Hotter Than Helles Lager - Cigar City Brewing

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

growler was filled at a new place called The Growler Station NYC

A - clear deep yellow almost golden copper tone. slight amount of head which quickly diminished into a small bubbly rim around the glass

S - wheat malt, bittering hops, floral hints

T - a nice kick to it.. somewehre between a pils and a lager, definitely a strong amount of bavarian wheat taste in this

M - a very easy flowing beer, perfect for hot summer weather (too bad it's february!), slightly bitter aftertaste

O - overall this isn't a bad beer. i was expecting a little bit more from cigar city after trying their jai alai, but for a helles lager (which usually don't have much as far as flavor), this is damn delicious.

Serving type: growler

02-16-2012 14:29:37 | More by facundoCNB

Gtreid

Florida

3.55/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Growler poured into a pint glass.

A: Slightly orangish yellow color. The pour dropped a fizzy finger of white head that faded imeadiately and left no lace.

A: Not much going on in the nose. I get woodsy, sweet malt undertones with a touch of honey. A touch of grassy hops, but really pretty underwhelming.

T: for the style there's nothing wrong with it. Pretty much on par with notes of grain, honey, and a touch of grassiness. It finishes crisp and clean with no hint of the abv.

M: Light body, good levels of carbonation. Again, for the style it is on par.

O: As far as a helles bock is concerned, this is good, but for my tastes, it falls a bit short. the head retention and the aroma were way off, but the flavor and mouthfeel are on par. Good beer for a hot summer afternoon, or a tailgate party, but i prefer a bit more complexity.

Serving type: growler

01-14-2012 14:30:56 | More by Gtreid

fitrock2112

Ohio

3.41/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured the Hotter than Helles into a pint glass.

A - Pours a cloudy yellow with a finger of white head.

S - Faint malts, and some bitter hops

T - A beer that lacks the flavor of a good Helles. Just a little bread flavor, not much else sadly.

M - Smooth medium mouthfeel with medium carbonation.

O - A little disappointed with this offering from Cigar City, better options out there for the style.

Serving type: can

05-17-2013 22:25:00 | More by fitrock2112

Phelps

Arizona

3.95/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale, hazy gold. Very thin, very short-lived head.

Soft graininess, a little apple, soft touch of grassy, spicy hops.

Light, crisp. Crackers, grain, softest hint of fruit, perfect hop bite. Crisp finish. Refreshing.

Medium-light body, highly carbonated, moderate fizz.

Not a ton to it, but there doesn't need to be. Snappy, tasty, good for a hot day.

Serving type: can

05-12-2013 23:42:34 | More by Phelps

TheSixthRing

California

3.9/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a hazy, pale straw yellow with a sparse white head and sub-par retention, leaving behind a flat, smooth surface.

Smell - Bright, lemon and lime. Lemongrass. Faint grain.

Taste - Follows the nose. Fair amounts of sweet and sour from the lemon-lime character, followed by lesser notes of grass and subtle grain flavor to bring a well balanced finish.

Mouthfeel - Light with moderate carbonation, yet manages a crisp, dry finish. Smooth.

Overall - A nice, enjoyable Munich Helles from Cigar City. Does well to rival many of the German offerings, some of which are considered the best lagers on the planet. Great summer beer, as recommended on the can! Helles means bright in German - this beer exudes brightness.

Serving type: can

05-04-2013 01:11:34 | More by TheSixthRing

rlee1390

Indiana

3.79/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A- Cloudy bright yellow, some carbonation, one finger light fluffy head.

S-Bread, lemon, wheat and grass.

T-Light and crisp. Nice balance of bread, wheat, lemon, slight grass and no bitterness.

M-Light some carbonation, crisp and dry.

O-A great beer on a hot day. Crisp, easy drinking and refreshing. That being said it doesn't over come the lawnmower status.

Serving type: can

05-03-2013 19:12:31 | More by rlee1390

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

3.79/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cigar City Hotter Than Helles Lager

Poured from a 12 oz can into a shaker pint glass. Served chilled...

A) Golden brew, that I found slightly hazy. Over a finger of white foam, which quickly settled to a collar. No lacing to speak of...

S) Grainy, grassy, with a light fruit zest.

T) Nice and malty. Bready and a little sweet, balanced with enough hop bitterness. Grass and a hint of lemon zest.

M) Fairly light, but very smooth, and definitely refreshing. Finishes clean with a nice aftertaste.

