Bürgerbräu Wolnzacher Hell Naturtrüb

Brewed by Bürgerbräu Wolnzach
Style: Zwickel/Keller/Landbier
Wolnzach, Germany

Pours with a huge curtain of tiny bubbles and an extremely attractive deep, dark golden. Giant cream-colored head that lasts forever and a day. I was surprised to see a slight haze in the glass as helles is normally crystal clear. I was worried that my bottle was infected until I took my first whiff of its bready, malty wonderfulness. It turns out it’s just unfiltered which I think is a nice, creative touch on the part of the good people at Burgerbrau. This is truly a world class beer form the subtle grassy hints in the nose to light but full mouthfeel with its gentle cushion of carbonation. A brilliantly executed malt profile is rounded out by ever-so-slightly citric hops in the finish. At the moment, this gets my vote for the most criminally underrated brew on this site. I have never had a beer so elegantly understated, so drinkable, yet so divine.

2003 or 2004 bottle (not sure). Pours a bright bronze/gold color, plenty of full colors with a nice hazy yeast sediment apparent. Big white head and lacing as well. Not quite as deep of a color as the Summer of Lager, but still pretty nice. The aroma is light and hoppy, quite crisp with some mint and herbal notes, a touch of honey and maybe some lemon. A touch of light dough in there as well. Flavor is tremendously balanced. While it dosent seem to have the sheer force of flavor going for it that Summer of Lager does, it makes up points in balance and delicateness. Great mouthfeel, full and only moderately carbonated. Lightly spicy on the finish, pleasingly so, with just a wonderful balance of hops and malt. Some lemon in there, honey, bitter hops, a bit of salitiness and a bit more light citrus. Tremendous beer and glad this one is bottle conditioned.

500ml bottle. 06.07.04 Pours a hazy, darkish gold; enormous beige head, sheets of lace. Aromas are herbal, salty, fresh grains, sweat(?). Palate is effervescent, crisp, very crisp, also a quite full mouthfeel. The bubbles feel big, tingly. Flavors are also weedy and herbal with a wet wheat background. I don’t usually love this style, but this is a delicious example. Finish is quite hoppy, a nice diversion for a helles.

A nicely formed head of light bubbles. Honey brown in color with a bit of opaque hazyness. A hoppy, bitter aroma, with a hint of lemon and yeast. A dry, bready, feel to the palate. Flavor of yeast, mild citris, and flowers. Even the most slight bit of grittiness.

Slighty hazed golden hue with big creamy head and outstanding lace, beautiful. The aroma has notes of lemongrass and very floral hops, buttery biscuit malts, doughy yeast, mild lemon and a touch of spice. The taste starts with a yeast and malt character; bready, subdued banana and citric twang. Very flowery, hay and classical bitter notes follow. The finish displays a strange but yummy crisp yet biscuity finish. The mouthfeel is dry and lively, slightly chalky, good body for style. Wonderfully balanced and refreshing, everything you look for in a beer during this time of year. Highly recommended.

Biscuity yeast carefully illustrates the proposed nourishment...Hop bitterness suggestions and citrus juice acidity demonstrate the ensuing refreshment...A dryish ending precedes the thought of a satisfying accomplishment...

Citrus lemon aroma with pronounced yeastiness. Rather saison-like. Dark yellow-brown cloudy body with plenty of yeast in suspension. Decent, dense white head that recedes to a thick ring. Yeast is everything to this beer. It predominates the gentle malty flavour and pleasant noble hop bitterness (Hallertau). Nice biscuity aftertaste. I found myself wishing this were just a bit more malty. Short flavour profile. Quite dry with light refreshing body. This could definitely be the beer of choice for cooling off in the summertime if only it were available locally. Enjoyed with MartinT and Rastacouere. Bottle.

Immense thanks to CaptainCougar Bottle-conditioned, a good sign. Shining golden, opaque and cloudy with a huge amount of yeast particules in suspension. Unfortunately, the silky white head quickly diminishes to a film. Aroma of cookie malt, deliciously doughy. Fresh cut bread, honey and lemony malt. Admirable soft hallertau providing flowery and herbal flavors. Envelopping yeastiness (lemon pie crust). Ain’t this beautiful? I would score this among my favorites if the malty cookieness was just a bit more expressive. Oddly, the yeast seems to take more place than the promising malt here. On the other hand, the moderate tartness and banana/lemon fruitiness makes it the ultimate sunny day companion. Furthermore, this is an infinitely delicate and soft beer, a princess wearing satin with a decent bite in the form of a fresh and crisp hallertau finish. The body is thin-medium, silky smooth with gentle carbonation. Fabulous rendition of an helles. I could contemplate its glory for a whole summer. Were it more available, this would be my one and only beer to convert neophytes to the light.
Resample: This is as good as I remembered. One of the softest beers around, beautifully edged in all aspects, subtle and elegant.