Krampus (Imperial Helles Lager) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

jsp2

Virginia

4.47/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What a smooth and balanced blend of alcohol, hops, and malts. This is a terrific flavor. The alcohol is quite present but not in a harsh way at all. Dangerously drinkable as well. There was a decent head on the pour into the pint glass that subsided somewhat quickly. What a ridiculous lager.

At $6.99 for a 22oz bottle this is pricey for a lager, albeit a strong one. I probably will not buy it regularly but will definitely keep it in the repetiore when a strong lager is called for.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2008 23:44:04 | More by jsp2

adamette

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Live Review. Poured from the bomber that I bought at Heinen's in Willoughby Hills, Ohio for $7.99 the other day into my Cooperstown Beverage Trail pint glass. No observed "best by" date but the very "fresh" appearing label as well as the 10 or 12 it was stocked next to in the cooler at the store lead me to believe that it is this year's vintage.

A Fluffy very light brown head over a translucent honey colored body. Head leaves good lacing on the glass. 4.0

S I am loving the Chinook wet hop and Wilamette dry hops in the smell of this beer! They are very floral and aromatic but not overpowering. Really, I returned to sniff several times, enjoying how it smells. There is also some grainy malt sweetness in there after repeated smells but it is those hops that will please you first. 5.0

T/M Great, great balance of the aforementioned hops and malt with a nice light syrupy feel, not unlike a full nectar which coats the inside of my mouth and allows for a great, long aftertaste. There certainly is a bite to the tastes but they are all nicely balanced and I would say moderate in intensity. This might be my new favorite lager! I am very impressed. I think that you will be too. 4.5

D This is one of the easiest drinking 9% ABV beers that I have had and, for the style, I am very impressed. The bomber, however, will be enough for me this evening! 4.0

Notes: Another really good beer from Southern Tier which expands my appreciation of them.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2010 03:30:37 | More by adamette

Vineyard

Vermont

4.47/5  rDev +14%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Overall: Very tasty brew. I'm enjoying it with some high quality goat/cow bleu cheese and the two compliment each other very nicely. I would say that it is quite a departure from the style but as a hophead I really like it. So far I've tried it both out of a stein and a tulip.

Appearance: Beautiful color, 1 1/2 fingers of head that fades down nicely leaving some lacing.

Smell: Very piney. Some citrus notes.

Taste: Very very clean. Finishes dry, lots of beautiful hop notes especially towards the end. I agree with others that this could put many Double IPA's to shame.

Mouthfeel: Very nice feel, a lot of effervescence from the carbonation.

Drinkability: Very good. So far tonight I've had a 1-litre stein straight up and a tulip while snacking on some cheese and crackers. I wasn't sure about this beer to begin with but after trying it with the cheese I love it.

Serving type: growler

01-13-2011 22:59:36 | More by Vineyard

mjryan

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Southern Tier, sometimes they hit, sometimes they miss, but they are always interesting. Krampus hit the bullseye for me! Smells like flowers and pinecones. The aroma reminds me of cutting open the little bag of pellet hops and stinking my nose in their on brew day. There is also a bit of bready malt character in the aroma as well. The colour is a clean golden. Big, white head with good retention and moderate lace. Flavour is very hoppy, and tastes very much like it smells. The malt character is simple and bready, much like a helles should be. Bitterness is present but not intense. Very light bodied and dry for such a huge beer. The 9% abv is totally masked. Overall this beer is fantastic! Its more akin to a DIPA than a Helles lager...but the lager character is still present. Nicely done and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2008 20:07:42 | More by mjryan

belmont123

New York

4.45/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a 22 oz. bottle a nice cigar CAO La Traviata the malt and hoppy character of this beer mixed with the leather spicy taste of the cigar perfectly played the late double at Penn National and good night. Life doesn't get any better than this Southern Tier has another winner.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 15:15:45 | More by belmont123

JayQue

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is to the Helles Lager style as much as Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marrow is to Brown Ales. You can call it whatever you like, but it is a great beer. The Helles lagers I have tried were mild and subtle with pillowy soft white heads.

