Krampus (Imperial Helles Lager) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

dreadnatty08

District of Columbia

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear medium to dark amber color with a bountiful, dense off-white head. Aromas are extremely hoppy, leaning towards the floral and spicy hops with little citrus. There's also a backnote of smokey, toasty malts that nicely round out the nose. On the palate, things are just really weird. There is a vague sourness mixing with bitterness of the hops and then a touch of roastiness from the malts. It is just an altogether different experience from any other beer. This is slightly similar to other imperial Pils, but different. Either way, it's the pioneering sense that ST has that really excites me to try their future beers.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2008 21:51:06 | More by dreadnatty08

dirtylou

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle, riley's, split with a few during the nfl playoffs...cell phone notes

appearance: served in a pint glass, clear orange-amber body, creamy beige head

smell: stinging hops, pine and bitter citrus, a touch metallice, floral and fruity, toasted malt and grain

taste: ah yes, Krampus, the God of imperial Helles Lagers. this beer caught me off guard a little - i probably should have seen the hop ambush coming. pine and bitter citrus come stabbing through the toasted malt front as master Krampus attacks with his metallic fangs. while all of this madness is going on, one nearly forgets that this is an imperial helles lager, a term that probably has no meaning. i'd try this beer, but not in the dark

mouthfeel: sharp bitterness, metallic hops

drinkability: good

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2009 20:08:06 | More by dirtylou

Wetpaperbag

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Looks a dark copper color. The head is very minimal, yet it is slightly retained.

S- Hops with that grapefruity smell. I'm getting a good amount of clove and banana too. Caramel malt smell is there. A very unique smell with the combination of the hop smell and the clove smell.

T- The taste is complex with the hop taste and the clove intermixing back and forth. The caramel malts are a sweet taste in the backdrop. From time to time there is the slightest hint of the lager yeast that was used, you know that lager yeast taste.

M- Feels good in the mouth, not too thick or thin with the right amount of carbination.

D- Easy to drink to say the least. Goes down smooth and isn't harsh.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2009 02:38:55 | More by Wetpaperbag

ckeegan04

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Very clear orangish-brown color. Big, creamy light tan head with very good retention. Leave sonly moderate lacing though.

S - Big aroma of piney hops and a hint of mint. A light sweetness underneath, but big pine forest is the dominant aroma.

T - Light, honey sweetness initially. Then the big, sappy pine taste comes in. Excellent bitterness along with it. Ther sopmewhat perfumy, mint/spice taste lingers underneath but the big pine hops are the star. Light, toasted breainess underneath. Excelent all around taste profile.

M/D - Medium bodied and very sticky. The hops resins just coat the mouth. Alcohol is well masked as well but still provides a nice warmth.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2009 17:04:33 | More by ckeegan04

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a crystal clear grapefruit reddish amber color. Very small head, mild carbonation, slightly viscous clear retention on the glass as it's swirled. The aroma is spicey, resiny, piney, citrus hops; possibly a little of an astringent/acidic smell, also picking up a mango pineapple pepper-like aroma as well. Biscuity malts come through in the nose but plays a back seat to the aromas just mentioned.

The taste has a sweet dark roasted biscuity malt flavor underneath for the backbone while the sides of the tongue is treated to an all out hop assault that consists mainly of earthy, piney hops that linger in the mouth long after the sip. The finish is semi-dry and the mouthfeel is slightly thick, and on the heavy medium side. The booziness is detectable for a brief second, but not overpowering as the bitter hops and malts knock it down and try to hide it.

I tried this beer for the first time last year because I'm a huge fan of Southern Tier's brews, but not a big lager fan. The strength of this beer is mostly in the taste and the smell (the most important criteria, really). I think they really dialed this one in for IPA lovers (a.k.a. - bastardized uber American take on a German style lager), I absolutely love this beer and could have more than one. It's extreme, it's way different, and the way I describe this to my curious beer drinking friends who appreciate good beer is, "It's weird for the style but it WORKS". If you're a lover of IPA's you have to try this before it's gone for another year. If you're a lager lover, the hop kick of this might leave you walking away scratching your head and asking yourself, "What the $#@% was THAT???" Or, "WHO was that masked man????". This is a good brew, check it out.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2010 01:05:11 | More by jzeilinger

Genuine

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Glad I was able to find this at a local package store...as I enjoy seasonals.

