This “helles” (light or pale) lager pours a crystal-clear pale straw color topped with a large crop of bright white foam. We really enjoyed the aroma on this brew, which is defined by some very expressive, though delicate, Hallertauer hops. Fürsten Trunk is a wonderful showcase for this quintessentially Bavarian hop which leaves its mark on so many fine German beers; look for a beautiful balance among grassy (almost hay-like) notes, spice, earth, and a lightly floral and somewhat lemonish fruity hint. Underneath, crackery malt notes are apparent, as well, which form the mildly bready core of this beer on the palate. All the aroma notes come through here, too, with the end result being just an extremely well-balanced and drinkable beer. We found the malt sweetness and hop bitterness both low, although the hops do hang on a bit in the finish to clear the palate and encourage another sip. Traunstein lagers (cold conditions) Fürsten Trunk for 3-4 months prior to bottling, and it shows in the beer’s smoothness. Pair this brew with a Greek salad with a generous helping of feta, a grilled ham & cheese sandwich, or pan-seared scallops topped with crumbled bacon. Cheers!
Münchner (Munich)-Style Helles
Traunstein, Bayern, Germany