Rock Bottom Bethesda Keller Helles

In short: A soft and simple unfiltered helles with a delicate yeast note and a mild dryness in the finish.

Draft at Bethesda Rock Bottom and then later from a growler, the brewery pint was in a shaker while the growler pint was in a proper tall, curved pils glass which really helped this beer. Pours light hazy yellow with a decently sized white head, the nose is very soft and delicate, nearly transparent at first, but at a more suitable warmer temperature the yeast and malt really come out to the play - biscuits, dry crackers and pillowy fruit in the nose. Full-bodied malt all around, with only a light hint of hop bitterness, and a nice, mild dryness in the finish. Wets the appetite and begs you to drink multiple pints. Refreshing and easy to drink, and most importantly, unoffensive. No, we’re not talking world class here, but it’s certainly something nice to drink.

Growler, courtesy of acrdz. Thanks, Mike! Pours a hazy, honey-straw color; off-white head with fine-bubbled lacing. Pleasant herbal and mineral hoppiness in the aroma; reasonably dry with a solid bready core. Medium mouthfeel: the hop character doesn’t follow through as strongly in the mouth; toasted malts, bread, and chewy malts at the core; doesn’t have enough hops to be excellent, but still reasonably tasty and dry; pretty solid beer. Medium finish: toasty malts, bread, and nicely dry.