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Stoudt’s Gold Lager
Adamstown, Pennsylvania
BJCP Category: 1D Munich Helles
Stoudt’s Brewing Co. <visit site>
35
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[expand]Total Score: 34/50
Quite drinkable beer with higher hop bitterness and lingering astringency that prevents this from achieving the Munich Helles style. more >
[close]Total Score: 34/50
Aroma: Malty with a slightly bready Pils malt character and some sulfury DMS in the background. No hop aroma. No diacetyl or fruity fermentation esters. Just as I remember the Helles served in Munich. (11/12)
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Appearance: Bright clarity. Thick, rocky white head with good retention. Gold color. All appropriate to style. (3/3)
Flavor: Hop bitterness assertive for the Helles style even with the firm, sweet, Pils malt base. Lingering bitterness in the finish. Balance is more toward hop bitterness than maltiness. Low noble hop flavor. No diacetyl. No fruity fermentation esters. Sulfury DMS in the flavor is more assertive in flavor than aroma, yielding a light cider character. A faint, almost roasted barley-like astringency in aftertaste, perhaps from specialty malts. (12/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body but a thinnish mouthfeel due to astringency, carbonation and cidery flavor. Some alcohol warming is noticeable. Not the malty smoothness that is expected of the style. (2/5)
Overall Impression: Quite drinkable beer with higher hop bitterness and lingering astringency that prevents this from achieving the Munich Helles style. A refreshing lawnmower beer that’s almost Pilsner in nature. I’ve had this beer many times but not recently. Seems like there have been significant recipe or process changes at the brewery. (6/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 39/50
This is a very refreshing and tasty beer that could use a little more malt sweetness for balance. more >
[close]Total Score: 39/50
Aroma: Grainy and bready sweet malt character. Low spicy, cinnamon hop aroma. Some creamed corn DMS present, but otherwise very clean. Sweet malt becomes more prevalent as the beer warms a bit, as does some alcohol. (10/12)
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Appearance: Golden, brilliant clarity. Creamy white head forms, but dissipates rather quickly to mist on the surface and ring of bubbles around the glass. (3/3)
Flavor: Grainy, bready slightly sweet malt, with firm hop bitterness; hop flavor is subdued by the bready malt flavor, with not as much sweetness as promised by the aroma. Very clean fermentation characteristic. Balance is toward the hop bitterness that lingers into the finish. (14/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body with creamy carbonation that dances on the tongue, along with a slightly chalky, minerally feel, drying out the finish. No alcoholic heat or astringency. Finishes dry, crisp and clean. (4/5)
Overall Impression: This is a very refreshing and tasty beer that could use a little more malt sweetness for balance. The spicy hop aroma and fairly assertive bitterness reflect somewhat the style’s heritage as a derivative of German Pils (which derives from the Czech), with the DMS reminiscent of a Classic American Pils. This example still holds its own against the classic imports, for all its Americanism. Would be a wonderful refresher any time. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 36/50
This is a very nice session beer. The balance between malt and hops is good, but would be better with a little less acetaldehyde and a softer (less grainy) finish. more >
[close]Total Score: 36/50
Aroma: Initial burst of sulfur, fading to a pleasant grainy malt nose. I get a hint of green apple that is more likely acetaldehyde rather than esters, but no other fermentation byproducts. Low floral hop notes are acceptable in this style. (8/12)
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Appearance: Pale straw color with brilliant clarity and decent head retention. The beer is clear enough for me to read through my tasting glass. (3/3)
Flavor: Soft malt up front—very light toastiness with a little caramel. Green apple notes are also noticeable and detract a little from the malt character. Clean fermentation profile, as should be the case for this style. The finish has a high apparent bitterness from grain tannins accenting a moderate hoppiness. I also get some mineral notes in the finish. Malt/hop balance is a little on the dry side. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: A little astringency along with a faint soapiness. Carbonation seems a little low for a lager. (3/5)
Overall Impression: This is a very nice session beer. The balance between malt and hops is good, but would be better with a little less acetaldehyde and a softer (less grainy) finish. The Export style is tough to master, but this sample is exemplary for an American microbrewery. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 33/50
Hops are a little strong throughout, but the malt lacks the richness of the German standard bearers. It comes across as more Kölsch-like to my taste. more >
[close]Total Score: 33/50
Aroma: Medium-light spicy noble hop aroma—a little strong for the style. Low sulfur. Grainy malt aroma, lacking the rich Pils malt character of the best German versions. No esters, diacetyl, DMS or other significant faults. Generally clean, although not as pure in character as the best examples. (8/12)
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Appearance: Tall, frothy, pure white head. Medium-gold color. Very clear. Head settled slowly. (3/3)
Flavor: Medium spicy noble hop flavor initially, with a light grainy malt flavor following. Low sulfur. Medium bitterness lasts into the dry finish. The bitterness and hop flavor tend to dominate the malt, which is not the best balance for this style. The lager character is fairly clean, but not squeaky clean. The malt has a slightly “hard” grainy flavor, not the rich sweet Pils malt character I expect. (12/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body, medium carbonation, very light grainy astringency. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Hops are a little strong throughout, but the malt lacks the richness of the German standard bearers. It comes across as more Kölsch-like to my taste. The spice of hops, bitterness and grainy malt are in balance, with the hops coming out on top. The aftertaste of hops and bitterness is probably the biggest detractor. I’d like the malt flavor to have more of the continental “elegance” and the yeast character to be a little less sulfury. I’d review the grain source as well as the yeast strain and lagering regime. It’s drinkable and tasty, but I’m looking for this to be a Pils malt showcase. (6/10)
