Mahr's Hell - Mahrs-Bräu

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It’s always a great day when I’ve got a real German beer in my fridge. I just hope it made the trip overseas relatively quickly.

The date code reads “Bottled on: 312,” which could mean the 31st day of 2012 (January 31, 2012) or the 312th day of the year (earliest possible being November 8, 2011); either way, this one is over eight months old. Not optimal for a lager, but whatever.

A: Very pale yellow with a bright white, sudsy head that sits at about an inch: yep, that’s a German lager. Tumults of bubbles throughout the body support a thin covering of retention, accompanied by soapy lacing.

S: Nice bready aroma to the nose, with subsequent sniffs fleshing out buttery biscuit, grain husk, soft straw, and clean lager yeast. Hops give a sharp note of acidic intensity, pepper, lemon-lime, and floral herb character wafting up above the malts – it’s a great balance of scents. Some residual sugars show up as creamy vanilla and strawberry puree, showing off that sweet malt scent I’d been hoping for. This lager seems to be hitting all the right notes so far.

T: A beautifully-crafted lager at first sip: its flavors are silk on the tongue. Flavorful malt and clean, bready yeast take center stage in a battle between sweet, toasted graininess, floury biscuit dough, and mild grape and banana. None of them really wins, and that’s alright with me; I really enjoy that intricate balance. There is a noticeable lack of hop bite (possibly due to age), but notes of lemon rind, citrus (mostly mango), and tea leaf astringency are still there. Finishes with barely any aftertaste: only a tiny taste of sweet grains and metals linger.

M: Not a thin body, but one that doesn’t have a ton of carbonation. This is the definition of a smooth-drinking lager, with a light body.

O: It seems like the brewer was trying to make the easiest-drinking beer on the planet – something that Bud, Miller, and Coors have been trying to do for years – and I think they just may have succeeded. From first sip to last, this was everything I wanted in an everyday beer: smooth, pleasing flavors that still don’t lack depth, as well as a creamy texture that doesn’t fill you up. It’s a shame I won’t be able to have it fresh unless I buy a ticket to Europe; still, I’ll be buying up whatever bottles I can while I have the chance. Prost!

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2012 22:23:34 | More by BarryMFBurton

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

3.55/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pale golden colour, medium head, clear. Initial red cabbage aroma faded, also detected some malt and citrus. Initially I tasted a burst of nut and mushroom which promised much but soon faded. It had a pleasant, balanced malty sweetness but it could have been more. Crisp texture, smooth on the palate, light to medium carbonation. Expected a lot after the first sip, eventhough it didn't quite deliver it was still not bad.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 13:32:11 | More by jonb5

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from Friar Tuck's in Peoria, IL
Bottled on: "5022" which is very confusing.
Poured into an Ayinger willi glass

Mahr's helles lager comes across as a fairly standard version of the style, well-balanced between malt and hops, though the malt seems to have won out a bit in this bottle (probably due to age). While this beer was certainly drinkable, I found it lacking in excitement or robustness. Again, maybe due to age, but the hops were just not spicy or bright, and the malt was a bit one dimensional. I would probably look for a different helles next time, one with a bottled on date, because Mahr's does not get very good turnaround in North America, it would seem.

Pours a 2cm tall head of large bubbles on top, supported by smaller bubbles underneath, each of a fairly clean, white color. Retention is about average, slowly reducing to a thin cap atop the beer's body with some larger bubbles around the perimeter of the glass. Body is a transparent copper-orange color, with light bringing out yellow-orange tones. Carbonation is visible, rising up from bottom center of the glass.

Aroma is similar to sweet bread with substantial graininess and a light bit of hop spiciness at the close. Fairly typical for a helles lager, not particularly standing out in any way.

Taste opens with some graininess and sweetness, tempered slightly by light hop bitterness. Mid-palate picks up continued sweetness, some bread-like flavors, and some floral and bitter hop contributions. Back of the palate focuses on noble hop bitterness more than any other component. Lingering aftertaste of sweet and bread-like malts with some residual bitterness. Again, fairly typical for a helles, not particularly exciting.

