Spaten Münchner Hell (Premium Lager) - Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu

JWU

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. botle poured into a tumbler glass

A- A clear straw yellow with a tight white head that dissipates fairly quickly, but leaves a little lacing down the glass.

S- A straightforward graininess with aromas of lemon peal and white wine tannins. A bit of floral/earthy hops.

T- Clean. A nice mix of everything mentioned in the aroma, the touch of floral hops and tannins finish it out.

M- Medium carbonation, and not over the top on the bubbles like some can be. Light to medium body. Refreshing.

O- Pretty good stuff. Very clean, and nothing off-putting at all.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 17:15:43 | More by JWU

metter98

New York

3.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is crystal clear light yellow in color and has a light to moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin bright white head that died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of grainy and biscuit malts plus grassy and spicy hops in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste has initial flavors of grain and biscuits followed by spices from the hops in the finish. There is a light to moderate amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is very well balanced between the malt and hops and is also quite easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 00:27:52 | More by metter98

FarmerJohnny

California

4.9/5  rDev +33.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass
No freshness date

A - A gorgeous hazy golden-straw color with a nice frothy head.

S - Classic german yeast and hops make this the one of the best smelling Helles Lagers I've experienced. Doesn't beat an IPA though.

T - My first impression is "wonderful." Very clean all around. You can "taste" the floral hops on the finish and it keeps you coming back for more.

M - Very, very clean. The light malt comes through upfront, followed by a crisp finish that makes this very refreshing.

O - Munich Helles Lagers done right are some of my favorite lagers for summer. That being said, this Helles is done to near perfection. Pick up a six pack for yourself and enjoy a summer afternoon (or two or three).

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 00:34:34 | More by FarmerJohnny

SometimesIfart

Michigan

2.93/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a Lager glass. Pours a dark yellow in color with a three finger head. Quite nice I guess though nothing special. Pretty much smells of any other lager, Including Adjuncts with some strong skunkiness coming through. Taste is realistically no better than a PBR, Except with some very slight fruitiness. The mouthfeel is pretty much the same as the taste. With no additional flavors coming through, However it is not harsh at all. Overall, It's a pretty average beer. Nothing worth buying in my opinion, I got the bottle for free so I cannot complain

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 04:56:17 | More by SometimesIfart

StoutHunter

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

I picked up a bottle of Spaten's Premium Lager today for $1.69 at The Lager Mill. I have never had this beer before or anything else from this brewery so I am interested to see how this turns out, so lets see hoe it goes. No visible bottling date. Poured from a green 12oz bottle into a imperial pint glass.

A- The label is pretty simple and clean looking, but it doesn't really stick out on the shelf. It poured a very clear light golden yellow color with three fingers worth of fluffy white head that quickly died down to a thin ring that eventually faded to nothing and left a hardly any lacing. This is a pretty average looking lager.

S- The aroma starts off with a good amount of malts which have a higher amount of medium sweetness and impart some sweet, grainy, grassy, hay and bready aromas. Next comes a slight skunky aroma followed by some slightly peppery yeast. This is a pretty average smelling Lager, nothing too special going on, but still solid for it's style, but I could go with out the skunky aroma.

The taste seems to be fairy similar to the aroma, it starts off with a good amount of malts that have a really light amount of medium sweetness and impart some grainy and bready flavors along with a grassy and hay like flavor that seems to stick out the most. Towards the end I get a little skunkyness with a very low amount of bitterness on the finish and it had a grassy and hay like after taste. This a good tasting Lager, but the skunkyness keeps it from getting a four.

M- Pretty smooth, crisp,on the thicker side of being light bodied, with a nice amount of medium carbonation. The mouthfeel was very good and true to style, it worked well with this beer.

Overall I thought this was an ok beer and a slightly above average example of a Munich Helles Lager, it had just about everything that I look for in the style, but the skunkyness prevented it from being as good as it could be. This beer had pretty good drinkability, it was smooth but the flavors couldn't quite hold my attention, but I could still drink two or three of these if in the mood. What I liked most about this beer was the mouthfeel, it was true to style and just where it should be, no complaints there. What I liked least about this beer was the fact that it was a little skunky, I think that's from the green bottle, these older brewery's that still use green bottles need to get with the times. I might have this beer again if I was looking for a sessionable lager, but I would be more inclined to revisit this again on draft, it's got to go great with brats. This beer made for an Ok first impression for Spaten, and I would be interested to try more of their beers, but you can be sure that I will be a little leery if they are in the same green bottle, good brew, it just needs better packaging.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 03:52:58 | More by StoutHunter

flyers1980

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got a case on clearance for $20 and was psyched to try this highly esteemed lager. Maybe it's the fact that I've been accustomed to Americanized lagers but I was astounded by the syrupy quality this beer has in aftertaste. It poured a golden color with a generous foamy head into my pilsner glass. In look and in taste it reminded me if yuengling premium, which im not above drinking but it is what it is. Decent beer but it didn't give me an exceptional vibe.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 02:19:26 | More by flyers1980

secondtooth

Indiana

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Straw golden, with a huge white crown of carbonation. Dense and beautiful ringlets of lace.

