Boulevard Brewing Co. Tasting Room Dry-Hopped Helles Helles Lager at 5.6% ABV | 35 IBU (US$2.08 at Specs Main Houston, 355 ml, packaged on 22-Jan-2018, best before 21-Jun-2018, acquired 3-Mar-2018, reviewed 6-Mar-2018)
Appearance: crystal clear pale straw with one fat finger of rocky white head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: crackery malt, grass, citrus & floral, light burnt rubber/band-aid. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate carbonation, crisp mild bitter finish. (4/5)
I went with (arguably) the wrong glassware here, partly because the label said it was dry-hopped, so I decided to maximize aroma retention. Checking the brewer’s web site tells me it’s dry-hopped with Mandarina Bavaria, and although it’s not as citrus-forward as I might like, it definitely becomes apparent as the glass progresses. I generally find Helles Lagers to be pretty boring, but the dry-hopping actually threatens to make this halfway interesting… until the burnt rubber/band-aid aroma starts to manifest upon warming. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not overwhelming or anything, but it certainly tempered my enthusiasm. Still and all, a good example of the style. (15/20)
7.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
