Augustiner Bräu Lagerbier Hell - Augustiner-Bräu Wagner KG

DoubleJ

California

4.4/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Augustiner am Platzl, on to the beer:

Bright yellow with string of lace which whip around the mug as the level of the beer drops. The aroma of cut grass, hay, and lemon, which are balanced between each other, adds additional appeal. Then I was caught by surprise how well this tasted. I like myself fresh helles, but there's something about how this tasted which almost made me dance. It's delicate, but at the same time is full of flavor. Wave after wave of grass, citrus, dough, and a light bitterness explode at the scene. It's light bodied with appealing crispness, which helps make this beer not only very drinkable, but also one of the best lagers that I had on my trip.

Serving type: on-tap

05-11-2013 16:41:34 | More by DoubleJ

apasternak

Ohio

5/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

From Munich, a very very great beer. My favorite German beer. I drank a ton of these in Munich and brought some back with me. I would love to be able to find this in America. The taste, like many of the other Munich beers, is very smooth, not heavy, but with a rich, consistent flavor. This is not a beer with a very unique flavor. It doesn't have fruit or random stuff in it. It is simply a great beer, a beer I could drink every single day.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 17:43:21 | More by apasternak

Ryanm1

Pennsylvania

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

Smuggled this bottle back from Europe. Had a buddy traveling through Munich grab this and meet me in Paris. Claimed it was his favorite German Beer. Surely upon first taste it was delicious. It poured golden with large amount of thin lacing that dissipated quickly. Slight hop smell, but standard beer smell otherwise. Seems like a German form of a domestic lager. Hell beer so light in color. Great Session beer!

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 00:03:49 | More by Ryanm1

Thunder64

Florida

4.89/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

After spending 4 months in Germany and 3 weekends at Octoberfest I will say this is my most favorite beer! Augustiner has a great drink-ability with exceptional quality. Very smooth taste and crisp feel. a great "everyday beer".

When I arrived back in the states I found Augustiner in bottles and was hoping that my appreciation for the beer would be the same. I was not disappointed!

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2013 00:57:25 | More by Thunder64

GaetanoBresci

5/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I have to give this beer full points because it´s simply my favorite one. This beer is a flawless example of Helles, and is the most impressive Helles I have ever tasted. A true bench mark example of the style, and a true master piece. Smell is an intense flora hop aroma, and taste is a perfect balance between malt and hop.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 10:10:33 | More by GaetanoBresci

FLima

Brazil

3.63/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice appereance. Clear golden color. It made a consistent 3 fingers head with a long retention.
Aroma is malty with grassy hops.
Perfect balancing sweet malt taste with a mild bitterness.
Light Body with a good carbonation with small bubbles.
Very clear and crispy taste, miles away from any potential off-flavors, tough very mild, if it was sold as alcohol free, I would be in doubt. Drinkability as high as it gets.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 21:25:00 | More by FLima

crnipeter

Slovenia

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours pale golden with brilliant clarity capped by meringue-white low to medium head that creates patches of lace sliding down the sides until it rapidly drops to a fine veil.

Nose is light Pils malt sweetness with discernible DMS aroma reminiscent of cooked vegetables such as German turnip. I'm barely capable of picking any hops underneath, nor there are any inappropriate buttery notes or esters.

The taste is clean, slightly sweet Pils malt. Although the malt gets supported by low hop-bitterness the flavor remains malty until the abrupt clean finish.

Medium body with moderate carbonation is crispy yet simultaneously smooth and polished.

Overall, malt-accentuated but not too sweet immensely drinkable Munich Helles that is a true benchmark of the style. I haven't even noticed when the bottle went dry (500 ml, BB end 01-2013, into chalice).

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 21:48:48 | More by crnipeter

Tomais

Germany

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I dont know can I do this beer justice as a novice reviewer. It's not complex, yet it's very satisfying. And although I have a couple of other top German beers 'im Keller', I keep going back for this one.

Pours a medium big head which faded after a while without me noticing. Some lacing. Pale yellow colour.

Smell initially strong, fades fairly quick though. Grain, malt, yeast.

Carbonation is fine grained but strong.

Taste is malt on the front of the tongue, surrounded by hops in every direction, hops come through more on first swallowing, then the malt again.
-
I dont know does that describe it quite right - maybe it's more like this: you know those taps that mix hot and cold water from the one spout, but they dont fully mix the two - one side of the flowing water is cold, the other hot. Taking a slug of this is like perfect balanced hops and malt - you can taste both - but now a bit more malt, now a bit more hops, now more malt, now ...

