Andechser Spezial Hell

Brewed by Klosterbrauerei Andechs
Style: Dortmunder/Helles
Andechs, Germany

Serve in Lager glass

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UPDATED: MAR 4, 2012 The Germans are known for many things, but surely chief among them is an exacting, disciplined focus on technical pursuits. Whether it is home do-it-yourself stores, like Bauhaus or automobiles, but BMW cannot claim a monopoly on such successes. One needs look only a half an hour west of the ultimate driving machine’s distinct headquarters to find a band of monks doing the lord’s work by marrying German precision with beer. The Andechs special helles is poured from the tap or from the 0.5 liter bottle, into a half-liter stein. It pours a pale straw, a beautiful light golden hue, crystal clear with a healthy, mouth wateringly inviting head. Grains and honey, with just a hint of flowers, waft from the mug. Fairly middle-ground with a neutral kick of grassy, grainy, hoppy deliciousness. A deep pull of the beer offers a slightly spicy (by German standards) bitterness and a crisp, sweet finish. It leaves you to be surprised by its delicious taste as it rolls in the mouth lightly and refreshingly. Utter beauty, this is by far the most drinkable and delicious of helles lagers I ever have tasted. The carbonation livens up the palate along with the smooth highly drinkable consistency that makes this such a special beer. This is, by far, my all-time favorite for this category and definitely worth a special delivery from the Kloster Andechs just to get this beer in my home in the Hessen’s Odenwald. This is a beer you can spend a summer day drinking by the maß (mass is a 1.0 liter mug). This excellent beer (Bier) is more than just the mere components, it is perfectly balanced, expertly tuned and a shining example of craftsmanship. This simply is one of the best beers in a country skilled in the art of brewing. It is no less than delicious perfection and is consider to be compared, to be the epitome of Germany as a hot apple pie is an American icon. Das Andechser Spezial Hell, das bekannte Festbier aus dem Andechser Bräustüberl, steht in leuchtend hellem Gold im Glas. Sein glanzklares Aussehen und der stabile und feinporige Schaum korrespondiert mit einem frischen und reinen Geruch. Malzaromatische Aromanoten stehen dabei im Vordergrund. Das Spezial Hell ist angenehm spritzig und überzeugt durch einen vollen und runden Malzkörper. Der weiche Geschmack ist gekennzeichnet von ausgewogenen süßen und hopfenbitteren Nuancen. Im Abgang folgen ebenso weiche Malzaromen - ein klassisches Festbier altbayrischer Brauart (13,5 Gewichtsprozent Stammwürze und 5,8 Volumenprozent Alkohol).

UPDATED: DEC 26, 2008 Although it does not have a high rating, it is one of my favorite beers. I normally always have some in my keller. Don’t let the word light in German fool you. The 5.9% is no joke for this light beer. Probably one of the best Helles in the world.

Poured on-tap at the Kloster Andechs... Appearance: Pours a beautiful light and lively golden hue with a mouth wateringly inviting head. Smell: Fairly middle-ground with a neutral kick of grassy, grainy, hoppy deliciousness. It leaves you to be surprised by it’s delicious taste. Taste: Utter beauty. This is by far the most drinkable and delicious of helles lagers I have tasted. My all-time favorite for this category. Worth a trip back just to get this beer alone. Mouthfeel: Carbonation livens the palate along with the smooth highly drinkable consistency that is this oh so special beer. Overall: A must have with a trip to the Holy Mountain! Alongside the plethora of beer that this monastery pumps out this is a good base for the magnificence that this place will bestow upon your taste buds. Gogogogo!!

Bottle at Andy and Max’s fantasy tasting. Bottle shared by Malrubius!! WTF- this shit is awesome! Super fresh too- Best Before Nov 1st 2010! Best beer of the night by far. Pours a nice clean and clear bright golden yellow with a massive sticky pure white head- and sick lace. Aroma is pure fresh decocted pils malt, fresh bready and doughy with a nice mix of fresh herbal and flowery hops. Flavor is crackery, bready insanely fresh malt, pils, light toast and biscuits with flowers, light spice and herbal hops in the end- perfect bitterness to balance the malt and make this an very crisp easy drinking helles- Wow!!!! I wish I could have a whole keg of this stuff.

On tap at the brewery. Oh, what pleasure for the love and soul! This was possibly the most aromatic of the Andechs beers that we tasted. Clear and golden, this was light, but packed with flavor. Sweetness, fruity, malty and yeasty. The easiest to present complexities of the brew. Why is it that the lightest beers are the tastiest here in Deutschland?

Vom fass @ Andescher am Dom, München, Germany.
After a New-Munich guided tour (highly recommended) wrapped up the mercury had well and truly risen and it was fair-dinkum time for a pint, or stein!!! Aside the Frauenkirche, the sun beaming down and sweat beading upon my forehead, this beer proved to be a slice of heaven (mind the pun). Compact, snow white head donned a sparkling medium gold body that was sparsely carbonated. The head held and laced well, if it didn’t the Oberen would surely be disappointed in their work and offer another. I love Deutschland!!! Fresh baked, warm bread on the nose with a light lemon-pepper note, very clean, very well defined. Dry, unusually complex and meaty malt flavours in the mouth. Unusual for its style, atleast. A light honey edge up front develops late. Wheat grain and baked biscuits, cereal grains and fresh kilned malt, this just has a little of everything. Medium-light in body and sprightly in carbonation it bounces across the palate with alarming haste and finishes off with some very gritty barnyard malt that lingers well. A feint earthy hop flavour lingers also, yet the hops fail to show on the palate. It is really nice stuff, took the edge off, cooled my body and gave me just enough energy as to order another. Cheers!!!

European Bottle Pour - Large, white head with amber body. Aroma - flowery, a bit of citrus, and grainy. Flavor - Quite dry with bitter finish. Light-Medium body. My favorite from Andechs! And it’s hard to get in the Kaiserslautern area these days!

Bottle from Beers of Europe. Light golden coloured, with foamy white, long lasting head. Fair bit of lacing. Aroma is sweet and malty/grainy with some hops. Taste is slightly sweet and malty with a light bitter finish and long aftertaste. Full bodied and smooth. Good quality and very nice.

Bottle. A - Very clear, crisp golden color with plenty of bubbles. Fairly large, thick, light, rocky, foamy white head with decent retention and a thin layer of bubbly lace. S - Good grainy base with plenty of grassy, herbal, and floral hops. Slight sweet and bready malt is well balanced with that hop aroma. Hint of mineral aroma on the finish. T - Similar to the nose. A nice grainy and bready malt base. Mid sip to the finish there is a nice floral and herbal hop flavor. Not too strong or overly bitter, but it provides a nice counter to the malt. A nice balance between the two, the malt is stronger, but the hops provide a nice little kick. A touch of mineral and spice flavors toward the end. M - Medium body with a healthy amount of carbonation. Pretty smooth and refreshing with a bit of a spritzy feel. Quite refreshing. D - Very easy to drink beer with a good amount of hops and carbonation to give it a bit of a kick with the malt. An easy and enjoyable drink. Notes: Best before 18/10/10. A very nice, easy to drink beer. Well balanced with a good amount of flavor. Made for a great beer to sip on a sunny and warm day. Refreshing and has just the right amount of hops to keep it interesting. Definitely worth a try if you can get it.

Golden coloured. Lovely creamy, soft mouthfeel. Robust maltiness. Well balanced biterness. A great quaffable but flavourful helles!