New Belgium Brewing Summer Helles
What the brewers say
“This Summer Helles pours a brilliant gold, with soft, white foam. The aroma is fresh grains and honey with a spicy-herbal twang. This lager carries the pleasant sweetness of pale and German Pils malts and levels off with the light and noble bitterness of Hallertau and Tettnang hops. Summer Helles finishes crisp and dry. Grab your banjo, crack a bottle, and let the pickin’ shine.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Medium strong spicy hop notes blend with subtle sulfur. Light pils malt background supports everything. Faint toasty sweetness. Yeasty with some papery oxidation and a very mild aroma of lemon zest and grass.”
Flavor: “Faint, soft pils malt and a restrained bitterness complement each other. Lemony and grainy. Some grainy sweetness in the aftertaste keeps it from finishing as clean as it could. Light bitterness and a nice clean lager profile.”
Overall: “A bit too light? The crisp hop bitterness saves this beer from blandness. It’s very pale, making it refreshing for summer drinking, but a bit more body wouldn’t hurt.”
