On tap at Ambulance, decent dry-hopped pale-yellowed moderation needs more pronounced helles bock features. Tropical Saphir hops bring zesty lemon, tangerine and orange tang to the fore, but timid sugared pale malting diminishes. Sweet floral-perfumed citrus spicing eventually contrasted by lightly embittered clover honey astringency.
Extremely popular Dead Guy Helles Bock soaked in Dead Guy Whiskey Barrels retains soft-toned oaken vanilla buttering, creamy sugared malting and tangy orange spicing. Dry rye whiskey sedation soaks into brown-sugared grain malting as well as caramel, toffee, almond and coconut undertones.
On tap at Ambulance, muskily dry helles lager coalesces raw-honeyed maize, wet-grained cellar mustiness and herbal hop spicing embed sour yellow fruiting to gummy sourdough base. Horse-blanketed straw, hay and alfalfa rusticity deepens finishing acridity.
On tap at Taphouse 15, sessionable helles lager retains musky wet grained dankness and light lemony orange-grapefruit tartness above honeyed biscuit base in straightforward manner.
On tap at Midland Brew House, dry corn-husked oats graining guides mildly spiced citric-herbal Saaz hop pep of adequate Helles Lager. Crisp, clean and just a tad bolder than similarly styled Bavarian fare.
Sweet orange blossom honey adjunct brings nifty floral sentiment to oats-dried wheat malts and citric Mandarina hop spot of mild helles lager. Fizzy carbolic spritz adds lemony tangerine tingle.
Rustic pilsner-malted husked graining, sour lemon-rotted orange oiling and dried fig scurry lighten lingered herbal-licked Magnum hop bittering of nebulous helles lager. Dewy sourdough breading and earthen clay nuances waver.
Simple moderate-bodied helles lager brings musky dry-hopped toasted graining to lemon meringue tartness atop lightly creamed pastry-like crystal sugaring, cereal-grained corn malts and doughy French breading while wispily herbal earthen hops provide mildly bitter contrast.
On tap at Growler & Gill, interesting soft-toned helles lager coalesces gluey honeyed pilsner malts with oats-sugared corn sweetness, toasted mineral graining and tingly floral-spiced hop mildness without getting stylistically apprehensive.
On tap at River Of Beer, updated 2016 All Malt Lager stays sessionable as sticky honey malt sweetness enhances perfumed citrus hops. Just too obvious and oblivious style-wise, perhaps.
Fine 2015-originated Vermont brewer crafts strictly lagers and pilsners (as of May 2016). Endearing ‘golden lager’ brings spicy lemon tang to doughy cereal-grained biscuit malts and grassy hops for easygoing, sessionable moderation.
Not a particularly popular or convincing beer style since the musty pilsner malt breading and sourdough-skunked zwickel yeast musk defining this beloved Midwestern helles lager will put-off sweet-toothed imbibers (like Heineken oft-time does). Lemon-rotted sourness keeps floral-perfumed whim and metallic sheen at bay. Not a personal fave, but enjoyed by many German-influenced beer geeks.
