Sixpoint: Alpenflo Helles Lager

Pilsner is usually more lively than Helles, and Alpenflo is supposed to be a Helles, not a Pils.

 

Definitely should not taste like a pilsner.

 

It seems like I'm not the only one that gets that impression from Alpenflo recently. I guess a bad batch from City Brewing in Memphis?

 

If you look back to some of the early posts in this thread you'll see that some have likened the Alpenflo to a Pilsner-Helles hybrid -- I tend to agree with them, though I haven't had the beer in quite a few months, so it could have changed with different brewery output.

 

Every Helles has had wonderful carbonation. I might have mistakenly took the malty upfront silky mouthfeel to kinda dim the carbonation a bit but it certainly was properly carbonated. I’m thinking this might be the case here?

 

There may be something in the fact that Sixpoint sells a 20oz Alpenflo glass for a 12oz beer. I have found pouring can be fun. A hard pour fills the glass, and a easy pour raises very little. Kind of suit yourself. I will add it is one good looking brew. Cheers.

 

Ok, I guess opinions are opinions. Alpenflo is soft and malty.

 

If there are wildly different tasting reports i.e. soft vs astringent - looks like there's some wide batch variation. Not surprising considering the source. I'm a big fan of Montauk Brewery Driftwood Ale but the last 6 pack tasted off. They also contract brew (or that other thing alternating proprietorship) so I hope it's a batch issue not a recipe change.

 

I actually talked to Shane about this after my second pack (and a friend of mine) were all gushers. Had to open them over sink and pour quickly. Here’s what he said about them.

 

One of the ‘interesting’ aspect of Sixpoint is that over the years they were constantly ‘tweaking’ their recipes and this was intentional as their effort for constant product improvement. Needless to say a consequence is that you were a fan of version A brewed in year 201x you may not be as enamored with version B of a later year.

They made a point of announcing a more ‘major’ change in 2017:

“The core line up from Sixpoint includes favorites like Resin as well as the previously available blonde ale Sweet Action, the brewery’s traditional IPA Bengali and The Crisp, a pilsner. All of those beers have been updated to reflect the brewery’s new supply chain, elevate specific flavors, and reflect current drinking trends. In addition to those stalwart main offerings, Sixpoint’s seasonal lineup is turning heads and bringing in new fans. Alongside the aforementioned year-rounders, look for these beers on shelves now.”

I am not aware if they have been performing ‘tweaking’ on Alpenflo but considering their past history in this regard I would not be surprised.

Cheers!

@SixpointMikey @SixpointBrewmaster

 

No doubt, but Pilsner has always been considered to have bigger carbonation (insert all of that Pils-pour discussion now).

Yet... another opinion -- how ironic.

 

I was being ironic. You pointing it out is your inability to sense irony...which is ironic in reverse

 

I had a similar experience with over-carbonated cans this past summer where what seemed like half of the can would end up in the sink. Didn't think about it again until reading these comments, but I haven't bought packaged Alpenflo since. Hopefully they get the carbonation under control.

I'm curious to see if I have the same experience of it being pilsner-esque next time I have it. My memory is of it being truer to the helles style, but it's been a while since I've had it without it being a day also filled with hoppy beers.

 

Or maybe your failure to express your comments as such.

Never mind that I used an emoticon to emphasize my own irony, not an insult. As it sounds you didn't sense.

 

I directly compared Alpenflo to Jack's Abby house lager and Cigar City Tampa Lager and only Sixpoint's resembled a pilsner. I don't plan on picking it up again, unless I hear that it's a production issue.

 

Sounds reasonable if it's not the beer you're expecting it to be. It's odd because when I first had it at the brewery it did not remind me of a pilsner. Hopefully they have it on tap at the next release so I can give it another whirl.

 

I'm not a Brewer with zero knowledge, but how would a Brewer make any beer and this is a Pils, oh hell could be an AAL too more carbonated? I just assumed the extra malts of a Helles softened up tge initial hit. I know what yiur talking about though, a Pils is definately sharper, but I attributed that to the hops not the carbonation.

 

Maybe

 

History shows that some folks are so confidant that their own mastery of emoticons (et.) is so complete that any difficulties in two way communication online are clearly a fault of the understander rather than the originator.

 

30 pack of Hamms huh?

Well Solid Gold is a light adjunct lager, not a Helles.

I don't think Helles or German Pils are supposed to have any hints of diacetyl. Czech Pils can though.

Someone with more knowledge can correct me if I'm wrong.