Poured from the bomber into a clean pint glass. Poured a very nice dark amber but becomes a very nice copper when light is passed through it. A bit cloudy.

Smell - the nose on this one is just amazing...it smells like Christmas in a bottle. Very fresh, piney and citrus notes come across the nose first, along with a hint of spices and the malts sing through as well.

Taste - I was hoping that this beer would not disappoint, and it doesn't! Very nice malts at first with crisp hops for the finish...the spices are not noticed till the beer has time to warm up. Liquid Christmas in a bottle.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with just the right amount of carbonation, this brew could not have been any more perfect.

Drinkability - this is a perfect sipper for a cold winter night, while counting down the nights till Christmas. Very nice to have around for family party's and get togethers. At 9%, it'll be sure to warm you up on the coldest of nights.

---
Had it again the other night.

New Notes:

Taste: found this one to be a bit sweet on the finish. Hops are present but not as much as I originally thought. Very citrus/fruity.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 16:54:32 | More by Genuine

avalon07

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pilsner glass. Had a medium brown color and a clear texture. There was a big, foamy/creamy, long-lasting head. Excellent lacing.

S: A sharp aroma of malt, hops, and caramel.

T: An interesting flavor for an Imperial Pilsner. Caramel malt, hops, a little tinge of grapefruit all make for a very balanced and focused flavor.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a somewhat slick and oily finish. Medium-bodied.

D: Not classically an Imperial Pilsner, but extremely drinkable nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 13:04:19 | More by avalon07

aepb1

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Translucent brown body with a huge off-white head and lots of lacing

S- Crazy hoppy! Grassy and piney hops are huge in the nose

T- A hint of malt up front immediately followed by the big piney hops and finishes with a spicey bite, a great ride

M- Light-bodied, oily, good carbonation

D- Very cool beer and will definitely revisit this one

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2011 16:29:03 | More by aepb1

cjgator3

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle

A- Pours a clear copper color with an off-white head.

S- The aroma is toasted malt and a good dose of hops. I was expecting a big malty beer but I am pleasantly surprised by the hops in the nose.

T- The taste like the aroma has some toasted malt up front with the bitterness from the hops quickly coming into play and lingering for quite a while into the finish.

M- The mouthfeel is light bodied with a good amount of carbonation.

D- Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this beer. It was a very enjoyable beer that I will definitely purchase again. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 04:05:10 | More by cjgator3

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving: Bottle
A - The beer pours a fairly clear golden-copper color with a finger of frothy off-white head. The head fades slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - The aroma is mostly dominated by piney and floral hops. Though there is also a bit of citrus and some sweet malt in there as well.

T - Starts off with some good piney and earthy hops and some nice bitterness. Some sweet malts come in from the background and begin to build as well. Through the middle, the bitterness continues to grow, and some citrus hops and stronger sweet caramel malts come through as well. The finish is a mix of strong earthy hops and some sweet malt that lingers.

M - Medium-plus bodied with moderate lively carbonation. The beer feels very smooth and quite crisp, even given the strong flavors.

D - Very drinkable. The 9% abv here is dangerously well hidden beneath some great flavors. The hops and the malt are very well balanced and seem to play off each other very nicely.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 04:44:24 | More by ngeunit1

Deuane

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-Brilliant copper with a thin white head that reduced to a ring and left spotty lace.

S-Bright, spicy fruit notes and a touch of underlying sweet biscuit malt.

T-Spicy, fruity hops upfront with an aggressive bitterness. Really interesting. Certainly higher in IBU's than one expects. Underlying lightly sweet biscuit malt helps to balance things out. Delicious.

M-Medium bodied, sharp and crisp with nice lingering bitterness and fruity flavours.

D-Actually, pretty darn awesome. This is WAY better than I expected it would be. Leave it to Southern Tier to do it again!

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2010 12:24:37 | More by Deuane

washburnkid

New York

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes.