Beer is medium-bodied with fairly active carbonation, though the beer isn't prickly on the palate. Resulting mouthfeel is crisp and tight across the palate, the sip is moved along quickly due to the carbonation. Finishes quite dry, with little residual sugar as there isn't any stickiness on the mouth afterwards.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 23:21:29 | More by falloutsnow

dpasotti

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Crystal clear with very nice light gold color. Minimal head that quickly vanishes to nothing. Nose is fresh malt, grape-like lager character, and some clean sulfur notes. Slight chlorine/soap undertone as well, but in a good way.

Taste is very similar: slightly sweet pils malt, expected yeast-derived lager character, and no hops to speak of. Low bitterness pushes it barely into 'sweet' territory, but keeps things in check. Not much else here.

Medium carbonation and medium body are solid. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think a lighter body would turn up the crisp factor. All in all, this is an excellent example of the style and is no doubt a fine beer. The malt character is just too one-dimensional, even for a Helles. I'll stick with Weltenberger Kloster Barock Hell, especially at half the price.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 01:06:08 | More by dpasotti

steveh

Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Found this one locally at a pretty reputable shop, but I'm a little worried that the bottled-on date is an indistinguishable code.

I probably haven't had Mahrs Bräu since my visit to Bamberg almost 10 years ago.

A -- Gusher when capped -- not usually a good sign. Otherwise, a slightly hazy deep golden color with a dense white head that holds up well and leaves good lacing.

S -- Wonderful bready maltiness, some mild yeastiness and DMS back. Maybe the vaguest sourness in the finish -- old brew? Can't say, but it doesn't distract.

T -- Big, toasty, bready, juicy, mildly sweet malts. Just a touch of spicy bitterness in the finish to compliment the malt sweetness. Great flavor for the style.

M -- Mouthfeel is soft and chewy with a light-medium to medium body.

O -- Anyone who wants to learn what German beer can be all about and wants to know why many of us look for the best examples of the styles owes it to themselves to look into this beer. Imagine all this malt character in a 4.9 ABV beer. That's precision lager brewing.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 22:25:29 | More by steveh

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml bottle.

It pours a deep vibrant gold with a nie white head that leaves some good lacing.

The smell is sweet and malty with some slight herbal hops.

The flavor is nice, a sweet balance of hops and malt. Just a light bitterness. Smooth.

Another good one from Mahr's.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 23:49:47 | More by crossovert

brentk56

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear pale golden color capped by several inches of foam; both the retention and the lacing were decent

Smell: Bready malt with grassy hops; pilsneresque

Taste: Bready, up front, with a growing grassy hop character; the finish adds a bit of lager twang, but retains the essential flavor elements

Mouthfeel: Light body with crisp carbonation

Overall: More hoppy than expected; a rather fine example of the style

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 03:30:19 | More by brentk56

avalon07

South Carolina

3.2/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Poured from a bottle to a pilsner glass. Had a pale yellow color and a slightly hazy consistency. There was an inch of creamy, somewhat long-lasting head. Very good lacing.

S: More than anything, this beer smelled of malt, with traces of grass.

T: Tasted of malt up front, but in the finish there was a strong grassy component that was totally off-putting. All of this was punctuated by a definitive watery quality. Maybe it's just me, but the grassy quality is not an attractive flavor.

M: An average amount of carbonation with a slick finish. Light-bodied.

O: At the end of the day, it comes down to the flavor of a beer and this flavor does not cut it.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2011 13:24:20 | More by avalon07

metter98

New York

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is relatively clear and light yellow in color and poured with a finger high white head that quickly faded away. A light amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There are moderate aromas of bready malts in the nose along with some hints of honey.
T: Like the smell, the taste is very malty and has some notes of butter in the flavors.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, clean and very smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. It has some creaminess and coats the palate.
D: The beer is very easy to drink, and its low alcohol makes it very sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2010 20:03:43 | More by metter98

gfreed

Massachusetts

3.35/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Blindingly yellow with a sheet-white head that is loose and bubbly, just as you'd want in a beer like this. There's some odd sweetness in the aroma-- is it corn? It smells like it. Sharp bubbles hit first in the taste, followed by some sweetness that remains unidentifiable (more corn? molasses?), some easily identifiable malt and finally a bite from the hops that is bitter but refreshing. Worth seeking out to try for the first time, worth drinking now and then but not a must-have.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2010 10:37:12 | More by gfreed

tempest

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ordered a bottle at Tap and Table. Served with a tall Mahrs glass stein, the beer was a beautiful clear gold with a tall white head - we're off to a good start. There's the appropriate hint of sulfur in the aroma with light bread crust. This is a true German lager. It doesn't have the most unique or compelling flavor, but it's super drinkable and tasty. The subtle bread and grain flavors are complimented by a small spicy hop kick in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2010 13:08:27 | More by tempest

baos

Indiana

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes.

