Church Street Brewing Company - Heavenly Helles Lager

This "helles" or "pale" lager is one of the best representations of the style that we've come across outside of Germany. It's a deceptively tricky style to brew since even small flaws have nowhere to hide. Heavenly Helles certainly looks the part of an authentic German helles, pouring a bright golden-straw color with brilliant clarity. Our bottles had a touch of yeast sediment at the bottom, so be sure to pour gently for maximum clarity. On the nose, look for a touch of cider underpinned by lots of pils malt delivering crackery and biscuit-like notes, plus a dash of fresh hay, earth, a touch of citrus and a dash of floral spice. On the palate we loved how elegantly simple this brew is. It's extraordinarily well balanced, with plenty of pale malts forming a crackery core with bright hops offering a fruity burst of apple skin and light citrus backed up by earthy and spicy notes. Light-bodied with refreshing carbonation, this lager finishes crisp and clean, making it an excellent beer to enjoy a la carte on a hot day. But, food pairing possibilities abound, too. Enjoy it in the company of chicken and fresh seafood dishes, zesty salads, or your favorite sandwich. Cheers!

Church Street Brewing Company was founded in Chicago's western suburb of Itasca in 2012 by Joe & Lisa Gregor. Joe, a chemical engineer, had spent much of his professional life traveling throughout Europe and, naturally, sampling the continent's amazing beers. His interest eventually went beyond simply enjoying the finished product; his scientific mind became interested in the varied techniques brewers use to craft their beers. At the suggestion of his eldest son, Joe began homebrewing, a hobby which, as it so often does, led him to the decision to launch his own brewery.

The Gregors acquired an 8,300 square foot facility to serve as their brewhouse, into which they installed a 30-barrel brewing system – an ambitious size for a brand new brewery. Using traditional brewing techniques like the tricky and time-intensive German method of decoction mashing, Church Street produces a wide array of true-to-style European-style beers, with an emphasis on German lager styles like pilsner, helles lager, doppelbock, and more, but also varied ale styles like Irish red ale, Scottish ale, and Belgian strong golden ale. For more info on the brewery, their Tap Room, or their free tours, call 'em up at 630-438-5725 or visit www.churchstreetbrew.com.