A: About a finger of head over light copper hue. Floating islands of retention. Plenty of lace.
S: Aromas are complex, with many competing notes just upon the first sniff. Willamette hops are strong and perfectly encompass the northeast hop profile. Pine and wood after a rainstorm. There's also an exceptional fruity character, complex in its own right. Citrus but also sweet. More ripe fruit than rind.
T: Big bitter tastes, both floral hops and caramel malt. Balanced, which is hiding any hint of alcohol that might have been present with such a big beer. The flavor is biscuity but nice. The flavors don't quite deliver what the aroma promises in terms of complexity.
M: Medium body with the thinnest coating of residue.
D: The aroma kicks ass, but the flavor falls just a bit short. Either way, the lack of alcohol presence makes this beer deceptively easy to drink. It definitely snuck up on me.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2011 03:35:02 | More by washburnkid

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.29/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This pours a hazy, dark amber color with an average, beige head. The aroma is a mixture of sweet malts, hops, and some citrus. The taste is sweet, slightly fruity, and pleasant. There is a slight bitter finish. I agree with the people that say this is more of a Pale Ale/IPA than a Pilsner. Certainly unique, can’t say I’ve had anything quite like it.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 05:02:14 | More by Lemke10

orsulacp

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer poured a clear gold with a nice white head that went away quickly. The smell was fantastic, pine needles, grapefruit, sweet caramel, and some spicy pepper. The taste was equally as good; the piney hops balanced by the caramel maltiness with a hint of grapefruit. I really like the way all this stuff is balanced in here it makes the beer very drinkable, I didn't get any hint of the 9% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2009 16:38:59 | More by orsulacp

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz bomber- no date. Poured into standard pint.

A- A brilliant copper color, this is a very nice looking beer. Incredibl head that won't go away... sits like a pancake on top of the beer. Settles 15 mins later into a half inch foam cake. Great lacing.

S- Hops are pretty pungent, with a mild bready malt backbone. Very impressive considering this one's close to a year old.

T- Wow. Most German brews are wheat-centric, this one has plenty of hops to balance the beer out. Sweet, crisp, moderately heavy, a bit peppery. Very nice. Hop head? You'll like this.

M- Impressive. Heavy, but good carbonation helps balance it out. Many things working well together in this beer.

D- Moderate. A heavy hitter, and this beer doesn't hide it. Still enjoyable and very tasty. Would buy again. In fact, I did... picked up a case of this stuff. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2009 15:34:46 | More by ShogoKawada

ryanonline

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

clean and clear and very golden, has an enormous white head that lingers quite a while. globby lacing.

quite a hoppy aroma, barely any sweetness to it. almost like a lager version of an IPA.

still much like an IPA only cleaner and crisp. much less bready feel to it. Im getting a very clean and warm peppery alcohol flavor in the finish.

it feels slightly creamy on my tongue and has a lasting bitter finish. very clean and light as well.

light bodied and full flavored with a lasting finish. i could have a few of these but i think the finish would turn me off after a while.

again, loving southern tier. this beer has piqued my interest in impy pils's. now i must try more.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 02:20:10 | More by ryanonline

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I was prepared to dislike this beer, as it is not always my favorite style, but I was pleasantly surprised by how nice this beer was. Ocassionally I'm taken by the style (Sam Adams Imperial Pilsner comes to mind), and this one grabbed me too. Pours darker amber with a fair head that leaves some lacing and is fed by a constant small stream of bubbles from the bottom of the glass. Smells bready without being grainy, and fruity and herbal. Lots of citrus juice, some mango and guava, and herbal with dill and epazote. Some tanginess there as well, a faint yogurt trace. The taste is similar, with less breadiness and more herbal and fruity bitterness with the same faint yogurt tanginess that mingles nicely with the citrus and bitterness on the end. I get pine in the bitter notes here as well- fairly heavily at that, along with that unmistakeable tangy skunkiness of summit hops. Very nice!

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 20:48:39 | More by Georgiabeer

alexgash

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle.

Clear, clean orange copper with a thick, creamy, dense, bright beige head. Great lacing up the sides of the tulip glass. Spicy, minty, herbal hop nose predominates. Fruit juice and sugar cookie malt aroma background.

Herbal, resinous, minty hop bitterness up front. Strong, raw, hop profile stays throughout, with additional flashes of pine, pine sap, and light citrus. Fruity malt backbone shows some sweetness, along with some caramel. Slightly warming finish with some fruity esters burrowed beneath lingering hop bitterness. The big noble hop presence reminds me of SA Imperial Pilsner. Very good. Medium-full body with a creamy feel. Interesting and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 01:32:15 | More by alexgash

jhammel01

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a copper color thats very clear with a whitish head that starts great but fades fast.

