Roppelt (Trossenfurt) Helles Stüchtla
Brewery: Roppelt
Town: Trossenfurt
Style: Helles 4.6%
Color: golden
Head: white
Nose: malty, grainy, mown grass
Body: medium
Palate: balanced, malty, light grain, underlying hops
Finish: lingering, semi-dry, semi-bitter
Served: from a bottle bought at the brewery
Impression: I was surprised to hear the Lower Franconian stalwart brewed a Helles since locals there seem to prefer their amber Lager over their Pils. This poured gorgeously in the wide mouth mug and I’m sure the head would have been formidable in a Willibecher. It’s a refreshing looking beer with a rich golden hue and the grainy nose conjures visions of walking along crops in the open Franconian fields. The malty palate has lots of the Munich style to it but a nice undercurrent of hops keeps the finish more bitter than most. It also manages a total lack of a cloying quality without being overly dry, no mean feat in a predominantly malty beer. One of the best I’ve had from Franconia and better than plenty in Bavaria too.
