Brooklyner Keller Helles

Formerly brewed at Brooklyn Brewery
Style: Zwickel/Keller/Landbier
Brooklyn, New York USA

On tap in the summer of 2008: Pours a transparent bright golden with a thin, spotty-lacing white head. Aroma of fresh grassy noble hops and lightly sweet pale malt. Body has good carbonation and light malty sweetness with a nice German hop balance. Very authentic, drinkable and enjoyable.

On tap at Delaney’s in New Haven. Manella grain aroma. Hazy yellow color with a medium white head. Grainy and malt taste.

A draft only offering from the Brewmasters Reserve from Brooklyn Brewery in New York, the Keller Helles does not disappoint. An amazingly rich, complex and yet at its heart light and easily quaffable beer style, the Keller Helles when brewed properly truly shines. A perfect summer refresher, though I could enjoy it anytime of the year.
I had mine on draft at Coasters Pub and it was definitely a treat. After ogling the beer taps and beer bottle menu, my Keller Helles arrived bright and practically bubbling over as if to catch my attention and focus on her, not the menu. I was none too happy to oblige, and setting down the menu set to work taking in all her curves, colors, aromas, and her inviting body. The body was a straw yellow and lightly cloudy. Her thick head which was the first to catch my eye faded slowly into a fairly permanent pillow on top. Hints of lemon and citric esters in the nose with a prevalent aroma of chewy fresh sour yeast and soft bananas. Already my mouth is watering and I have yet to even take a quaff. In enviable anticipation, I partake of her liquid depths and am not disappointed. A slightly bready, yeasty chewy body gives way to fresh sourdough and banana bread, brown spices, and a touch of lemon in the finish. Bright and cleansing is her palate, a soft lingering mouthfeel of dough lightly coats the inside of my mouth. From start to finish, there is a steady stream of bubbles rushing from the bottom of my glass to the top and bursting in joy. As I quaff the last of my Keller Helles from Brooklyn Brewery, I am left with visions of fresh banana bread, warm brown spices (brown sugar), and a hint of lemon zest.
An excellent American interpretation of the German beer style, Keller Helles. rightfully so, as I quaff my Keller Helles, though she be American, I am embraced with visions of Germany in all her natural splendor, my elbows resting on an old wooden bar, as a cute fraulein brings me a fresh mug of Brooklyn Keller Helles. Well done.

It looks, tastes and drinks like a skunky bottle of Euro-pilsner on steroids. Pours a clear yellow with a nice head. Taste is a little skunky. Honestly, I don’t really like it. 10 minutes later, it’s leaving a sour taste in my mouth.

On draught at Delaneys. Pours gold with a thin white head. Smells earthy with some nice caramel hints and a touch of pepper. Tastes dry with some touches of sage and a sweet malty finish.

Draught at Cole’s, Buffalo NY. Pours a clear pale gold with an average size lasting creamy white head. Mild aroma of fruit, Saaz hops, grain and some sweetness. Flavour’s the same: Light Saaz hops, some fruit, grainy malt and a light bitter finish. Average bodied. Nothing special, to me, but it’s a well made easy-drinking beer that you could easily quaff several pints of.

on draught at Cole’s in Buffalo NY. Slightly cloudy gold pour with a solid foamy-creamy white head. There’s a hint of earthiness in the aroma, mostly to my nose grassy fresh light hopping and clover. The taste followed right on - an initial quick sting of grassy/floral hops, then mild caramel malt, which quickly faded. It had an average body, crisp and lively mouthfeel, no aftertaste at all - a solid patio beer, I could drink several pints of it.

Tap @ Cole’s. Great graininess/cereals, nice hoppiness in the nose. Flavor is perfect caramel that goes and goes and goes, tempered by a nice grassy hoppiness. Its just awesome. Not quite as good as the few I had in Germany but damn.. they need to make this regularly.