Poured into Mason jar. Decent head lemon-grassy aroma. Head dwindles to nothing and not much lacing to see. Tastes very mellow and refreshing. Nice almost sweet malty medium light body that ends slightly grassy and dry finish. A good brew I will try more from Mahrs Bräu. Try one on; a very refreshing and drinkable brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2010 22:14:36 | More by baos

meeekyh

Colorado

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I poured tis beer from a Pint-plus-9oz bottle into a pilsner glass. The beer is a pale golden yellow and the head is very white nicely fluffy but without lacing. There is nothing really nice looking about this beer, though the brown bottle and ornate lettering are attractive.

Boy is that one serious nosefull of malty barley! Smells like a grain mash, very sweet and grainy. There are slight floral notes too but this is a beer that showcases light malt, and does so well.

Taste really matches the nose. It is malty, sweet and full. There is almost no hop bitterness but there is a notable hop flavor. As in the aroma it comes through as floral and light.

Mouthfeel is full and smooth and the sparkle is light all combines to make for high drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 02:18:31 | More by meeekyh

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a dimple mug) bottled on 5022
A- This beer has a deep yellow body with a thin wisp of white head that fades to a ring and some big slow bubbles gliding to the surface.
S- This beer has a big fresh wort aroma with a honey malt quality that is more rich than sweet.
T- The fresh light wort flavor has some rich honey malt flavors that are not to sweet and not to dry with a Noble hop bit in the finish that turns just a bit pungent and lingers a bit, picking up a sulfur note in the end.
M- There is a medium mouthfeel with a soft fizz but no alcohol heat noted.
D- This beer has a nice freshness in the malt flavors and a good support by the hops. Just a bit more carbonation could have really helped the finish.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2010 04:02:30 | More by rhoadsrage

WYVYRN527

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a deep golden color with a white head that settles quickly. The carbonation is vigorous and there is afine sediment thrown as well.

S: Biscuity malt aromas are dominant, with hints of straw and slight fruity notes.

T: Almost identical to the smell. Fresh baked bread , dried straw, and honeyed character overwhelm the senses. It's followed by a nice crisp hop finish.

M: More full-bodied than I expected. This Helles has a nice mouthfeel, as it coats the palate.

D: Mahrs still continues to amaze me. This may be one of their best offerings. Very easy to drink. I wish I had more than one.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2009 02:01:05 | More by WYVYRN527

rtepiak

Poland

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pour is a yellow gold with a rather small head. smell is like a pilsner. not so much on the bright malty side. smell of straw, apple, and some honey. the taste is earthy. some apple/honey sweet. but the beer seems to be carried by the bitterness. i know that between a helles and a german pilsner, the comparison is like splitting hairs but it seems as if this still has to much hops headlining for the style. the malt character is rather simple and subsidiary to the dry, earth, bitter of the pilsner hop.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 05:16:35 | More by rtepiak

jsh420

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

bottled 5022
poured a light golden with almost no head

smells bready and hints of grassy hops

taste is similar to the smell - and i also pick up some carmel malt - taste is bigger then the 4.9abv it is

mouthfeel was medium body and flat but this is an old bottle i am guessing 5022 is 2/02/05
not a big seller around my area

drinkability - i would like to try this beer fresh but i think i would have to travel to germany ti di so

overall it mighty flavorful for such a small beer

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2009 22:33:30 | More by jsh420

MTNboy

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is a light copper color with a thick snow white head and lace. I hardly ever notice the aroma it seems until half way through. It has fruity hoppy smell with a little bit of malt. It is sort of buttery. You can taste the malts and yeast in this beers body but they are not overpowering. The hops in are mildly floral. The mouthfeel is fizzy but there is hardly any bite.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2009 03:35:21 | More by MTNboy

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottled On date of 0710; Sampled July 2008
A brisk pour produces only a thin, pale white colored head. The aroma is at first pretty light struck, but this dissapates to a lightly herbal hop note after a bit. A light sweetness from the malt character contributes something a touch like honey and there is a nice, dry, toasty grain character reminiscent of crushed saltine crackers. A hint of lemon zest rounds out the mostly herbal hop aromatics here.

