Kraftbrau Helles

PsychProf provides this unusual and tremendous Helles. This has such an unusual orange rind aroma and flavor that may takes this a bit out of style, but makes it intensely enjoyable and memorable. The malt is sweet and the hops sharp. Remarkable in its light complexity. Saddens me that I will probably never have the opportunity to sample this again. Glad that PsychProf sent me two. Delightful.

Rerate: Two separate attempts at the brewery to get this on tap have failed, and on one occasion I was able to score one (!) more bottle. I must update my rating, bacuse this just drips with heavy malt and a whole lot of hallertau. Spicily delicious. One of my all time faves. Worth an hour for me to drive to! Original: 9/14/02: Bottled. Unfiltered excellence. A truly remarkable Helles. Quite full bodied, yet still a bit more tart/crisp (like Great Lakes Dort) than smoother versions. Dripping with Hallertauer and 2 row pale malts, I assume. Truly yummy.

So I saved this one for last of the Kraftbraus I brought back from Kzoo on Eccentric day, under Michael’s spell. There is a great beer store in Kzoo called by some woman’s name Tracey’s, Trixies? It’s out west of town a bit. Anyway, they have a good selection of beers and claim to have more Kraftbrau readily availiable than does the brewery itself. Enough preamble: I make a little bread now and then and have a habit of slathering my rising doughs with interesting oils. If you chewed a bit of my rising dough recently coated in a flaxseed/canola mixture, you’d approximate the malty rise of this brew. But the beer doesn’t quit there - as the good professor opines, there is plenty of Hallertauer flower power to balance and accent. It’s a deceptively easy drinking brew - I finished the glass greedily - but, alas, I’d only brought one ... this becomes my new fave of the style, taking over from the wonderful Great Lakes version, which is a perennial standard in my fridge.

Just the slightest hint of cloudiness. Great aroma--a nice range fo bright hop smells. Malt character is almost perfect. Bright on the tongue initially, then it envelops the tongue with straw-like flavos and then lets you off at the end with another kiss of hops and that slightest hint of sourness that takes the edge of the sweetish finish. An almost perfet helles. Psychprof thanks for promoting and providing this beer. A standout.

Courtesy of the esteemed Psychprof. Mine pours with a mega-foamy head, which others don't mention. Hmmm, hope this isn't off. Looks nice, anyway. Nice buttery fresh bread aroma, soft but noticeable. Flavor is mild,dry,fresh, grassy, slightly citrusy. Can't say after one that this is a world classic, but I'm not really that knowledgeable in the style and this is coming on the heels of a couple of intense stouts. Will save my 2nd bottle for a really hot day. Very nice dry slightly bitter finish, good body, a winner for sure.