I think that's why it's so good -and so drinkable- it's this perfect balance.

B.B. '03.13'

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 20:17:21 | More by Tomais

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml mug enjoyed @ Augustiner restaurant @ Munich Oktoberfest 2012.

A: Pours a golden yellow color. Clear. Forms a big bubbled fizzy white head. Medium retention and many lacings left

S: Sweet grains, flowery hops, Lager yeasts. Authentic Bavarian Lager. A bit metallic and ashy too

T: Slightly sweet upfront. Sweet malts but, at the same time crisp and dry in the mouth. Strong on bready Lager yeasts with a citrus and skunky hoppy end. Balanced bitterness. Again, a bit metallic and a bit of ashes taste in the very end

M: Light body. Medium carbonation. Stingy citrus and bit skunky hoppy end

O: Excellent drinkability in German style. Recommended

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2012 00:05:29 | More by eduardolinhalis

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pale colour, clear, medium thick head which disapeared fairly quickly but some lacing was retained. Had a Munich, malty aroma with notes of orange. Tasted some subtle fruity flavours and Munich malts. Finish was slightly sour. Crisp texture, light body, well carbonated. Overall well crafted and balanced. Understated but classy, a beer for many situations.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 14:27:31 | More by jonb5

stonesean

Germany

4.63/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a .5 liter Augustiner Bräu glass from the bottle.

A- Standard export lager appearance. Golden color, good carbonation, decent head. No indications of anything unusual. Yet.

S- Again, everything you'd expect in a lager. Aromas of cereal and a slight grass note.

T- Here's where Augustiner really breaks free. Quite simply the best Helles Lager I've ever tasted. Flawless balance of flavors, crisp, clean, each sip makes you want another.

M- Light bodied as the style should be, refreshing, wonderful on a hot day.

This beer is the absolute gold standard for the style. The Helles Lager that all others should be compared to. Remarkable, and my very favorite of the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 16:01:16 | More by stonesean

djura

Serbia

3.3/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Got it from Germany.

When i read all this comments,i expected really unique lager,with exceptional taste. I am not saying this beer is not that good,but thing is that because this style is so common in this part of Europe,i need to taste something really good,so i could say it's exceptional.

A-White foam,lasting few seconds,yellow golden color with medium carbonation.
S-crisp,grainy,very pleasant smell.
T/M-Nice bitterness,grains,very drinkable.

O-Talking about Augustiner,i think that Brau Edelstoff have more reasons to be called best Helle lager.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 19:52:03 | More by djura

megu

4.9/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Most people living in and around Munich agree that this is the best local beer to be had. No need to add to descriptions of the taste with all the other reviews around.

It gets even better in view of the company background.
They do their own malting and are the only brewery to tap from wooden kegs at their beergardens and at oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 13:32:33 | More by megu

Moose_Knuckle_Sandwich

5/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Absolutely one of the best beers I've evr had! In fact, probably the best beer ever! I enjoyed a slew of them in Munich and wish I could enjoy them on tap here in the US. It is crisp, clean, refreshing and everything else you'd want in a beer. So freakin' good!

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2012 02:01:57 | More by Moose_Knuckle_Sandwich

bier_uber_alles

4.75/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

From cask in Salzburg.
Salzburg is a beautiful city and has to be in the top 5 cities in the world to drink beer. The Augustiner in Salzburg is better than the location in Munchen.

Because the beer was served in a clay stein, the beers appearance was not readily observable. A slight head present. Smells awesome and tastes awesome. Sooo easy to appreciate. even easier to guzzle down.

this is an exceptional drink. I wish Americans could appreciate such quality and produce such drink here in the states.

Serving type: cask

04-16-2012 15:38:53 | More by bier_uber_alles

TOMHONE

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A follow up on my desire to bring back to the states some great tasting Augustiner before all of this format here changed.

I recently brought home 2 30L Kegs of Augustiner Helles. Why? I was throwing a party for about 60+ people and wanted to show them all that when I have a party it's going to be one helluva beer drinking event. And that it was.

All beer drinkers, men and women alike, loved the Augustiner. Even some of the die hard wine sippers joined in.

We actually went to the brewery itself and bought the 2 kegs. A retired German baker we know is best friends with one of the higher-ups at the Augustiner company. Bringing back the 2 on a dolly that retracts was no problem either. The added freight fee was OK as was customs duty fees.

I didn't even have to put a deposit down on the 2 kegs.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2012 02:26:57 | More by TOMHONE

pixieskid

France

4.6/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A buddy brought me a random selection of beers from Munich, this was one of them. If I remember correctly he said this was the "cheap one that everyone drinks" haha, go figure, it's the highest rated Helles Lager! Just like Tannenzapfle is the highest rated pils...anyway, cracked this one randomly because it was taking up room in the fridge.

