What the helles? That was my reaction to Samuel Adams Golden Hour. I’m sure you’ve figured out the beer is a Munich Helles in style (Boston Beer says so on the label), but it didn’t seem so to me, as we’ll soon see. And hey, hadn’t Boston Beer already put out a Helles recently? No, I’m not thinking of Samuel Adams Fresh as Helles, which just came out at the end of 2016. That beer is seasoned with orange blossom petals and was more of fruit/spiced beer to me.

Instead, I have Samuel Adams Heaven or Helles, which was in last year’s summer sampler, in mind. Let’s compare some statistics:

Heaven or Helles:

In German, ‘helles” means light, bright & blonde-a perfect description for our uncomplicated hazy lager. With its balance of soft honey malt notes and floral grassy hops you will be left asking yourself is this Heaven or Helles?

HOP VARIETIES Saaz and Tettnang Tettnanger Noble hops

MALT VARIETIES Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, Bohemian Pilsner Malt

5% ABV, 20 IBUs.

Golden Hour:

‘Helles’ is the German word for bright, and it’s the perfect way to describe this light, golden, and refreshing beer. German Noble hops create a distinct spicy, fresh hop character, and are complemented by a touch of malt sweetness for a drinkable yet flavorful brew. Capture it before the season slips away like the golden hour of a summer evening.

HOP VARIETIES Saaz and Tettnang Tettnanger Noble hops

MALT VARIETIES Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend and Bohemian Floor Malted Pilsner Malt

5% ABV, 20 IBUs.

Anybody else noticing a pattern? Seems like the same beer to me, although I have to say the Golden Hour seemed hoppier than the Heaven or Helles. Anyway, Golden Hour is part of the Samuel Adams American Summer Variety Pack, which Target sells for $13.29. I received a bottle courtesy of Boston Beer for review purposes.

Samuel Adams Golden Hour pours to a pale golden color with a thick creamy head and a zesty fresh grass hoppy nose that subtly suggests lemongrass. Taking a sip, the beer is fresh malty up front, clean and bready but infused with beautiful herbal, grassy green and zesty German and Czech hop aroma. The finish is very herbal and quite bitter, much more akin to a pilsner than a Helles that generally emphasizes soft biscuity malt. Stylistically, I would say this is way overhopped, but hedonistically, I am loving it folks. I’ll rate it 3 ½ for style and 4 ½ hedonistically, we’ll call it a very good 4 with the bargain price.

Michael Jackson once said in a pilsner he wants more hops, in a helles he wants more malt, and in an export more of both. This might fit into the more of both category as it stresses the hops and glorifies the malt, much as Heaven or Helles did but even more so I think. However you describe it, or whatever you call it, it’s  a very tasty beer indeed.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 

 



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