Sixpoint: Alpenflo Helles Lager

I have not seen it in the Cleveland market since the first drop. I will have to ask my local if they can get any in.

 

One of my favorite local shops doesn’t like to carry too many 12-packs. They do however carry Sixpoint beers that come in smaller packs. They were happy to place an order of the Alpenflo 12-packs for me as long as I committed to a whole case.

Just check with your favorite shops that carry Sixpoint and I’m sure you’ll find one or more that are willing to help out.

 

Good point. I forgot about that route as an option. Will do just that. Tahnks

 

Neither the app nor the web version show anything for the area even though I know we get sixpoint here. Oh well, thanks for the help regardless

 

We do have another drop in that area. Could you send us an email so we can help direct you with your inquiry?

cheers

 

Hope everyone is ready for sixers.

 

Been waiting for this beer in PA since the Spring. Had one 12-pack from another state. It's really good. Bring it on!

 

Waiting here in PA too for this.

*waits*

 

That makes sense - the few stores I've found it in always shelved it with other brewers' 12/15-packs and not with the other Sixpoint beers.

Which doesn't make a lot of sense to me - if a retailer or brewer wants to move the larger packages, isn't it to their advantage to stock them next to the same brewers' sixpacks so one can see the cost of each and 'do the math' and see the better "per unit" price?

 

More generally, it's annoying [to me] when the same brewer's beer is stocked in different places around the store. I do not want to do a scavenger hunt to buy beer.

 

So I finally found Aplenflo in Astoria - $8.99 a 6 pack.
First one was a gusher and it tasted like a pilsner - am I drinking it wrong?

 

What’s the canning date on that guy? I had some a few months ago that was canned in April. For my region, Sixpoint does not do a very good job of putting fresh product on the shelves.

Yeah it’s definitely a heavily carbonated beer. Not sure how familiar you are with lagers but this should be a proper helles with a lot more biscuity malt character than your standard pilsner. Also nowhere near as hoppy as a pils. Maybe try a Weihenstepban Original for comparison if you aren’t too familiar with the helles style.

 

Helles is one of my favorite styles, so the pilsner taste and general abrasiveness really threw me off. I'm drinking a Jack's Abby House Lager right now and Hofbrau is a regular purchase for me. I also buy Von Trapp Helles whenever I see it. Now you know I'm not a Sixpoint fan but I will reserve judgement until I get a can that doesn't gush - it was sitting in the fridge for a hour after getting it from the beer distro walk in. I don't see a date on the can but I know it can't be that old since the 6 packs are a new thing.

 

There should be two dates on the bottom of the can: the date it was packaged and a best by date.

Cheers!

@SixpointMikey

 

on the can - I see a "21" that's it. but these are from the 6 packs so they shouldn't be old, unless leftover cans from the 12 pack runs were used in the 6 packs?

Anyway I drank 2 more cans, poured into a liter mug and they weren't gushers like the first one so that's good. They were definitely more carbonated than any other Helles I've had.
These were more Helles-like than pilsner but the malt was noticeably subdued compared to others I'm very familiar with like Hofbrau or Jack's Abby. I also bought some Cigar City Tampa Style Lager on this trip and I prefer that over Alpenflo as well. For me it's a good beer but not over other choices I can easily obtain but certainly better than those like Founder's Solid Gold.

 

this is also one of my favorites Helles: https://bairdbeer.com/beer/shuzenji-heritage-helles/

 

I've had "issues" with Sixpoint's carbonation levels to the point that I've taken to opening the cans over the sink, just in case they foam over. No big deal, IMO, but it makes me wonder whey their carbonation is so variable can to can.

 

Now I'm on the 4th can and its very carbonated (too carbonated for the style) and leaning towards a Pilsner taste. Astringent and a little of that skunkiness you get with Pilsners sometimes. I've never had a 6 pack of beer that I remember varying from can to can (carbonation and taste) like this. Not a great impression I have to say.

 

Not to be contrary, but what does over carbonation have to do with style? I've never had a Pils that spilled all over, but I have had infected beer kinda explode. Not limited to Pils I suppose.

 

Did something go awry with this batch then? I remember many people (including me) giving this beer glowing reviews when it was first released.

I did buy a pack back in August which was overall good, a bit Pilsner-like thinking about it, but not so much so. Actually, it gravitated more towards Czech Pilsner with a bit of diacetyl on the finish, but I don't necessarily find that excessively unusual for Central European-style beer in general.