This beer reaches out to grab you with the aroma alone. I have never smelled such a strong aroma of floral hops and citrus in a beer. It looks pretty good as well. Clear coppery amber with a nice size white head that fades to a covering on the glass. Good lacing on the glass.

The taste is floral hops, fairly intense bitterness to follow. There is little balance here. Mouthfeel is rich, kind of oily. Drinkability is ok, given the high abv, intense flavor and bitterness.

Grape and Gourmet got 2 cases of this and put it out for the Thursday beer tasting. Almost everyone who sampled it bought a bottle or two. I hope they can get some more!!! Very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2008 03:23:29 | More by JayQue

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours from the devilish yet festive looking bottle a deep orange/bronze with a brooding storm of carbonation bubbles in the glass. The dense head lasts forever, its not very big but it never disappears and it drapes the glass in foam. Bready, sweet malts, herbal, spicey hops and fruity, bubblegum notes make up the aroma. The taste shows much more hops and bitterness then the nose let on. Scads of floral hoppiness, a bit of sourness and some warming alcohol also show. Malt is biscuity and prominent enough to provide some semblance of balance. The mouthfeel is quite full and creamy. The finish is earthy and as bitter and long lasting as any respectable IPA or Imperial Pilsner.

This is an interesting and delicious beer. Doesnt have any Helles qualities except maybe the clean malt profile, but its a joy to drink anyways.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2008 01:03:47 | More by CAMRAhardliner

pershan

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured a deep honey-amber with a thin white head into a pint glass. The aroma was of fresh, piney hops - very nice. The flavor was an appealing combination of caramel malt in the forefront, with a smooth hop flavor and fairly significant hop bitterness at the finish. A bigger, more bitter version of your standard German helles, but a good fit for the high ABV. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 20:02:37 | More by pershan

JasonA

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Seems to pour a bit thick. Solid 2 head, maybe a bit dark for style though.

Smells an ABV lager. Perfect I think. Quite hoppy for a lager. Doesnt smell exactly like German hops I think. Though tough to keep track with ABV.

Hoppy ABV lager. There is something very nice in there, unlike a standard imperial pilsner. Very nice.

Might be a just bit thick. Almost syrupy. Carbonation is swell. Nice after taste.

I definately want more.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2008 19:37:44 | More by JasonA

Brad007

Vermont

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Here's something that just doesn't come around often enough: an imperial helles lager.

Pours a dark golden-amber color with a thin one-finger head into my glass. Looking good so far.

Aroma is full of floral, grassy hops with a good dose of sweet malt in the middle. Aroma makes it very appealing.

Taste is chock full of grassy hops and sweet malt with a small kick of alcohol heat. Very chewy, almost syrupy in nature.

Mouthfeel is full of a lingering kick of grassy hops and sweet, chewy malt. I mean, why separate taste and mouthfeel? I suppose the only difference is that the alcohol heat isn't as pronounced here and the carbonation is just right.

A deceptively drinkable imperial helles lager that is much better than most holiday offerings I've had thus far. The only reason being that it pushes the envelope for what a helles lager can be. Not all beers need to be imperialized. However, if you have the skills and the patience, do it.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2009 03:06:23 | More by Brad007

mikeborglum

Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz Bottle... Poured a nice clear amber color with a small, creamy, off-white head - nice lacing. Aroma is musky, earthy, pine and resin with a touch of citrus, grapefruit. A full bodied brew with modest carbonation. Very malty and sweet, but good balance with generous bitter hops. Bittersweet finish that dries out and long lasting. Nice and creamy on the palate. Very drinkable!

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2010 14:58:10 | More by mikeborglum

bminor7

New York

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

22 from Hoosick in Troy.

A - chestnut brown. light lacing.

S - very sweet hops smell. very inviting.

T - one of the sweetest beers i've ever tasted. close to cloying but delicately avoids it. can't say that i've had many examples of the style but this is very good. complex malt interwoven with knockout hops presence.

M - excellent thickness and carbonation. gave this a 5 here.

D - good. Southern Tier recommends rather cool temperatures for serving their beer; this is no exception at 48 F. I think this is too cold to really respect the abundance of flavor in this beer.

overall, has a strong character very fitting of the christmas motif. wish it was available all the time - get it if you can!

