It is an average beer, that I have bought at the sterk Amsterdam, a bit sour, bready, some hop, a bit watery, well balanced, coŕrect, 26.01.18

OK, thought I did the big W helles but it turns out that was the 'original 5.1' helles, not this 'new 4.8' helles. Oh well, I wonder how close it tastes to the original. Well, let's find out from this pounder can! BTW, its not actually a 16oz pounder can, its really a half liter - 0.9 oz more than a pounder, heheh. I've always had a special place in my beer tasting heart for the Weihenstephan brews, never had a bad experience with them across all the big W styles. And, the can says they are the world's oldest brewery to boot! This one pour crystal clear glowing pale with a big foaming head that fades quickly to a 1/4 inch berber carpet. Very nice clean lager nose with a hint of metallic sweetness. First taste is quite light for a helles, and it has a decent co2 level. From a glass, co2 level is lacking but big swigs from the can yield a fine cutting effect. The taste is very refined, never cloying as with so many domestic attempts at this style. I'm telling you, this is one of the better helles I've had in a long time; even better than Northern Row Hustler, St. Louis Summer Lager, Noble Creature Alex Fox and even Lowenbrau Original! I really did like that Lowenbrau! Yes, this stuff is tasty fun and easy with some hints of fresh cut hay in there, has some of the finer civilized qualities of Straub's original brew. As a macro pale lager lager lover myslelf, I think most cheap pale macro lager lover will find this quite attractive, its even quite cheap! Less than 3$ for a 500mL single can dude! I bet in a pack, you could get this for less than $2 each.

A solid and perfect German lager, another world of quality comparing with the French fischer beer. This one is malty, bready, smooth with a note of honey, a bit sweet, regular hop for lager at the final, sharing this one with Raoul, 22.04.22, at the ex pibar.

Of the NA iterations of beers I know and love, this probably comes closest to “the real thing” - it’s lighter and less sweet, but the mouthfeel is full and the complex spicy phenols are largely intact - finish gets a little watery, and it’s not as complex, of course, but it’s quite good for what it is.

Bottle at Hops, Crewe. Pours golden yellow (with a greenish tinge) . Noral pouring gives virtually no head whatsoever, but vigorous pouring manages a small white head. Continental hops to the fore in the aroma plus malts and traces of herbs. In the mouth it is sweet and juicy with a creamy texture, and a little underlying bitternesss. Hop and malts to the fore again in the flavour, but also a significant amount of berry / summer fruits. Finish is a little gassy. This is decent enogh – certainly refreshing.