Kurpfalz Bräu Helles
 

Review Date 5/1/2020  Last Updated  1/7/2022  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Munich Helles   Brewery: Weldebrau   Country: Germany   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: $.16 (B)   ABV: 5.3%

For Christmas of 2015, my wife bought me a really cool present: BeerAdvent Calendar 2015 from Kalea. In truth, my wife got me a lot of nice presents (she’s the best wife ever), but the nice thing about the Beer Advent Calendar is you get it early. You have to, since it’s comprised of 24 different imported German beers in a box with little doors that you open, one per day from December 1st through December 24th. All of the beers are listed on the side of the carton, however, so be careful not to look and spoil the daily surprises!

I love German beer more than beer from any other country on Earth, so this was definitely right up my alley. I have managed to get my hands on one of these calendars each year since, and have never been disappointed. Overall, this is an amazing way to sample 24 German beers over 24 days, and I look forward to it every year. For the first three years, I've found these at Costco in Georgia and paid $59.95 for the box. Last year, though, we were in Spring Hill Tennessee and I saw these on a pallet at the local Costco in mid-October. I grabbed one there to make sure I didn't miss out. They were up $5 to $64.95 (and indeed, when I did see them at the new Costco in Woodstock, Georgia a month later they were the same price). This year, I found them earlier than ever (September 26th) and bought one at Costco here in Georgia for $63.95, though curiously they were down to $59.95 on my next visit.

That might sound steep, but when you distribute that price over 24 different half liter cans, it only works out to $2.66 per can. Not a bad deal at all looked at that way. It certainly does not stop these from selling; a follow up trip to my local Woodstock Costco a few weeks after I saw them and there they were: gone!

For 2019, there are six new beers in the mix and 18 returning favorites. I do like this, because there are a lot of the beers that I really enjoy, and want to enjoy again. It's like 18 old friends and 6 news ones in the same box. What's better than that?

On Day 18, December 18th of course, I opened a door to a can of Kurpfalz Bräu Helles from Weldebraeu GmbH, a brewing consortium located in Plankstadt, Baden-Württemberg. On the can, the beer says it is "Traditionally brewed in the heart of Germany"; I like the slogans on the German labels better. "Das Bier von Hier" (The beer from here) or "Das Bier aus der Kurpfalz" (The beer out of Kurpfalz). Now that's marketing!

Kurpfalz Bräu makes beer in several styles, including an Eisbock, Weizen, and Kellerbier, as well as the Helles included in the calendar. Of this beer they say on their website:

Ein ehrliches Helles, das hat in der Kurpfalz Tradition. Kein Wunder, schließlich wächst in unserer sonnenverwöhnten Region seit jeher Braugerste von besonderer Qualität. Im Herzen der Kurpfalz, in Schwetzingen, gab es vor 100 Jahren noch 14 Brauereien, die den Kurpfälzer Biertyp „mild und würzig“ pflegten.

Kurpfalzbräu Helles lässt die gute alte Zeit nun wieder aufleben. Mit Rohstoffen aus der Kurpfalz, nach originalem Rezept und mit viel handwerklicher Sorgfalt gebraut – so wie damals. Ein Bier, das nicht nur den Durst stillt, sondern auch die Sehnsucht nach Heimat, regionalem Genuss und authentischem Geschmack.

Ein Bier ohne Wenn und Aber – das Bier aus der Kurpfalz.
 

In English that means:

An honest Helles, a tradition of Kurpfalz. No wonder, after all, high quality brewing barley has always been grown in our sun-drenched region. In the heart of the Kurpfalz, in Schwetzingen, 100 years ago there were 14 breweries that brewed "mild and spicy" Kurpfalz beer type.

Kurpfalzbräu Helles is reviving the good old days. Brewed with raw materials from the Kurpfalz, according to the original recipe and with a lot of craftsmanship – just like then. A beer that not only quenches thirst, but also the longing for home, regional enjoyment and authentic taste.

A beer without ifs and buts – the beer from the Kurpfalz.

Kurpfalz Bräu Helles has an alcohol content of 5.3% by volume. My can is stamped EXP 05/2021. I drank it and took notes on January 7th 2019 and again on 1st May 2020. The can says this beer is Gebraut von Weldebraeu, so does not appear to be contract brewed by Egerer.

Kurpfalz Bräu Helles pours to a beautiful bright golden color with a thick head of foam and a soft bready malt nose. The palate is bready and biscuity with a wonderful fresh crunchy malt character, perfectly balanced by a grassy hop presence that builds into a surprisingly bitter hop finish (for a helles). What a wonderful beer, malt and hop both wonderfully represented here.

Same for the 2019 version, except it does not seem quite as hoppy. Still, wonderful bread and biscuit malt. Beautiful golden color!

I’m greatly enjoying my Beer Advent Calendar 2019 with the day 9 beer. Here’s looking forward to the remaining 15, and another assortment of 24 in 2020. We’ll be on the lookout next year at Costco once again! Follow them on their Facebook page.

The beers of the 2019 Beer Advent Calendar:

Day 1 Kauzle Helles Lager

Day 2 Hohenthanner Blau Weisse

Day 3 Schnaitl Brau

Day 4 Memminger Gold Marzen

Day 5 Kress Bayrisch Zwickel