Helles 5

This is probably the best helles I've brewed to date. It has the perfect mix of grainy flavor and lager crispness, without the astringency or metallic notes from prior versions.

It is yet another simply smash beer, with 100% Weyermann pilsner malt and 3.2% AA Hallertauer hops (purchased a couple years ago, but they worked out fine).

I kegged this beer over three weeks ago, in hopes that that would be enough time for any yeast and chill haze to settle out. But it didn't. So I hit it with gelatin on Sunday night (October 23), and the beer was clear by Tuesday night. It is really looking nice.

A little under-carbonated at this point, but it tastes great.

Further clarification: http://m.imgur.com/a/V9qkw.

Helles 4 - failure

They can't all be winners I guess. I fermented this beer with yeast I cultured up from a can of White River Fall Creek Lager, an oktoberfest. I began culturing the yeast before I knew exactly what strain it is. The brewery replied that it is 34/70, which was disappointing as I had used that yeast many times.

Nonetheless, I continued trying to build up yeast cells. However, I think I rushed it, and as a result, my starter wasn't strong enough. I decided I wanted to brew one day and that was the yeast I had on hand, so I went for it. I didn't think much of the lag period, as that's typical for a first pitch of 34/70.

In retrospect, though, I think I massively underpitched. This beer tastes heavily of clove and maybe a touch of banana. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was some sort of Belgian beer, such as saison. A helles is all about malt, and there is no malt flavor in this.

I purchased the grain for this beer with a gift card I got for my birthday, so I feel bad about just dumping it. So I've been more or less choking it down -- overly strong language, actually. It's not undrinkable. Just not a helles. Oh well, live and learn!