Hoffmann Helles - Climax Brewing Company

shaebs99

New York

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a golden yellow with nice amounts of foamy white head

My rating of the smell may be unfair. Since this was poured into hotel glasses instead of proper glassware. Enjoyed while spending week in Jersey. Balanced aroma. Light grassy hops and malt. I want more, but this may be due to the glass.

Taste is well balanced. Grainy, bready with some pale malt notes. Clean finish. I would also like this to be a bit crisper, just a touch more carbonation.

Very drinkable and enjoyable beer. Not my favorite lager, but one of my favorite helles (up there with Weihenstephaner and Stoudt's for me). Would love to make this a regular in my Summer lineup, but is unavailable to me on LI

Serving type: growler

06-02-2008 01:06:15 | More by shaebs99

thefireman

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +27.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this brew on tap at the Drafting Room in Springhouse. Clear amber with foamy head. Smells terrific. I knew this was going to be nice.

Initially floored by the caramel, floral taste heavy on malts. Extremely pleasant and refreshing, especially after drinking a Victory Hop Devil with my meal. Wow! Real nice.

Nice finish that makes me want more. Extremely drinkable!

This is the first I have tasted something out of the Climax Brewing Company brand. I must find more.

Serving type: on-tap

04-06-2008 15:00:08 | More by thefireman

ATPete

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Another great beer from Climax Brewing Co.

A- Crystal clear amber/gold with a big booming white head. Some rising carbonation.

S- Fruity, Malty, Hoppy, Clean, Floral, Fresh, Balanced.

T- Suburb balance, the perfect blend of malts and hops. I get some caramel, grainy bread, pale malts, nice bitterness from the hops, even some fruit and pepper jump in to the mix.

M- Nice light carbonation, medium to light mouth feel

D- This growler stands no chance right now! In line with the rest of the Climax brews this years Helles is extremely drinkable.

Dave and Co. have done it again, great brew! a must try!

Serving type: growler

04-04-2008 00:42:31 | More by ATPete

Ego

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

store bought brewery filled growler...raised the temp to just below cellar.

eyes...
large soapy white head sizzles as it settles down, pale straw, almost too pale imo, lacing is decent, carbonation is slow to moderate in the glass, head retention is pretty good. nothing special, nothing that would make you blow goat chunks....

nose...
assertive grassy and malty, some sweetness peaks through, it almost smells like wet wood (not a complaint), very nice.

taste etc...
round and well bodied in the mouth, the carbonation prickles just a hair keeping this from being to syrupy, the malt really bites here, there are subtle aftertones of bitterness but they are more periphery than anything. this tastes very "natural" (whatever the hell that is supposed to mean)

verdict:
another fine showing from hoffmann's aka climax. as usual his german styles are good representatives.

music: slayer - christ illusion

Serving type: growler

06-03-2007 02:21:55 | More by Ego

jwc215

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured golden with virtually no head and no traces of lacing. The color was good - wish it had more of a head to it.
The smell was clean, but very faint. I didn't pick up on much, especially at first, but a whiff of faint hops.
It was well-balanced. Sweet and bitter intermingled. A slight skunk reminiscent of Euro-lagers was hidden in the background, but didn't last. Otherwise, the flavors were mild.
It did go down smoothly. Other than the smoothness, the strength of this brew is to quench a thirst on a hot day. While nothing especially notable in the smell or taste, it was well-balanced, non-offensive, and above-all smooth.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2006 04:02:31 | More by jwc215

Rastacouere

Quebec (Canada)

4.7/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Draft at Barcade under the name Hofmann(sic) Helles. Clear light golden hue, shining, decent sized white head, mostly lasting. Great hallertau? Hops nose, very floral and lemony, grassy, spicy enveloped by delicious strawy pils malt. The power of the maltiness takes form on the tongue developing mind-boggling pureness of flavour, bread and biscuits of the highest order. Very fruity as well with lemon and tropical fruits being surprisingly omnipresent and bringing a pleasant low level of acidity which enhances drinkability to rarely encountered levels. Not too dry, not too sweet. Oily texture, small bubbles, restrained carbonation. Awesome focus in there, so soft, so clean, so pure balance glory. Another tour de force by Climax. Exceptional.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2005 01:29:58 | More by Rastacouere

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Brewery filled, store purchased growler.

A polished yellow gold body, topped by a hearty helping of whip cream froth, alive with peaks and ridges.. Good lacing immediately evident.

Nose is grassy, with a closing spicey note.

The initial malt landing is firm, but clean. It's not light and airy, not syrupy, just a quick jab that gets your attention before the noble hops jump on to even the seesaw. The hops come in ride the malt away, smoothing edges, and then remaining on stage for a few solo tumbles around the mouth in a delightful aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is a fine balance. Drinkability: maybe it's time to start buying these Climax growlers in pairs.

Another fine addition to the Climax Lager line. Enjoy it this summer.

Serving type: growler

07-18-2004 04:48:58 | More by RonfromJersey