Nose is slightly skunky. Hmm.

Taste is definitely malty sweet but crisp and light. A perfect thirst quencher for hot summer days, and aside from the aroma, a solid lager.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 22:29:48 | More by secondtooth

tdm168

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - pale gold; thick mountain of pure white, dense, foamy head; great retention

S - musty, grassy, straw, lager yeast

T - grassy, straw, faint grains, mildly bitter noble hops, a bit musty

M - smooth, well carbonated, light to medium bodied

This is a decent, quaffable, smooth, decently flavored beer. It does have the typical characteristics of a euro lager, but the hop character and grain bill do a good job of overcoming it. It's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 22:03:50 | More by tdm168

magictacosinus

California

4.25/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pilsner glass.

Clear, yellow in color and with a generous addition of carbonation. Contains a small head at the top that adds simple elegance to the beer. Pretty much an all around ideal looking German pilsner.

Aroma is a slight, grainy malt smell with a good dosage of sugar and lightly treading noble hops at the end. Smooth and well-balanced over all – reminds me of sugar filled cakes that you can find all over Munich.

The beer proves itself to be refreshing, crisp, and overall flavorful. The reason I enjoy reviewing and drinking well made Munich lagers is because they contain a ton of subtle flavors in between the slight maltiness and sugary flavor. There's the alcohol that creates a warming experience, as well as the noble hops' lemon and lime additions that create a refreshing, tasty sensation. I really wish that major breweries in the US followed this macrobrew's model and brought beer with this good of a quality and simple of recipe.

Apparently a classic. Their Optimator doppelbock still floors me to this day, but this manages to hold on its own as an excellent product. Totally worth buying six packs to pair with pretty much any meal.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 23:11:16 | More by magictacosinus

UCLABrewN84

California

3.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear light orange with a 1 inch foamy off-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Thin broken rings of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, grape juice, and some slightly skunky aromas that disappear after the pour. Taste is of sweet malt/grain and some grape juice and fruity flavors. There is a slight hop bitterness that quickly fades after each sip. There is a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good and easy to drink lager that is pretty refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 01:34:06 | More by UCLABrewN84

brureview

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in Pilsner glass. The beer poured a yellow color which lightened and looked like champagne as it warmed. The head was small- a 1/4 finger, with a decent smell of hops.

The mouth feel was excellent- crisp, effervescent, almost like champagne, and sparkling.

The finish is a light lager taste which sweetens with warming.

In general, a good light German lager with a very clean taste,

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 00:53:43 | More by brureview

TappaKeggaBrew

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear, liquid gold in color. Head was a fat finger of off-white foam, with both large and small bubbles, that lingered well. A scant lacing lasted on the surface, but none clung to the walls of the glass.

S: Citrus, grain, and fresh-cut hay dominate, with faint peppery and briny notes.

T: Citrus hops are present start to finish, but not to the point of drowning out the faint malt and medium grassy-grain flavors. The hops' bitter notes appear late, then fade and mingle with the other lingering flavors. Lagers tend not to be very complex, and this one is true to the class.

M: Crisp, but not heavily carbonated. The finish was medium-dry.

O: A nice thirst quencher on a hot day, or as an accompaniment to a warm meal. A good example of a lager.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 23:34:34 | More by TappaKeggaBrew

ChrisPratz

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Light golden colored, fingers worth of head, large bubbles that didn't stick around long. No lacing here but not sure of the freshness of the bottle either.

S: All i'm getting here is the strong skunky smell and a very light grassy/grain scent.

T: Skunk smell carries over to the taste. Light malt flavoring and continuing in with the grassy notes. Not too shabby, but the skunk is def what defines this beer.

M: Slightly more then average carbonation, seems to go well with the flavors. Crisp clean finish, barely any notice of alcohol.

O: Not too bad, def lives up to the hype that i recall of good German beer from my college days.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 01:41:22 | More by ChrisPratz

chinchill

South Carolina

3.18/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

355ml undated, green bottle served in a snifter.

A: The body is crystal-clear light golden-yellow, with a very short-lived fluffy white head. Zero sediment.

Aroma: Light aroma, mostly lacking the somewhat expected skunkiness. Grassy with sweet grain.

Taste: more skunkiness (actually, this tastes fresh and the 'skunk' is from the hops, I believe) and hops here than in the nose, and more flavor than one might expect given the light appearance and aroma. Lightly earthy hops with a hints of lemon, fresh hay and biscuit.

M: near medium bodied with rather aggressive carbonation that imparts a crisp feel. Dry finish.

