Na Zdravi !: Ruekeller: Helles

Wednesday, February 03, 2021

Ruekeller: Helles

The Bruery (Placentia, CA)

"Inspired by old-world brewing techniques in the likeness of the traditional name. We crafted this Helles with the finest of ingredients, the utmost of care, and years of experience in brewing extraordinary craft lagers.
Easy drinking and full-bodied, with light bitterness, a touch of sweetness, and a clean crisp finish."

Wow! The best "new" beer I've had in some time.
I'm a sucker for Helles style beers and this one is really, really good.
Very well carbonated. Crisp, clean, and subtly sweet with a pleasing slightly spicy bitter finish

ABV 5.2%

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.