Fischer-Bräu Helles
Brewery: Freudenecker Fischer-Bräu
Town: Freudeneck
Style: Helles 4.9%
Color: in krug so no visuals, recently had it in a glass and deep golden
Head: fluffy white head protruding over krug
Nose: slight malt/grassy hops and light grain on 2nd visit
Body: medium
Palate: balanced, nice mix of malt and grassy hops on second visit
Finish: a bit unsure where it’s going/much drier and better second time around
Served: on tap at the brewery
Impression: Oddly enough, I was expecting Fischer-Bräu to be better than Sonnen-Bräu in nearby Mürsbach, but the only beer on tap the day we paddled in was a less than exciting Helles. It actually started out okay but just meandered in the end. It wasn’t exactly sticky but in these parts, you better finish well as all the competition sure does. Hope to return in colder months as their Bock is meant to be good and there are a few other interesting sounding seasonals.
2nd visit: I finally made it back after many years after having heard of its improvement. I also had their Bock on gravity in Bamberg and it was great. The Krug looks the same and the rocky head peaking over the rim but this seems like a much different beer. Grassy hops in the nose foretell of a much drier beer which defies its Helles moniker. We’re not in Munich, Toto. There’s plenty of malt backbone but this is surprisingly hop forward. There’s a little grain in the mix to augment its full flavor and the lingering finish is delightfully dry with a nice moreish bitterness.