O) The one thing I have locally is plenty of well crafted lagers, so this not being available here, is no big deal. Having said that, it's a nice beer, and the folks in Florida looking for a lager, should drink it up.

Serving type: can

04-28-2013 01:44:15 | More by RoamingGnome

Maxwell

Massachusetts

3.99/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a straw yellow with a fizzy soap bubble head that goes away quickly and leaves a little scrim. The beer’s body is quite clear with just a slight haze to it and a steady stream of lazy bubbles working to the top of the glass. On the nose, the beer smells sweet and grassy, almost like a very dry strawberry smell with touches of bread. The malt is super sweet and fruity on the nose but the grassy hop backing gives a balance to the smell and makes this beer more inviting to the nose. On the tongue, the beer tastes sweet with a finish of smooth grassy bitter hops. The flavors begin as sweet bready malt with a faint touch of fruity strawberry, this dries out slowly and becomes progressively bitterer grassy flavors with nuances of sweet malt and very slight green pepper notes. The finish is creamy sweet bread malts that linger nicely into the aftertaste and slowly dissipate onto the palate leaving grassy bitter to tingle on the tongue. In the can, the beer smells weak, with very little of its nuances escaping through the hole. It tastes less sweet when sipped from the can with none of the fruity malts, but a nice bitter grassy hop’s kiss. It tastes slightly more refreshing from the can, but not as complex or nuanced. In the mouth the beer feels slightly prickly in carbonation, which helps to balance out the sweetness of the beer. The beer also feels medium thick in body. The mouth is left clean but with a nice swath of saliva dribbling on the tongue. Overall, I like this beer. It is sweet, but balanced well with hops and carbonation, and it is refreshing and interesting on the palate. A great sessionable sipper from Cigar City.

Serving type: can

04-10-2013 20:25:27 | More by Maxwell

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Single can from spring break 2013.

A very bubbly golden body, excellent clarity, topped by a finger or two of white bubbles of varying sizes.

Hay/grass aroma, has a slight harsh edge.

Sweet beginning. Mild bitter noble hop nip. Clean finish.

Light but solid mouthfeel.

Good try, but could use some more work to really nail the style.

Serving type: can

04-03-2013 03:54:26 | More by RonfromJersey

suspect

New York

4.45/5  rDev +19%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a can into a stemless snifter on vacation.

A: Hazy yet mostly clear. Aggressive pour leads to a one finger head that fades quickly. Lots of tiny bubbles. No lacing.

S: Full grain bill, full flavored nose. Lots going on from malts to bittered hops to lemon zest.

T: Big time flavors yet delicately dancing off the tongue thanks to the lifting bubbles. Same as the nose.

M: Wonderful mouthfeel. Bright, spritzy, airy and beautiful. Crisp, sharp finish leaves me sipping for more.

O: A GREAT beach, summertime brew. Perfect for the Tampa shores.

Serving type: can

04-02-2013 22:40:15 | More by suspect

JohnQVD

New York

3.88/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Medium straw color, with a thin head that disappears quickly and leaves little behind on the glass. Smell is melon with a touch of banana. Taste is mild malt with a touch of pepper and a bready aftertaste. Feel is light to medium heaviness, and a little fizzy at first, but the carbonation drops off a touch after a couple of minutes. Overall this is drinkable and refreshing. It's not particularly complex, just enough to be interesting. This is not one of my favorite styles, but this is done well and is quite good for a nice warm day.

Serving type: can

03-17-2013 22:46:03 | More by JohnQVD

JackMcAwesome

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from the can into a mug.

Look: There wasn't much here. The can asked me to pour gently, so I wasn't that aggressive at all. The result was a thin head, almost no lacing, with a standard light gold look. The lack of lacing makes me the most sad.

Smell: A mild floral note, but a strong citrus smell, mainly oranges. I'm picking up a bit of hops which is pleasant.

Taste: It starts with a strong citrus touch, but the back end is a bit of the sweet malts. Nothing too prominent. As it goes on, it gets less citrus-y and most sweet. Definitely interesting to me.

Feel: A very light feel, medium carbonation, and great on a warm afternoon.

Overall: Having easy access to this one, I'll probably revisit from time to time, and this is a great summer beer for myself. I think it has enough going on in the taste where I'll discover more and more after each one.

Serving type: can

03-17-2013 17:13:00 | More by JackMcAwesome

NoleDoc

Florida

4.49/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Had this on tap at the WoB in a tall pilsner glass.

