Leinenkugel's Hoppin Helles

Haunstein, Deer Brand ,Twins, huh? Now you have me intrigued........Fauerbach?

 

I love Helles', would like to find some of this stuff.

 

Couldnt even find it today at a fairly large store.

 

I got some Sandy over the summer, and it went quickly among friends. I got some Helles and knocked it off myself in short order. Not a hop bomb, and very drinkable. Good price. Wouldn't be a go to, but wouldn't be an avoid either.

 

http://chicagoist.com/2013/09/30/millercoors_to_expand_leinenkugel_b.php

I ran across this article recently that said that half of Leinenkugel's sales the past year was Summer Shandy. The article doesn't mention where it was being brewed, but I'm a big fan of Leinie's "regular" beers and I occasionally check the codes on the 12-pack boxes of the Leinenkugel's brands at my local liquor store and most of the shandy brands are "01" (Milwaukee), while the Original, Red Lager, etc. are all "20" (Chippewa Falls). The Oktoberfest 12-pack I picked up recently was also a "01". All Leinie's labels do list both Chippewa Falls and Milwaukee...I guess "just in case."

 

Yeah, that's what I suspect (have never really checked the Leinenkugel bottles around here). MillerCoors' Nutrition and Date Code pdf doesn't list the code for the Chippewa Falls brewery, but "01" would be the Miller flagship brewery in Milwaukee, not the small Leinenkugel facility there (which was once a draught-only brewery, not sure if they bottle there now).

Since you are in next-door MN, makes sense you're getting Milwaukee-brewed Leinie's and I'd guess that means the rest of the country might get Leinenkugel beers brewed at other regional MC plants.

No, TTB regulations allow a brewery to list only their headquarter brewery(ies) on their labels, as long as the coding indicates actual brewery site. For instance, Yuengling labels note only "Pottsville, PA" yet they have a brewery in Florida. And both MC and AB no longer list all or even the specific city of origin on their labels.

 

Just re-read the 6/13 Beverage Industry article on the Leinenkugel 10th Street Milwaukee brewery - they do run a single 12 & 22 ounce bottling line there now. They claim that at 90k bbl/yr they're nearing capacity, and also mention that other than the Big Eddy series, the Leinenkugel beers brewed there are Canoe Paddler, Special Ale, Honey Weiss and Hefeweizen.

 

If you love to-style Helles, you won't like this Leinie's offering -- as such. However, if you also like a good APA you'd be happy.

 

Leinenkugel's is what it is, a mix of more flavorful beers than the average BMC, I enjoyed this new seasonal Hoppin' Helles but it didn't revolutionize the style. I would like to see more lower abv beers with actual hop flavor and this beer had that. As for the Big Eddy line I enjoyed the imperial stout and thought the Scotch Ale was cloying and too sweet. When I bashed it in a review I got beer mails from the brewer bitching about it, I replied it was just my take and I'm sure other folks may enjoy his product!

 

Yeah this beer was a letdown. I finally had it. Hop presence was minimal at best. Im new to this brewery and so far they arent doing it for me. I had the Orange Shady too and I get why Lemon Shandy works because its a summer beer for a hot day but as a fall beer Orange Shandy is useless and tastes like orange soda.