Brothers Craft Brewing - Lil' Hellion

This German-style helles (“pale”) lager presents a bright golden color with a hint of haze, topped by a head of light khaki foam. A rather juicy hop note makes an appearance upfront in the aroma, offering a touch of lemony citrus character, some gooseberry impressions, a bit of a tropical vibe, and a sense of vinous acidity. It’s the hallmark of the German Hallertau Blanc hop, which is known for its ability to contribute a white wine impression. Beneath these expressive hop notes lie a clean, pils-like malt profile. On the palate, expect the satisfying balance for which these Munich-style helles lagers are so well known. It’s a fuller, rounder malt impression than we see in a German-style pilsner, offering a touch of malt sweetness in pefect balance with mild hop bitterness. Similarly, Lil’ Hellion’s bready malt flavors are nicely contrasted by the vibrant, fruity, and somewhat vinous hop flavors. For pairing options, bready or breaded dishes are a good call, like fried chicken, chicken pie, pizza, schnitzel, or tempura. Grilled sausages and roasted pork hit the spot, as well. Cheers!

Situated in the Shenandoah Valley, Brothers Craft Brewing began business in December of 2012, the realization of a dream of three brothers: Adam, Jason, and Tyler Shifflett. Originally named Three Brothers Brewing, the brewery rebranded in April of 2015 to avoid potential conflicts with other marks and to better represent the sense of brotherhood and camaraderie among the entire staff of the company – why limit the brotherhood to three, after all? The roots of the business go back to when Adam, the eldest brother, started homebrewing while still in the Navy, where he had worked as a nuclear powered submarine engineer. After leaving the Navy and developing his skill as a brewer, he and his brothers joined up and started a production brewery to serve the Harrisonburg area and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley, which the brothers had always called home.

Today, the brothers are still as focused as ever on producing the highest quality and freshest beer for their local community. But, their community focus doesn't end with the beer; the brewery supports numerous charitable initiatives including December gift drives for Mercy House, the Souper Bowl Food Drive in February, the United Way's Stuff the Bus campaign in summer, and, one Friday per month, Cask for a Cause, which features a beer brewed specifically to support a local nonprofit. Currently the brewery produces several year-round beers plus multiple seasonals, and a growing list of limited and one-off brews including barrel-aged, wild, sour, and experimental beers. For more info on the brewery, their Taproom, or their Horizon Society club featuring limited production brews, visit www.brotherscraftbrewing.com.