Nice yellow color. Very balanced taste. You can totally taste the cracker. Beer feels very light and refreshing. Another addition to one of my faves or "go to" beers. ABV is about 5% and smooth. Very tastey.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2013 21:15:23 | More by NoleDoc

cosmicevan

New York

4.18/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

thanks to dimenhetfield for tossing this one my way. enjoyed from my ccb snifter.

a - brew poured a clear and fizzy yellow. very fizzy head that fizzed away quick, but was quickly replaced by the bubbling in the glass racing to the surface.

s - lagery, but with some light fruity zest to it. crystalized malts. German.

t - wow, very nice. crisp german lager with a some toasted fruit and lemon.

m - super refreshing and soft.

o - extremely refreshing and super drinkable lager. has a nice soft fruity quality to it while still being very much a lager. would have again.

Serving type: can

03-04-2013 02:09:23 | More by cosmicevan

HalfFull

California

3.53/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. single can poured into a pint glass from the ABC store. Shows a moderate gold in color with a touch of haze and half an inch of white foam. Retention and lace are decent yet might leave a bit to be desired.

Offers a funky yeast aroma couple with some lemony hops. A strange yeast aroma that I liked, then didn't, then did again. In the end the fact that it kept me curious makes it a winner. Bit funky and earthy with a touch of wheaty sourness though I'm not quite sure it was intentional.

Lightly bready on the palate, simple and straightforward with a tart lemon character on the finish. Warming raises the apparent sweetness of the beer a bit more than I'd like but the odd tartness keeps things somewhat in balance.

Soft in feel with a quickly exiting carbonation, leaving things a bit viscous on the finish. Overall intriguing given the funkiness but likely prefer a cleaner Continental variant of the style as for a regular quaff.

Serving type: can

02-18-2013 05:50:13 | More by HalfFull

tectactoe

Michigan

3.76/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pours a moderate golden-yellow color, mostly hazy and translucent in the middle with a fluffy white head that looks as though it might last, but is reduced to a thin skin atop the beer within a couple of minutes. It's got a clean, lager-yeast aroma; crispy and fresh with a mild graininess to it. Heavy bouts of lemon zest and citrus peel add a nice sharpness and refreshment. The carbonation bubbles on this one tickle the nostrils as I lean in for each whiff. There seems to be a light spice hiding in the background as well, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Very light hop presence on the nose - a little grassy and musky.

The taste begins with a helping of that lemon zest and lemon grass right along with the semi-bitter citrus peel. The hops are more alive on the tongue than in the nose, imparting a bit of a musty presence; grassy and a bit floral even. The lager yeast is definitely noticeable, handing off that crispy and slightly bready feel - very mild "cheesy" notes are present, too, which is also most likely from the yeast. The body on this one is medium, actually a bit heavier than I had originally anticipated, with a high amount of carbonation. The aftertaste hold on to some of that musty hop bitterness along with a mild, buttery yeast flavor, fading to the tune of a nice, crisp, semi-dry finish.

I haven't really been disappointed by anything from Cigar City, and this is no exception, especially considering I really wasn't expecting much from it at all. Very clean and refreshing with some mild citrus and hop flavors, along with a clean lager profile. Certainly something nice to enjoy on a hot day.

Serving type: can

02-18-2013 03:35:59 | More by tectactoe

tranehead

Florida

4.46/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a can. Slightly acidic finish. Nice hops balance. I wish there was a little more maltiness. A little thin on the malt. Overall a GREAT can of beer. And considering I am only about 4 hours drive from there, it's pretty fresh (yeah its in a can but I get it closer than others..) I feel like that if there were a little more malt finish, the Helles style would be complete. It finishes a little thin for my idea of the style based on soem of the incredible import examples of the style. Maybe not a continental pilsner malt but a german or belgian one.

Serving type: can

02-09-2013 02:22:25 | More by tranehead

ShaunNewman

Florida

3.71/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a can to a pilsner glass

A- light straw with a white quickly disapating head

S- cooked corn with a sweet graininess that follows

T- sweet capracker with a sweetness that follows

M- very refreshing with a medium light body

O- A solid light lager but I wish it was boiled a bit longer to drive off the DMS

Serving type: can

02-08-2013 02:59:32 | More by ShaunNewman

jegross2

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewing the Hotter Than Helles Lager from Cigar City Brewing out of Tampa, Florida.
Score: 89

Canned on 12/05/12. Served in a tulip-style wine glass and enjoyed on 01/21/13. Major thanks to Adam for the hook up!

