DeGroen's Helles
Baltimore Brewing Company

The De Groen's yeast strain really shows through on this one. It must be some type of weizen strain because it displays a cloveish, plastic-like, and lightly smoky phenolic. I don't remember that from their earlier days, but this has been common for a while now. Its slightly hazy, deep gold body appears yellowish when held to the light but has more of an orange cast while sitting on the bar. The head retention is fair and it's foamy bright-white head drops shortly but maintains a creamy collar and leaves some nice splotches of lace about the glass. The nose displays soft clove, a touch of sharp fruit, and some grassy hops. The body is medium; and its carbonation is just slighty elevated giving it a nice, crisp edge. The flavor offers a hay-like malt that's woven with threads of grassy/spicy hops, clove and other phenolics, and light fruit. It finishes dry with a mild, residual burnt-plastic phenolic. It's certainly not what most people would expect of a "helles", but it is enjoyable nonetheless.

Appearance: the beer was gold in color, with a nice 2" head.

Smell: the aroma was slightly malty, with some grassy overtones.

Taste: the mouthfeel was clean, dry, and crisp while the flavor of the malt and hop levels were nice.

Mouthfeel: the malt lasted long on the tongue after swallowing. Mildly crisp.

Drinkability: very refreshing and too bad this is only a seasonal brew.

Sampled at the CTRiver Brewers Festival.

The beer pours a hazy golden color. Fairly typical malty, yeast nose. Good, balanced taste, but did I detect a hint of clove in there? A bit of bitterness in the aftertaste. Intriguing taste. I may have to try this again later. I thought this was good!