O: haven't had this in years, but pretty much as expected. Works best with food.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 22:46:14 | More by chinchill

bier_uber_alles

4.18/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

the beer has an average appearance. Nothing that would stand out in any persons mind as unique.

smell is of strong malt and grass. very pleasant.

taste substantially overlaps with the scent. Taste comrpises flavors of grass, toasted malt, etc.

mouthfeel is agreeable. carbonation is mild, bubbles are small. Leaves the mouth feeling a bit wet.

overall, this brew is not very complicated. It's straight forward and easy to appreciate. Perfect all year round.,

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 18:00:14 | More by bier_uber_alles

acevenom

Louisiana

4.38/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a glass mug. Pours pale golden with a two-finger length white head. Plenty of lacing is left on the glass. The aroma is of lightly toasted barley malt and hops. There's a mild citrus aroma. There are flavor is sweet, bready, with notes of citrus and some hop bitterness. It's a very well balanced flavor and it's delicious. The mouthfeel is light. It's crisp with adequate carbonation. The finish is dry. It's very refreshing. This is an excellent lager and deserves top ratings for this style.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 00:51:52 | More by acevenom

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a clear pale yellow with no head or lacing. It's aroma is lemony with a hint of dough. The flavor is mild lemon with a bit of malt sweetness and a hint of hoppiness. Very well balanced. It's mouthfeel is light and refreshing. Spaten Munchner Hell (Premium Lager) is a good beer, a perfect match for schnitzel and sauerkraut. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 23:00:00 | More by B967ierhunter177

ronniebruner

Arizona

3/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Normally, I never go right down the middle on my reviews, but this is an exception. Its not that this beer is not good, it is that it is not really remarkable either. It pours a very average light see-through typical color of what you would expect from a lager. It has the carbonation, lace and head of a lager, and the aroma of barley and hops you'd expect from a better lager. The beer to me resembles a malt liquor in terms of the bitterness and dryness and it is evident on the tongue for a strong mouthfeel. Not a bad brew, not a great brew. I would drink Spaten if it was the only other option other than a cheap American adjunct lager.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 03:02:13 | More by ronniebruner

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Attractive crisp, clear straw color. Above average sized, light, bubbly, foamy, soapy, white head. Decent retention leaving a thin, whispy lace.

S - Slightly subdued aroma with loads of grainy malt and some bready aroma as well. Some grassy Noble hops. Not bad but nothing spectacular.

T - Grain and bready malt make up a lot of the flavor. Some Granny Smith apple along with a floral/herbal hop flavor that gets stronger on the finish. Slight bitter kick on the finish but it doesn't linger long.

M - Light body with above average carbonation. Zesty and crisp feel that ends pretty fast without much lingering feel.

D - Very drinkable beer that has a nice spicy hop aspect that pairs well with the maltiness. Goes down easy and is refreshing and crisp.

Notes: Nice beer and a good example for the style. Goes down easy and is refreshing. Decent level of hops to contrast with the maltiness resulting in a well balanced, refreshing beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 03:40:41 | More by FreshHawk

breweradams

California

4.28/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

appearance : Pale straw like color, white head stayed well over a minute then flattening to a thin white ring. Very clear

smell: Slight malt aroma, no hop aroma

taste: Slight sweetness with no hop flavor, Well balanced

mouthfeel: medium effervescent / no astringency

overall: Very drinkable, light body beer that lingers slightly. Great beer for a hot afternoon

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 00:06:14 | More by breweradams

Dave1999

Virginia

4.6/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Looks decent enough for a lager yellow in colour with a white head.

This smells skunky with an aroma of hops and flowers. Some people don't like the green bottle skunk but I do.

Tastes great, probably my favourite lager. Its got bitter hops and is somewhat complex.

Nicely carbonated and refreshing.

A good session beer and a definite step up from the usual lager.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 15:46:11 | More by Dave1999

K9AleingPiss

Oklahoma

3.78/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Really liked the clean,amber color,good bubbles,just sad head. The smell had a hint of skunk,however,still a sweet malty odor soon overwhelms the skunk,as does the taste. Very smooth ,very clean taste. There is more grain taste that hops,to me a great balance. Refreshing anytime.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 05:30:22 | More by K9AleingPiss

amk786

California

4.97/5  rDev +35.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is a great German Lager. For anyone who loves to drink classic american pilsner such as Budweiser will love this German creation. This beer is extremely smooth, the taste is neither bitter or sweet but perfectly balanced. The color of the beer is light golden, and has a malty aroma with a hint of lemon.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2012 03:05:58 | More by amk786

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from tasting notes.

Very transparent light straw color with an eggshell white foam head that lasts for quite some time but leaves minimal lacing. Aroma at first whiff reminds of apricots and tangerines, but resolves into a cracker malt with strong and complex herbal / floral hopping. Taste is somewhat pushed into sweetness but not unbearably so, finish is semi-sweet but lasts for a respectable amount of time, texture is lighter side of medium body, refreshing, and definitely worth sessioning!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 23:06:43 | More by WastingFreetime

megmulvaney

California

3.23/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer is a relatively average lager. It is and enjoyable and easy beer to drink. The color is a light golden. It comes in a green bottle with a neat label. The smell is wheaty or grassy. It has a very clean finish. The taste is very balanced...neither too sweet nor too bitter. There is a slight caramel flavor as well. This beer is similar to a heineken.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 07:10:09 | More by megmulvaney