Atwater Hell

Brewed by Atwater Block Brewery
Style: Dortmunder/Helles
Detroit, Michigan USA

A very drinkable response to the mass-produced lagers... better than most of them. Tasty ’n’ refreshing, especially on a warm, humid day.

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After having the dunkel and not liking it, I didn’t have high hopes. However, this was a nicely made lager done to style. I don’t expect it to be complex, which it is not, but it has a nice malt/ hop balance with aroma of a fresh baked pretzel. I wish the finish had been a little more crisp, but overall a good lager.

Light orange gold color. Medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is grassy and grainy. A medium bodied helles. Malts are grassy and grainy. Hops are mild and citrusy. Touches of fruit and citrus. Perhaps a touch thin tasting. Light and refreshing. Clean and crisp. Nice summer beer. Mouthfeel is a touch thin. Finish is clean and crisp. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Taken as a Lager this beer is pretty good. As a Helles it is just average. Pours a clear golden color with lots of small bubbles. Thin white head with minimal lacing. The aroma is fruity with some malt. Light-bodied with a clean palate. Flavors of fruit, malt and a touch of hops and yeast. The finish is kind of thin and lightly bitter. Overall this beer is blown away by the likes of GLBC but it’s ok.

Bottle: Aroma is almost nonexistant. A slight malt aroma barely sneaks thru. Pours a very pale yellow with a small head that’s gone quickly. It’s slightly hazy too. Not much initial flavor followed by a nice balance of malts and hops in the finish. This beer is a little boring. Very watery beer with an okay finish. Rather boring.

Pale yellow with a white head. Bready malt aroma. Very sweet with bready flavor. Dry finish.

Clear golden color with a small white head that doesn't last very long, no lacing. Bready, grainy and flowery aromas, starts sweet and bready with nice balanced hop bitterness, light bodied, somewhat of a thin and watery mouthfeel, finishes clean and crisp, another good one from this brewery.

Smells very strong of apple. Bit of crisp hops; mainly apples though. Looks unimpressive. Very clear, light apple juice color, moderate head that disappears quickly. Starts out very appley. Yes, I feel this beer is overdone with apples. That fluffy/doughy yeast strain is all you really taste, I guess there is a touch of peppery hops, maybe tettnang or chinook or something, not much whatever it is. Malt is hardly evident, maybe a touch of honey-like taste. Extremely light bodied, finishes with a sourish yeasty flavor. I've had worse. Carbonation is medium.