Smells great. Not what I'd expect...its very piney with hops. Its a very good smell just not what I was expecting. Plenty of orange peel, pine and oily hops.

Tastes of heavy hops like an IPA with plenty of bready finish that really, really seems more like an ale than and Helles lager. I think the title of an imperial pilsner does fit it more. A very clean tasting beer that doesnt taste that alcoholic.

A good body...again, reminds me of an IPA in body taste and smell! Its a thicker, medium bodied beer. Almost milky in a sense...Very nice.

An awesome beer. It may not be Christmas anymore but this a great beer for a cold night. Its 20 degrees out here in NJ.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2010 03:41:51 | More by jhammel01

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a moderate brown color with a bit of an off white head. The nose brings some caramel, toffee, and toasted bread along with some hard to describe (earthy?) hop components. Taste brings a moderate hop dose along with some lightly roasted malt, caramel, and toffee. Good body and not much alcohol. Really nice and a solid imperial pils.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2010 11:11:00 | More by Thorpe429

Jdmpolk

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Orange to golden brown in appearance that leaves a powdery lacing on the glass. Head is a light brownish white.

S- Incredibly hoppy. Spicy and piny mix with a grapefruit aroma. The alcohol makes itself known in the nose, and a hint of cherry is present.

T- Initially sweet, but the hops quickly break their way through it. Much of what was in the aroma is present in the taste, grapefruit and spice, with a pine sap flavor.

M A slight syrupy feel that covers the mouth, a little alcohol bur in the back of the throat.

D- This is a very drinkable and balanced beer. The hops are powerful, but the sweetness from the alcohol balances the bitterness very well. Overall a delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 03:22:42 | More by Jdmpolk

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A-amber with a good cream colored head. lacing.

S-i smell berries and hops. quite a good balance. smells good but not entirely strong, smells a lot like an IPA.

T-its hits with an impressive amount of quality barley and hops...mostly hops though. it ends with a decent amount of bitterness with an after-taste of slightly aged hops and grains. it's a high quality flavor.

M-a good creamy carbonation with a dry finsh

D-this is a really good pilsner. one of the best out there. the taste itself is flawless. it isn't a long lasting experience, but it is awesome. the more i drink this, the more i like this. I'll always get at least one bottle during the season, most likely more!

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2010 17:54:56 | More by AdamBear

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle:

The beer poured a deep, dark clear amber color, with a very nice white head that was well retained that left behind some nice lacing.

The aroma was malty sweet with a hint of hops.

The taste was very good. Nice, bold malt flavor with some citrus hops to balance it really well. It also had a breadyness quality to it as well. It seemed as if the taste got better and better throughout the bottle.

Mouthfeel was good, medium body with the right carbonation. The beer was smooth and had a nice dry aftertaste. Overall, I was very surprised by this beer, I bought 2 bombers and have been wanting to go back and get some more.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 20:10:34 | More by PhillyStyle

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

extremely clear deep orange pour with about half inch of head that remained throughout the whole glass. smells of rich grains, yeast, bready. tastes bitter up front with a sweet backbone of caramel/brown sugar, tastes of pilsner and wheat malts. refreshing, crisp, medium bodied but has the refreshing sensation of a light bodied beer. this is perfect for the style of beer that it is. i generally don't like lagers/pilsners, but this one changes the game.. give it a shot!

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 13:38:53 | More by facundoCNB

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into pilsener glass, bottled on 9/19/2012. Pours lightly hazy copper amber color with a nice 2 finger dense off white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass; with a good amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big caramel, toast, pine, citrus rind, toffee, biscuit, floral, grass, and piney spiciness. Damn nice aromas with good balance, strength, and complexity. Taste of caramel, toast, pine, toffee, biscuit, citrus rind, floral, grass, nuttiness, and piney spiciness. Good amount of pine bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, toast, biscuit, toffee, pine, nuttiness, floral, citrus rind, and piney spiciness on the finish for a good bit. Great malt/hop flavor balance and complexity; with a solid sweetness/bitterness balance as well; minimal cloying flavors present on the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a creamy, sticky, and crisp mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with only a small warming noticed after the finish; this is dangerously drinkable. Overall this is a highly excellent Imperial Helles style! Great malt and hop flavor balance and robustness; very smooth to sip on. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 07:36:46 | More by superspak