EDEL HELLES ~ AMSTERDAM

Edel Helles is a new offering from Amsterdam Brewery in Toronto. It is a cold aged German Helles style lager. Sampled on draught the beer poured a clear golden apricot colour with an average white head. The nose was simple and contained, lots of grains, mild maltiness and a grassy floral hops. The flavour follows the nose with biscuity grains, subtle citrus and grassy notes - the finish had a pleasant hoppiness. The beer is smooth, crisp and quite sessionable. The body was average as was the carbonation. Very pleasent. By the way in German Edel means noble and is used to denote a beer made with premium ingredients. Hell or helles are the light hops grown in the south of Germany.

5.2% from Toronto, Ontario

HELLER HIGHWATER ~ 

KICHESIPPI BEER CO.

What a cleaver name for a Helles lager! Sampled on draught, this Bavarian style lager poured a fairly clear golden amber colour with a sudsy white head that receded, and left a sheet at the top, and some lacing. The nose contained lots of earthy-bready-grains, honey-caramel malts, with floral and grassy hop notes. The taste too was very grain forward, with honey sweetness, bready malts, a slight pepperiness and a touch of lemon citrus. The grassy/floral hops at the end impart a slight bitterness and a crisp dryness. The body is medium and smooth, and the carbonation is on the soft side. I found this a very pleasant lager, but perhaps not a session beer, as the honey sweetness becomes a little cloying after the second pint.
Hops: German noble hops
Yeast: genuine Munich yeast

4.8% from Ottawa, Ontario IBUs: 19

SPATEN MÜNCHEN ~ SPATEN-FRANZISKANER-BRÄU

Spaten, a helles lager, was sampled in from a tin. It poured crystal clear golden straw colour with a minimal white head. The retention was poor, but the head did leave some minimal lacing down the glass. The nose was mild but did contain bready and grassy malts, floral and peppery hops, sweet yeast and lemony citrus. The taste was crisp and clean. The hops were up front and the malts followed leaving no bitter aftertaste. The beer is a refreshing summertime drinking brew - nothing super special, but far from terrible.

5.2% München, Germany IBU 21

GASLIGHT HELLES ~ MUDDY YORK

Sampled on Draft.  Helles lager was the German answer to Czech Pils.  Helles (meaning bright in German) is a bit more malty, with a very similar spice pallet as a Czech Pils.  This beer was a really pleasant surprise.  The beer poured a light golden colour, and had an unfiltered opaqueness.  The nose was a subtle toasted wheat with floral notes.   It was well carbonated with a lively mouth feel.  The beer had lots of flavour!  A pleasant surprise on the taste buds! Great balance of a slightly sweet malt and crisp finish.  Very drinkable and thirst quenching!

Malts: Bohemian Pilsner, Munich, Melanoiden, Carafoam

Hops: Northern Brewer

5.2% from (East York) Toronto, Ontario     IBU 18

BEAU’S FARM TABLE HELLES ~ BEAU’S

Farm Table Helles is part of Beau’s ‘Farm Table Series’.  The series are inspired by traditional recipes and try to stay true to the style.   Helles lager is a Bavarian classic.  Brewed first in the late 19^th century Helles was Bavaria’s answer to Pils (Bavarian Pilsner) that was very popular at the time.  Similar in taste, Helles is less hoppy and with a richer maltiness and mouthfeel. 

Sampled from a 600mL bottle.  The beer pours a clear carbonated golden straw hue with a medium sized head, which lasts.  Bready malts, a grassy earthiness and mild hops are on the nose.  Flavour is a little bready at first, with soft malts and a clean and crisp finish.  A delicious drinkable sessionable lager.  Well done Beau’s!

4.7% from Vankleek Hills, Ontario   25 IBU

Malts: Pilsner, Carafoam, Acidulated (all organic)

Hops: Organic Perle, Organic Hersbrucker

 ~BLUE MOUNTAIN LAGER ~ 

KING/THORNBURY

King’s Brewery is now being rebranded under Thornbury, who up to now has been exclusively a cidery.    Blue Mountain brewed in the style of “Munich Helles,” a very popular Bavarian style.  Compared to a Pilsner, Helles has a milder hop and richer malt. 

This beer pours pale yellow with a lingering white head.  Aroma is of grains, floral, and a mild citrus notes.  Very easy drinking, with a slightly bitter dry finish.  Great on a hot day. 

4.8% from Collingwood, Ontario
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