Cool and fizzy the beer has a bitting carbonic note to it up front and is quite crisp from the cool serving temperature. This finishes with a nicely noticeable, bitter hop bite. Fairly light bodied, but does have some viscous malt body to it. A touch of lemon zest again combines with an herbal hop flavor and a touch of grassy / hay notes; this last from both the hop and the malt components. A hint of malt sweetness becomes a bit more noticeable as the beer warms up, but mostly the malt character takes on cracker-like and light, toasty grain notes.

Not a bad beer, probably not at its peak condition after traveling across the pond, but still quite quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2008 02:00:12 | More by Gueuzedude

fitzy84

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Moan and Dove had this bottled after a long hiatus from the bar. The drink poured with a clear gold appearance. The head quickly thinned away toward mostly lacing. The aromas were, in general, faint fruits, hops, malt and even some hints of vanilla. The taste was mostly bittersweet with sharp hops and doughy flavors. Great carbonation made this enjoyable until the end. Overall, wicked good.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2008 18:32:00 | More by fitzy84

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.15/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a tulip glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a large white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of light but bready malts with a little bit of hops in the background.

T: The taste is bready with a little sweetness flavors of light malts and lager yeast. There's a decent hops presence that provides a good balance. The after-taste is bready and slightly sweet. It's straight-forward but very well-done.

M: Smooth and very crisp, light-to-medium body, medium-to-high carbonation, finish is very clean.

D: Tasty, goes down very easily, not filling at all, mild kick, excellent representation of style, this is nice lighter beer to drink for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2008 17:23:50 | More by TheManiacalOne

JustinOSU99

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Golden copper, with chunks of yeast sediment floating. Kinda reminds me of goldschlager from the college days and made me laugh. Looks good.

S: Corn, barley, fresh grass clippings, floral aromas, tobacco. Definitely and distinctly German, it smells a bit stronger than it's 4.9 ABV would indicate.

T: Extremely surprising taste, although I am far from an export on Munich Helles Lagers. Caramel and yeast are immediate on my palate which I didn't detect in the smell. There is some definite alcohol warmth, bread, brown sugar and molasses. Very tasty.

M: Tart up front, and plenty of carbonation. Takes me back to my times at the Hofbrau House.

D: Really tasty beer. I would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2008 00:32:30 | More by JustinOSU99

oberon

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

You dont come around a good German made Helles lager often and it really is a treat when you stumble on one like this.Poured into a .5 liter sten a light clear lemon yellow with a tight one finger fluffy white head that held great retention,lemon stood out most in the aroma with a little funky wet grain-like note.Slightly toasted malt flavors along with a passing mineral character melds into a lemony finish,nothing over complex but sturdy and solid.It went great with a lemon and roasemary whole roasted chicken I made tonight better than any white wine in my mind,just a solid helles lager here to be had.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2007 23:15:04 | More by oberon

Nipitato

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a bottle at Julio's Liquors in Westborough, MA.

A: Flat gold color with some suspended yeast visible. Visibly effervescent. The pour releases a creamy white head that drops away to a thin whispy topping. Sticky lacing developed as beer is quaffed.

S: Grainy sweet malt aroma. Very clean and fresh. A touch toasty as well.

T: Quite clean flavor with strong sweet grainy malt character. Crisp noble hop flavor comes through.

MF: Smooth medium mouthfeel. Medium carbonation.

D: Easy to drink nice malty sweetness is very pleasing and makes this beer easily sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2007 16:29:49 | More by Nipitato

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.18/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This beer pours a bright yellow color with a thick, stable head that sticks to the glass. When I poured out the entire bottle, small chunks of yeast or sediment flood in my beer.

Smell is malty with some typical German sulfur smells. This is slightly more full-bodied than a German pilsener.

Taste relies mostly on the malt, which gives the beer it's character. On top of that there is a clean bitterness, that is a bit spicy and herbal. Mouthfeel is dry and bitter on the tongue. Drinkability is good. Nothing too exciting, just an average lager.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2007 08:28:21 | More by Absumaster