Helles
Otaru Winery Beer

Appearance: Rich brassy gold, ever so lightly hazed with big bubbles that form a a volatile off-white head with fair retention.

Smell: Basketfuls of freshly roasted sweet corn, a very big malt aroma saturated with sweet fresh grain. Rich caramel rests beneath the grainy top notes, along with buttery biscuits and nuts. Hops are just barely there, expressed as just a light floral breeze.

Taste: All caramelly, grainy, corny, malty goodness - something like a cross between Wheaties and Golden Grahams - with a light, tangy, estery, almost piquant hop character that balances out the sweetness with a little help from our friend alcohol. Surprisingly crisp and dry for a beer this malty. The bittersweet balance continues with a brief epilogue in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with airy bubbles that work well with the spice of the alcohol and hops to help keep this from being cloying. Finish is mostly clean except for a touch of lingering sticky sweetness.

Drinkability: Yum. A light and refreshing lager with a hefty malt base that almost intrudes on Bock territory without being overwhelmingly sweet. Very easy drinkin'. Tasty with Shropshire Blue.

This beer has an orangey-copper color and quickly passing head. Not too active in the glass. Slightly cloudy. The smell is a refreshing sweetly spiced malt one.

A fruity--but not sweet (perhaps the faintest notes of orange or orange peel)--medium malt taste dominates the palate, with barely any hops to speak of at the closing. The aggressive carbonation covers the taste perfectly--well put-together.

I found this beer exceedingly drinkable and refreshing.