Helmar Big League Brew

Brewed by Michigan Brewing Company
Style: English Pale Ale
Webberville, Michigan USA

Copper color with a beige head. Weak malt and fruit aroma. Mild caramel malt flavor and a little hops in the finsih. Pretty good.

Tried this one after hearing that it won a gold medal at the World Expo of Beer in the pale ale category. I think some of the experts here are missing the entire point of this beer. It is a great session beer, not meant to pucker your kiester. Nice copper color with little head. Taste is carmel, mild enough that it didn’t distract from food yet had enough flavor to keep my interest when taken alone. If you want to impress your friends serve something else, but if you want to have your friends enjoy a beer this is a good time beer.

The Old Chicago in Trevose, PA had this on draught for two bucks a pint. They must of been trying to kill the keg. Reminded me of a bitter Yuengling Lager. Great beer for the price I was paying. Guy at the bar was telling me about the labels and bottle caps. Sounds like I had the beer cheaper than others and without the gimmick.

I like the labels and caps more than the beer. Don’t get me wrong, it tastes o.k., just not "great". I’m still going to need to look for it again as I’ll need the rest of the bottles for my collection (gotta have one with each different label after all).

Medium golden color, head started out thick, did not last long. Has a sweetish lemon nose with a lightly bitter taste and finish. Easy going down, need to try in warm weather.

Now, how the heck did the area Giant Eagle grocery store end up with cases and cases of this brew? Rockinout threw me a bottle from his 4 pack. (thanks John!) Light copper, clear, with a nice thick head and pretty good lacing. This brew is lighter tasting, some cookie dough, toast, hints of toffee, some dusty hops, pears, herbal. Overall, not a bad beer at all - I hope that some of the folks that grab this at the supermarket become interested....

12 oz bottle: Very little foaming of white on a medium amber body. A little soapy hop aroma mixed with some tea leaf. Very light caramel and toasty malt, and toffee aromas, but balanced well with the hops. Hints of green apple fruitiness. Well balanced, but just to bitter. Herbal hop pronounced, but in line with caramel and bready malt flavors. Finish is bitter, but pleasant and not harsh, also a little bitter sweet. There seems to be a little green apple tartness as well as slight english yeasty flavor. The aftertaste is herbal hop and toasty malt in good balance. Body is lighter but not watery, medium carbonation, and a little on the dry side. Overall a pretty well made beer for a "private" label. But I wouldn’t expect much else from Michigan Brewing. Cool caps, especially since I collect them, and neat packaging, although a little pricey @ 4.99/ 4 pack.

Organge color with a little white head. A mix of caramel and pine that was pretty good. It had a caronated texture that was different. Not bad since I purchased it because of the baseball reference.