

4.36/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Clear, pale yellow body; beautiful carbonation; thick and fluffy white head. Classic German helles aroma; light breadiness with a gentle, fruity aroma. The taste mirrors the smell; biscuit-like; mildly herbal with a fantastically balanced hop bitterness; a bit of honey and musk melon. Light body; soft and pillowy; gentle sweetness initially, finishes with a mild dryness.

There is nothing like finding another tasty and well-made beer from one of your favorite breweries. Russian River did an excellent job creating balance, depth, and complexity with this beer.

Jun 22, 2020

entheos from California

3.29/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Reminds me of a Coors. Bottled 04.29.20. Crisp. Light. Very malty. It’s too expensive to enjoy daily, but it’s a good beer. It’s just not my preferred style of ale.

Jun 20, 2020

BucannonXC5 from California

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Type: 510-ml. bottle
Reviewed as: Munich Helles Lager
Glass: Gordon Biersch .5L Stein
Price: $5.99
From: Windmill Farms in Del Cerro (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: March 13, 2020
Consumed: March 13, 2020
Misc.: Bottled on Jan. 15, 2020 at 10:09 a.m. PT

Was psyched to see this one in stores on a recent trip to Windmill Farms, right next to Pliny, Pig and STS Pils. I used to hate this style, but now it’s in my Mt. Rushmore. And to see Russian River doing one really got me excited. Bottle description read, “Velvet Glow is an homage to the Grace Family, who once owned Grace Brothers Brewing in Santa Rosa. This is the second Grace Brothers brand we resurrected, the other being Happy Hops! Velvet Glow is a Helles style lager with a crisp malt character and a dry, refreshing finish.”

Poured a pale yellow clear color with seven fingers of rocky white head. Lots of bubble streams coming up from the bottom of the glass - faster in the middle and a little bit slower on the sides. Average spotty lacing. World-class retention. (Sight - 4.25)

Smelled sourdough bread, grass, white cracker, Cheerios, corn, honey, pilsner malt and Noble hops. Not as good out of the bottle. (Smell - 4.25)

Taste was not as good, but still outstanding. In order got white cracker, sourdough bread, Cheerios, grass, hay, Noble hops, black pepper (Saaz?), honey and corn. (Taste - 4.00)

Light body. Oily-to-creamy texture. Fizzy carbonation. Long, dry finish. (Feel -

Full body. Creamy-to-sticky texture. Soft carbonation. Long finish. (Feel - 4.25)

Excellent overall. Glad I got to try it. (Overall - 4.25)

4.15 | 93 | A-

Apr 27, 2020

RyanK252 from California

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a Russian River Brewing Co pub glass

A: Pours crystal clear golden straw with a frothy off white head that settles to a nice layer and leaves some spotty lacing.

S: A little spicy, floral, grassy, yeasty, faint fruity notes, all held together with lightly toasty crackery bready malt.

T: Floral, light spice, slightly grassy, underlying fruity notes, sort of a peach/apricot thing, a little yeasty, faintly toasty crackery bready malt, and just a touch of sweetness.

M: Light to medium body, moderate carbonation.

O: I've slowly developed an appreciation for these kinds of beers. It's pretty much exactly what you would expect from Russian River: well made, super drinkable, just an all around good beer.

Apr 24, 2020

Alieniloquium from Florida

3.43/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

500 mL bottle. Pours clear and very pale yellow. Smells of soft doughy malt and light spicy hop. Tastes of bready and lightly sweet dough. Light spicy hops throughout but I keep expecting it to peak with a spicy bite, but never does. Very light. It hints a hefty hop back end it but drops off in favor of a delicate malt flavor.

Feb 06, 2020

unlikelyspiderperson from California

4.23/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours a pale yellow, clear with a thin and sticky white head.
Nose is lightly bready with a slight grassy touch.
Taste wonderful, clean cracker flavor with some slight floral and grassy edges. Really well put together
Mouthfeel is excellent, smooth and crisp with an extremely clean finish.
Overall this is one of the better lagers that I've had from the states. Super clean flavors and excellent crisp feel.

Oct 27, 2019

neenerzig from Ohio

4.24/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

At the new production facility and brewpub in Windsor with my best pal Jon Passow. Having this on-tap in a sample flight. This beer is a clear, light golden color with good lacing. Aromas of some bready malts and a bit of wheat with the slight caramel sweetness and slight floral hops. The taste is exactly the same, with bready malts, a hint of wheat, a bit of zest, slight caramel sweetness and just the right amount of floral hops to provide some balance. Has a crisp, smooth, light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Refreshing and easy to drink with a clean finish. Has a nice, slightly zesty and bready aftertaste.

Eric

Oct 09, 2019

RaulMondesi from California

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Raul is a fan of minimalism and/or utilitarianism. A lot of the time less is more. My baby mama without make up comes to mind. Van Gogh’s pencil sketches... or back when Raul was a meat eater - a Dodger dog with just mustard! (Hold the guacamole, bacon bits, onions, relish... and don’t even talk about ketchup).

This beer is basic and beautiful. My baby mama in a white bride’s gown comes to mind (if I ever decide to propose - boom)! I just like it. It’s clean, it’s crisp, and it pleases like the Keebler Elf on Christmas.

Yep!

Aug 21, 2019