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2010 03:26:35 | More by bminor7

jera1350

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Deep golden color in a tulip. The head is rich and offers plenty or lacing.

The nose is the best of both worlds. Huge hop scent, both floral and citrus. Then there is the honey and sweet bread malt.

Sweet crackery and bready Malta with a major dose of hops that offers up citrus notes especially grapefruit. Really a nice duet happening.

Medium bodied, smooth, but very dry.

I am overly impressed with this beer. I am not a pilsner fan, but this is outstanding in the sense that it is so big on flavor. This beer really does have a holiday presence in its flavor. Truly a great brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2010 04:03:44 | More by jera1350

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Looks good pretty good. Head is minimal with a mild lace. Carbonation is good.

S - Wow I surprised to actually get pine and citrus hops on the nose from a Helles Lager! Mild bit of honey on the nose as well.

T - Quite smooth. The hops are pretty subdued but so is the grain by a mild honey sweetness. I detect no ABV burn at all which is a surprise for 9 percent. Sweet finish with very little hop bitterness.

M - Medium bodied and very drinkable.

D - I am going to need to go to ST brewery to get me some cheap possible fresher bottle of this since I feel it is underrated maybe due to quality issues of freshness. Man they really need to add bottle or best by dates on this stuff. It was worth 8 dollars a bottle though.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 03:23:39 | More by DrDemento456

Lunch

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served from a 22oz. bottle generously gifted to me into my Rogue Morimoto glass at an appropriate temperature (01/26/10). Was not sure what to expect from this beer, but being a fan of Southern Tier, I expected it to be nice and it blew me away.

A: Pours beautiful shade of dark, golden copper with an excellent 3 finger head with nice retention leaving wonderful rings of lace.

S: Toasted malt jumps out first with a nice tones of bitter, citrus hops, toffee, and caramel.

T: The palate is greeted with toasted malt, toffee, caramel, and hints of bitter citrus hops. I am not doing justice at all with my description, but this is a tasty beer.

M: Great mouthfeel that is on the fuller side of medium-bodied with a slick characteristic and creamy carbonation.

D: Drinkability is only suffered by the high abv. even though it is hidden quite well and the some sweet charter of the beer.

Overall I find this to be an excellent beer and a strong effort from Southern Tier. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2010 22:00:45 | More by Lunch

daveytheformer

Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce poured into a snifter.

Pours a clear golden amber with a nice thin white head that remains as the beer recedes in the glass.

Smells like pine and citrus with a floral sweetness.

Tastes smooth and clean with a little spicy kick. Seems kind of like a Belgian style IPA.

Mouthfeel is medium with great carbonation.

Overall is a great beer. I had no idea what to expect from this beer but was beyond pleasantly surprised.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 05:39:56 | More by daveytheformer

orcasteve

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pours a clear orangish red color with a heavy thick wite head that stays around for ever, the smell of hops in all ther floral glory take my nose on a rush of excitement. the taste is a strong pale malt at first, then floral hops and a hint of sourness, the middle is ware the hops change into extreamley strong piney flavors but thay only last for a few moments befor the sour comes back at the end, this is a great lager that acts more like an ipa till the verry end, southern tier has knocked anouther one out of the park.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2008 13:40:33 | More by orcasteve

GRG1313

California

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a crystal copper color with a firm tan head.

Nose is wonderful fresh pineapple with a hint of carmel and spice/black pepper. Big, rich, creamy mouthfeel.

Aggressive ripe sweet peach front gives way to a grapefruit hop and nice pine resin finish. Complex, layered, rich and full with great balance and character.