Appearance: Pours a golden straw color that is between transparent and translucent. Thre is a mildly effervescent appearance to the brew, as a parade of bubbles float to the top when poured into the glass. A finger of white bubbly head settles completely. Poor lacing and retention. 3/5

Smell: Apple juice, malty grainy bready/cereal malt and a little lemon and white grape. A little yeast and mellow, grassy hops too. 4/5

Taste: The flavor is malty and juicy and refreshing. Sweet, but not tart, lemon, apple juice, peach and a little white grape. There is more lemon on the palate than there was in the nose. There's a faint, slightly stale grassy hops flavor in finish. The bready/cereal "graininess" from the nose is very faint in the taste, and mostly present in the aftertaste with some residual lemon as well. Very refreshing and easy drinking! 4/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, medium carbonation. Drinks like a juice, with a faint dryness on the finish. Slightly acidic. 4/5

Overall: This might be the perfect summer beer. It's light, refreshing, and flavorful!

Recommendation: Seek a bottle of this out this summer and crack it on a 90+ degree day!

Pairings: Nutrigrain bars.

Cost: $8.99 for a six pack of cans.

Serving type: can

01-21-2013 19:50:25 | More by jegross2

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.66/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Enjoyed at the CC Tasting Room. Light yellow with a large retained head. Tasty, it yields both sweet and sour interplay. Like a dirty yeasty blonde flvour, with a chile pepper finish. Yet no spices were included? Good that CC is doing these beers. A good late day beer. OK drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2013 03:06:41 | More by northyorksammy

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz can from Total Wine Tampa FL for 2$

Appearance - Slightly hazy gold colour with an average size fizzy white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation showing and there is some faint acing. The head lasted for 3-4 minutes.

Smell - Breads/grains, lemons, corn

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste corn mixed with some bread and grains. There is also some light hops and some lemons. It ends with a lemony/grainy aftertaste.

Overall - A great beer for camping trips or tailgating for sure. It`s very refreshing and goes down fast. Not sure how true to style it is, but it`s still a tasty beer worth trying.

Serving type: can

01-18-2013 02:12:17 | More by spinrsx

GallowsThief

Florida

4.01/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured out of a 12 oz can into a pint glass.

A – Hazy yellow pour that produced about 1 finger of clean white head that quickly dissipated. Tiny bit of lacing left on the glass.

S – Fairly light aroma with some yeast, corn and bread. Pleasant.

T – Touch of fruitiness/citrus. Very nice sweet malt taste with a bit of grainy feel. Just a bit of hops in there.

M – Seriously refreshing brew. Light and crisp on the palate. Nice carbonation.

O – Very nice drinking brew here. Light and tasty. Great beer for a hot summer day.

Serving type: can

01-09-2013 00:51:55 | More by GallowsThief

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Thanks to johnyb for this can!

I can't imagine Helles being all that hot... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear straw topped by a finger or so of lightly off-white foam. The nose comprises wheat, sweet flowers, and a kiss of grass. The taste brings in more of the same, though with a bit more of both the flowers and the grass. The body is pretty light, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, this is a nice little helles, nothing earth-shattering, but it's not meant to be. It's a pleasant session beer, perfect for those who need a lighter option when the weather turns all Floridian and whatnot.

Serving type: can

12-04-2012 02:23:06 | More by TMoney2591

mscudder

Georgia

3.55/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Cheers to Julian for granting me the privilege of tasting this one! Served in a pint.

A - Rich gold hue with a thin pale head. Lack of head resulted in no lacing nor retention.

S - Big biscuit-like bread, some faint lemon and some semi-sweet malts.

T - Big bread taste up front like the nose. Slowly recedes into a light chewiness. Slight fruity nature, mostly lemon.

M - Medium bodied while remaining smooth with fair carbonation.

O - Really was looking forward to trying this one, sadly was disappointed. To be fair, I am far from a fan of pils. This is a big more complex with the bigger malts, but far from the more complex brews out there.

Serving type: can

11-27-2012 03:20:38 | More by mscudder

merc7186

New York

3.55/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this beer poured on tap at the airport location, poured into a pilsner glass.

A: Mildly Hazy Golden Straw Hue, Passes Most Light, White Head Ring, Great Lacing

S: Mild Floral, Mild Neutral Malts, Mild Sweet Malts

T: Floral, Mild Sweet Malts, Mildly Grainy

M: Great Carbonation, Light to Medium Bodied, Mildly Malty, Mildly Drying

Overall, a nice helles lager but just lacks that umph to push it over the edge to want it constantly. Nice to try, but wouldnt want to leave here.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2012 17:59:56 | More by merc7186