Pours a crystal clear golden color with a pillowy white head, decent retention.
Nose; straight up cereal grains and a hint of grassy hops.
Taste; grains, grassy hops, just a touch of citrus, nice breadiness throughout with a minimal bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel, slightly slick as the style permits, with a nice cripsness.
Overall; yeah it's flavorful and drinkable as it gets. Can't wait to visit Munich next month and get some more.
Anyone wanna try this thing, shoot me a BM, I'll be stateside in a couple months...Prost!

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 15:28:59 | More by pixieskid

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.8/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle.Lager glass. Enjoyed on oct´11.Pale golden in color.White head,medim size bubbles coming up & down.Rocky froth.Some lacing.Good retention. Gentle floral aroma, yeasty notes. Mildy malty flavor,noble hoppy bitterness too. Medium body,medium-high carbonation.Suggested as a perfect session beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 11:50:31 | More by GONZALOYANNA

FloppyDog

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

0.5L poured at Augustiner's in East Berlin.

Poured a light straw yellow as clear and filtered as can be. Decent 1.5" head dissipates as you drink it.

Smell is muted, but when you really look for it, you get subtle hints of both light malt and a hint of earthy hops.

Taste is a fine balance between subtle maltiness and the perfect balance of hop flavor and bitterness to round it out.

Mouthfeel is light and refreshing, even on a day when it was less than 10 degrees F outside.

Overall, a great, light, refreshing, session beer for any occasion. Goes great with brats and kraut!

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2012 20:16:34 | More by FloppyDog

Paincane

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A; Clear golden pour producing a white head and moderate lacing.
S: Grainy and bready yeast aromas strike the nose.
T: Light bready malts, grian and grassy flavors abound.
M: Light bodied with moderate carbonation. Crisp mouthfeel with very refreshing qualities.
O: The fact that I enjoyed it in Munich adds to the flavors and mystique. A very enjoyable beer that I would definitely have again.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 20:58:17 | More by Paincane

DeutscheJeff

Colorado

4.95/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Nothing quite like drinking this out of a cask in Munich! Unfortunately all of the bottled versions of this are lacking, however it is still one of most amazing beers I have ever had. If you like German beer, and you don't like the "cheap" ones, give this one a try, and try some more. This beer is downright amazing, I would never pass up this beer if given the chance.

Serving type: cask

12-18-2011 07:07:56 | More by DeutscheJeff

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours pale golden with a really tall white compact and thick head. The head takes some time to set, and does so leaving rich lacings.

S: Bready sweet corn balanced with a suttle hoppy bitterness. Some faint yeast. Grassy and citric.

T: Rich malt, sweet and bready. In the back there's some bitter hops and citric notes, but that's in the back.

M: Smooth medium body and medium carbonation. Aftertaste is kind of short and mostly sweet.

A: Very nice, very nice indead!

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 17:04:04 | More by Sunnanek

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice light golden color comes through right away. Really tight head of white that sits on top for what seems like forever but then suddenly dropped off leaving it all bare.

Nice touches of light bready malts, caramel, light grasses and well rounded and nicely done hop profile. Warming brings out cereal grains, touches of light grass and a well carbonated and easily maintained profile. Extremely session able with an amazingly crisp and clean flavor, I had no issues at all with putting this one down.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 00:30:44 | More by mikesgroove

RuudJH

Netherlands

3.93/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Helles vollbier, lager 0.5 l bottle.

Clear (obviously) pale golden, a bit fizzy soapy white head, that does hold up decently, with lacing. Modest carbonation.

Malty and yeasty, with a nice balance of grassy and floral hoppyness. Earthy garden characteristics.

Mild bitterness, with a very nice, quick dry finish.
Very simple, but pleasant brew. A lager like it's intended. Good ingredients, i guess, and well brewed.
Nice one in this style.
Nice website too (extra 0.5 point added on 'overall')

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 11:27:11 | More by RuudJH

harrymel

Washington

3.13/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Unk bottle info.

A= pours a nice golden ale with excellent clarity. Single finger of soap suds fall quickly and leave a glass surface. spots are rare on the lacing.

S= not much going on here, sweet, grain, hints of skunk.

T= Grain, lightly bittered (a little more than your typical helles) and nice. No real info to report here, like beer for water.

M= Hollow.

O= I kept drinking it, and ordered another, so, not that bad.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 10:08:12 | More by harrymel