A very good drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2010 02:36:41 | More by GRG1313

DmanGTR

New York

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Review from notes on 9/18/09

A - lovely clear-as-crystal toasted tangerine orange. A magnificent, towering beige head of 3.5" formed in my Ommegang goblet. Wonderful retention (the whole time) and lacing. Spiderwebby/patchy/strands of lace everywhere. 5.0

S - lots of pineapple, passionfruit, and a sweet malt-liquor like base. Slight citrusy hops round out the aromas with a hint of pears as well. 4.5

T - somewhat a malt bomb. Lots of caramel, followed by a hearty dose of bitter herbal Chinook hops. The grapefruity flavors meld with the spicy alcohol and creates a wonderful blend of happy and hoppy deliciousness. Absolutely amazing. 4.5

M - Medium bodied, well carbonated to smoothness, mildly sticky on the palate. 4.0

D - Very drinkable for 9%. Dangerous because it drinks like a 6%. 4.0

Overall - Got this for a steal at $5.33, post seasonal. Still drinks very well a number of months after bottling. Highly recommended for any hophead.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 19:51:13 | More by DmanGTR

edmonan

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I have never had a beer like this. I hope I can grab a couple more bombers before this seasonal disappears.

It pours a deep, clear, golden with a solid, foamy head that sticks around.

The aromas are are yeasty with papaya and rich decay notes.

The flavor is malty with a hoppy layer. More complexity as the flavors and aromas mix. This one needs a snifter/tulip/red wine glass - something you can stick your nose in.

It has a rich and creamy feel, that dances right up to the line of being heavy.

It's a slow-drinker, inspiring a great detail of attention.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 17:17:30 | More by edmonan

Doomcifer

Rhode Island

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a gluggily clear, bright amber color with a big creamy head that goes nowhere. Great lacing. Smells like a delicious IPA. HUGE on citrus and piny hop aromas and sweet malt and a touch of white pepper, even lemons and bits of ginger. Taste is more hops. Extremely hoppy, in fact. Big citrus and tons of pine flavor, some earthy notes, crazy astringent bitter finish. Fantastic malt bill gving a sweet backbone to balance off the insane hoppiness. Its almost like an even hoppier/bitter DFH 90-minute IPA. Leaning towards a heavy body and dry finish. Extremely crisp. Burping up pine cones. Demolished palate. Blindfolded, Id say this is one of the best DIPAs I have ever had. SICK beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2008 00:50:29 | More by Doomcifer

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle. Served in a pilsner glass, the beer pours a clear amber/orange color with about an inch frothy off-white head. Head retention and lacing are both pretty good. The aroma is nice, it smells like pine and citrusy (grapefruit) hops with a bit of bready/biscuity malt too. The taste is similar to the aroma, but the malt comes out more in the taste than it does in the aroma (but the taste still has a good bit of hops in it). Some spicy hops, pepper and caramel are also noticable in the taste. Has a good sweet/bitter finish. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's slick and has decent carbonation. Drinkability is good, it's smooth, has decent balance and the 9% ABV isn't noticable at all. Overall I'd say this is another very good Southern Tier brew, I'll definitely buy this again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2008 01:09:47 | More by bluejacket74

Wasatch

Utah

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks goes out to jwc215 for this brew.

22oz. Bomber

Pours a very nice clean/clear dark golden orange color, very nice carbonation, very nice one-finger thick creamy off-white head, which leaves some very nice thick sticky lacing behind. The nose is malty, with some hops, citrus, and some pines. The taste is very nice, malty, slight hops, very nice chewy, citrus/pine notes. Medium body, slight bitter finish. Very drinkable, this is one tasty brew, I like, and highly recommended it. Thanks Joe.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 19:54:37 | More by Wasatch

brauseboof

South Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I was quite pleased with this choice.
I have to say that I didn't know what to expect with an Imperial Helles Lager, but this one didn't disappoint, considering my usual beer picks.
Poured a thick lacy head with good retention. The color was clear copper.
A heady aroma of yeast, citrus, and pine was evident.
As is often found, the grapefruit bitterness hit first, but was followed by a complex sweet, floral note, with a strong caramel malt.
Nicely carbonated, and eminently drinkable.
I loved the Krampus bottle, having just listened to a Krampus Christmas on WFMU.
Merry Krampus

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 23:23:01 | More by brauseboof

cbak999

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This lager pours a very clear, bright, orange with a small head that dissipates very quickly. The smell on this one is a bit off; almost like dish water, with I attribute to the lager yeast. But the hop taste is right on. The 9% is well hidden by the hop balance. Sweet at first with a strong hop after taste. A very nice treat. I look forward to more of these in the future!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2010 02:34:30 | More by cbak999