Brewery – Sam Adams (Boston Beer)
Beer – Fresh As Helles
Style – Helles Lager w/ Orange Blossom
ABV – 5.4%
IBUs – 18

The soft citrus of orange blossom adds a bright accent to the slightly sweet honey malt notes in this Helles lager, leading to a round, smooth finish.

Boston Beer (perhaps better known as Sam Adams) unveiled this at GABF for thirsty fans, and dropped the big news that we’d be seeing some new seasonals from the brewery come this winter.  The brewery debuted it’s first seasonal back in 1988 with Double Bock (still one of my favorite beers from them) and was considered a pioneer of the rotating seaonal beer concept.  This year is marking a time when the brewery seems to be focusing even more on the ever changing weather and putting out even more seasonals than ever.

The first seasonal of the year (and the first of their new ones) is called Hopscape, and will run through January and February, and the second (this one) will be available March and April to welcome the Spring weather.

Winter has arrived, and lucky for you (or really, lucky for me) I’ve got my hands on the two new seasonals and put together some notes so you’ll know just what to expect when you grab your six pack for the first time.

‘Fresh As Helles’ is Helles Lager that uses Mandarina hops and Sam Adams two row pale malt blend to create a really soft, delicate base upon which the addition of Orange Blossom Petals can really shine.

The beer will be available in March in 12 packs of bottles and cans, as well as 16oz cans.  If you’re getting antsy to try this one, it’s also available in the Spring Variety 12 pack, which should be available now!

My Thoughts On Fresh As Helles

This beer is bright, fresh, clean, and really delicious.  It’s a sweet treat during the months when everyone seems to be releasing big, dark, heavy, roasty beers one after another.

I think delicate sends the wrong signal, there is certainly a lot of flavor going on here, it’s just not the ‘smack you in the face’ flavor that so many craft drinkers have come to expect in their glass.

The beer definitely reminds me of the spring, cool, bright and breezy, with a floral freshness that builds the anticipation for the upcoming summer months.  It may be hard to imagine warm weather in January (when I’m writing this) but this beer does seem to make it a little easier for me to do so.