Climax Hoffman Helles

Brewed by Climax Brewing Company
Style: Dortmunder/Helles
Roselle Park, New Jersey USA

Draft at Barcade under the name Hofmann(sic) Helles. Clear light golden hue, shining, decent sized white head, mostly lasting. Great hallertau? Hops nose, very floral and lemony, grassy, spicy enveloped by delicious strawy pils malt. The power of the maltiness takes form on the tongue developing mind-boggling pureness of flavour, bread and biscuits of the highest order. Very fruity as well with lemon and tropical fruits being surprisingly omnipresent and bringing a pleasant low level of acidity which enhances drinkability to rarely encountered levels. Not too dry, not too sweet. Oily texture, small bubbles, restrained carbonation. Awesome focus in there, so soft, so clean, so pure balance glory. Another tour de force by Climax.

Drank this one out of a 1/2 gallon jug. Poured a straw yellow with a pinkish hue. Smelled of celery and minerals. The first sip was great. Oh so refreshing! There is a uniqueness to this Helles style lager that i don’t get anywhere else. I’m hooked on this brew. Felt bad for the recycling men this summer hauling dozens of these empty jugs from the recycle bin. Jersey brewed! Represent!!

Herbal, grainy and leafy hops in the clean, fresh and lightly sweet aroma. Clear golden body with a low white head that diminishes to ring. Soft and grainy, clean malt character is followed by a sneaky herbal hop flavour that builds throughout and fair finishing bitterness. Light body is lively with effervescence that lightly prickles the tongue and awakens the tastebuds. Sampled on tap at Barcade in NYC with Olivier_MTL and Rastacouere.

Pour is deep golden with a dense off white head...smell is fruity and floral...taste is crisp and clean with a slightly fruity bitter finish...

Draft at Craft Ale House. Pours hazy deep golden with 1-finger off-white creamy head. Nose is grainy pale malt, mild hops, citrus, and honey. Tastes smooth, with lemongrassy, grainy pale malt, hops, citrus, in a solid balance, and as complex as you can get for a Helles. Very smooth.

British pint pour at the Gutter (man, Barcade people love Climax). The color is completely clear straw color. Aroma is strong, especially considering the style, with lagered sweet fruitiness and a light oiliness on the nose. Taste is much less fruity but instead the light fruitiness is complemented with a light herbal flavor. It has a bit of a seltzer/mineral mouthfeel to it. This is the exact opposite of the finish, which leaves a lightly oily feel and sweet fruit aftertaste. It’s an original take on the Helles style (whatever that may encompass).

On draft, this poured a clear fizzy yellow beer color, and tasted every bit like what a Helles should. Nice and crisp with that malty yet citrusy thing going on. Carbonation was slightly low for the style, but aroma was much more fruity and interesting than what most beers in this style have. A very nice example of an underappreciated style of lager. Good stuff.

From growler. Gold, with a white head. Aroma is grain, malt, and hops. Flavors is malt, grain, hops, and fruit. A nice, easy drinkng beer.