Heaven's Helles - New Old Lompoc Brewery

Reidrover

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

22 oz from "Lamb's Thriftway" Wilsonville OR. $5.19 The label says 5.3% alc Typical lager in appearance,Pale ,clear golden with a rather fetching thick and creamy white head. Good aromas, of bread dough and cut hay.Liked it. A very smooth and well integrated taste..the buiscuity malts and hops blend near seamlessly. OK palate for the style but the extreme balance gives the impression of boredom! But overall this is a charming and very drinkable PNW lager

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2010 23:45:15 | More by Reidrover

msubulldog25

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

These bottles started arriving on area shelves a couple months back, 22 oz'ers with a simple yellow/red/black color scheme. Two silhouettes, one with a halo, the other with devil horns, face away from each other...get it? Heaven's Helles? Poured to a pint glass on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.

A: Per the style, it's golden ('bright') and almost clear: a fine suspended sediment. Fair amount of carbonation, several small streaming trails to a 1/2 finger snow-white creamy cap. Good lace, wide bands as if dabbed on with a sponge.

S: Hmm...not getting much at first. Light honey, mild malt (bread dough, dry cracker) ; herbal/floral hops are subdued. Picks up a little as it warms, gaining sweetness more than hop aroma.

T: Biscuity malt, lots of yeasty sweetness. A little hay, more ripe fruit (think papaya, cantaloupe), enough spicy hops to bring a good balance. Flavors seem to build/thicken as the beer warms.

M: Velvety smooth carbonation, creamy feel, light-medium body. A little underwhelming texture-wise (sorta thin?) but the mildness is hardly fault-worthy.

D: Highly drinkable, session-worthy. Fairly tame ABV, and flavors that are quite likable. Have tried this a couple times before on-draught at the 5Q, but this is my first from the bottle. Gotta admit: I prefer the bottle. Will buy this again, and recommend if you like subtle/easy drinking/well-crafted lagers.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2009 23:50:22 | More by msubulldog25

ElGordo

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the 22oz bottle into a pint glass. Body is a very slightly opaque golden color, with almost no head on top. Aroma of mildly sweet malt, a touch of caramel, and a light floral hoppiness.
Palate is well-balanced between light malt (carapils?) with a bit of sweetness and some mild, lightly fruity hops. Body is light and airy, but not bubbly or overly-carbonated. This is a nice, light-bodied, highly-drinkable beer that's perfect for a warm summer night. Good to see Lompoc getting into the bottling game, and I'm looking forward to new offerings from them.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 04:32:24 | More by ElGordo

jdense

Oregon

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle from John's Marketplace into pint glass.

Clear golder brew, two finger head, quick dissipation. Sweet malt in the nose, more bready than caramel, with some hop presence underlying malt predominance. Pretty sweet taste, the hops make a comeback in the finish. Superbly carbonated, nice mouthfeel. A perfect summer brew. I've been really impressed by New Old Lompoc's bottled offerings. Definitely worth a try, and begs the question-why can't the big boys brew a lager of this taste and quality???

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2009 20:45:21 | More by jdense

madtappers

Washington

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

Picked up a 22oz bottle from a local rep for the brewery, he said it was something new and since I enjoyed the C-Note to give this a try.

Pours and golden color with a perfect white head. No noticable hop aroma. The beer has a very distinct yeast taste to the tongue but no after taste.

Great beer for a session beer or on a hot day at a BBQ, when your looking for something craft but, on the lighter side. Overall a good beer but no WOW factor!

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2009 15:49:46 | More by madtappers