Beer of the Weekend #382: Hell
The second beer of the weekend is Hell, brewed by the Surly Brewing Company of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
Serving type: 12-ounce can. The “CANNED ON” date printed on the bottom of the can is “08/01/12.”
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is light gold. About a finger and a half of fluffy white head dissipated quickly to leave a skim of foam and a ring around the edge.
Smell: The nose is a little tame but, basically, it is floral, fruity, and sweet; it is a pretty solid lager aroma. There is a little grass and barnyard and also a note of lemon zest.
Taste: The flavor is much more aggressive with a nice dose of floral hops to wake the taste buds. There is a bit of corn-like grain, but it seems more like a solid base for other flavors than anything else. It has a nice, floral/grassy flavor with apple sweetness and lemon zest. Overall, it seems to be a hoppier helles with a few pilsner qualities.
Drinkability: I like it. It is a simple and refreshing lager that offers a nice and subtle complexity.
Fun facts about Hell:
-Style: Surly’s website calls it “German Style Munich Helles” but BA classifies it as “Keller Bier / Zwickel Bier.” Here is BA’s description of the style:
-Price: $9.49/four-pack at Richfield Municipal Liquor’s in Richfield, Minnesota.
-Serving temperature: 40-45ºF.
-Alcohol content: 4.5 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA’s only recommendation is German cuisine — bad news for all the ethnic Norwegians up north. Coincidentally, I bumped into Bobblehead at the farmer’s market today. He, his Missus, and his in-laws were planning to visit the cheese factory in Kalona and I told them to try the landjägers. I have no clue if they did or not. If they did, they could have enjoyed them with cans of Hell.
-Nerdiness from the website, which is also printed on the can:
-Hell is a seasonal beer only available in the summer.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
Serving type: 12-ounce can. The “CANNED ON” date printed on the bottom of the can is “08/01/12.”
Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is light gold. About a finger and a half of fluffy white head dissipated quickly to leave a skim of foam and a ring around the edge.
Smell: The nose is a little tame but, basically, it is floral, fruity, and sweet; it is a pretty solid lager aroma. There is a little grass and barnyard and also a note of lemon zest.
Taste: The flavor is much more aggressive with a nice dose of floral hops to wake the taste buds. There is a bit of corn-like grain, but it seems more like a solid base for other flavors than anything else. It has a nice, floral/grassy flavor with apple sweetness and lemon zest. Overall, it seems to be a hoppier helles with a few pilsner qualities.
Drinkability: I like it. It is a simple and refreshing lager that offers a nice and subtle complexity.
Fun facts about Hell:
-Style: Surly’s website calls it “German Style Munich Helles” but BA classifies it as “Keller Bier / Zwickel Bier.” Here is BA’s description of the style:
A rather old, rare, and unique German beer style, Kellerbiers are unfiltered and unpasteurized lagers that date back to at least the Middle Ages. The beer is matured, unbunged (beer is exposed), in deep vaults. The final product is a smooth, naturally cloudy beer that's rich in vitamins (from the yeast). Hop bitterness can be high and alcohol will vary. Zwickel Bier is similar to a Keller, but not as pronounced.
-Price: $9.49/four-pack at Richfield Municipal Liquor’s in Richfield, Minnesota.
-Serving temperature: 40-45ºF.
-Alcohol content: 4.5 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA’s only recommendation is German cuisine — bad news for all the ethnic Norwegians up north. Coincidentally, I bumped into Bobblehead at the farmer’s market today. He, his Missus, and his in-laws were planning to visit the cheese factory in Kalona and I told them to try the landjägers. I have no clue if they did or not. If they did, they could have enjoyed them with cans of Hell.
-Nerdiness from the website, which is also printed on the can:
Finally, a Surly beer my German mother will drink. She says this one tastes like a bier from back home. Not unlike a Zwickel Bier from Germany, Hell is not filtered and fermented with lager yeast. American hops takes a back seat to the Pils malt sweetness and fresh bread aroma. The color is well... hell (Deutsch for light). It's fiendishly drinkable, and you don't have to sell your soul to get another.
-Hell is a seasonal beer only available in the summer.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
