Is ToØl-Ator Helles Bock A Decent Beer

This Helles Bock comes from the To Øl brewery located in Denmark. A home brew outfit that turned into a Gypsy Brewery, and then to its own premises. Strong, pale and malty, but is ToØl-Ator Helles Bock any good?

ToØl-Ator Helles Bock is a decent beer, quite hoppy for a Bock, but good all the same. It pours a hazy mid gold with a one finger white top. On the nose it has a sweet malty caramel aroma with just the hint of citrus and a slight dankness. The taste hits with a sweet caramel malt body, a citrus twist of lemon bites at the sweetness. Then a dry bitter finish balances things out. It’s not your typical bock, but I like it, so scores a decent 4.1 out of 5.0.

I think it has a little more character than your standard bock lager.

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ToØl-Ator Helles Bock Review

I have never heard of the brewery, but I like a Helles Bock, so am looking forward to this one. It stands in a 330ml silver can with contrasting pink, green and blue colours blending with each other.

It simply states that it is a Helles Bock from ToØl-Ator, a Danish brewery who’s premises are named To Øl City in Svinninge, Denmark.

Being a Bock you wouldn’t expect it to be a session beer. However at 5.7% ABV it is quite low for this style of beer.

So what is it like then?

Drinking ToØl-Ator Helles Bock

My pour on this one was quite controlled, so no over flowing beer like the Tropical 100 Malta recently. In the glass it is mid gold with a slight haze to it. The white foamy head is one to two fingers, but does fade fairly quickly to a thin cover.

On the nose it is mainly malt, slight biscuit and sweet caramel. However a hint of citrus lemon lurks in the background trying to be heard. There is also a slight dank smell to it, nothing offensive, but a little dank all the same.

The taste follows the smell with a sweet caramel malt up front that carries that hint of citrus of lemon or maybe lime. It’s not strong, but it is there.

There is a smooth medium carbonation in the mouth, but the finish is quite a dry bitterness that lingers., which I like.

To summarise, it is a pretty good smooth beer that starts off sweet and finishes with a dry bitterness. It has a bit of oomph about and gets a 4.1 out of 5.0.

M’Lady is not as keen as me, saying “A fairly standard lager with a hint of lime, sweet with a dry bitter finish. The more I drink the more bland it becomes.” Lou scores it 3.8 out of 5.0.

So I don’t think Lou will queueing up for another, but I think it’s a pretty good beer, so would gladly have another.

To Øl Brewery

To Øl Brewery actually started life in 2005 although it was just a home brew project. In fact it all started in a high school kitchen where students Tore Gynther and Tobias Emil Jensen brewed beer for school parties and festivals.

In 2010 To Øl brewing was established with the first commercial beer. However there was no brewery, so while Tore and Tobias came up with the recipe, the beer was brewed at another brewery.

And this is how they progressed as what is known as Gypsy brewing, although they prefer the term Beer Architects.

Although they did not have their own brewery, their beer became popular and in 2014 they were apparently awarded as the world’s ninth best brewery.

In 2019 To Øl acquired a former food factory and have built their own brewery and craft beer hub, To Øl City. Now they are the facilitator with a brewery that others can use to produce their own beer.

To Øl Beer Range

To Øl brew beers they like to drink, and there are plenty of them to choose from. Fresh and vibrant, they produce beer with no limits, whatever they can think up, they brew.

Here are a few of their beers that have caught my beer eye. Ones I would love to try.

Quaffzilla

Quaffzilla is a hazy session IPA, easy drinking and maxed out on juice. Using HBC 472, Simcoe and Talus hops it should be pretty citrus and fruity.

Quite light for an IPA with its 4.7% ABV, however this makes for an easy drinking IPA with plenty of flavour. Sounds like a winning combo to me, and a beer I would like to get stuck into.

Liquid Confidence

Liquid Confidence is an Imperial Stout with plenty of kick, in more ways than one. Brewed with Ancho and Guajillo chillies there is your first kick.

Aged for ten months in rum barrels this beer weighs in at a mighty 15.1% ABV, there’s your second kick. Definitely a beer to sip and savour or it might just kick your ass.

Canediguerra

Canediguerra is a traditional English best bitter, an amber coloured session beer capturing that old style pint of best.

Using all British malts and hops it has that biscuit and caramel malt body with a nice bitter finish to balance on the palate.

At just 4.0% ABV it is a definite safe session beer, one to enjoy, a good old pint of best.

Final Thoughts

ToØl-Ator Helles Bock then, is a pretty good German style beer, well in my opinion. Lou is not so keen, but for me it hits the spot and I would recommend it.

To Øl Brewery are an exciting brewer that push the boundaries of crafting beer as well as other drinks too. They also make cocktails as well as ciders, producing a good core range of beer, as well as seasonal and probably one off beers too.

If you have tried ToØl-Ator Helles Bock, then do share your thoughts below. Do you like it like me, or not so keen like Lou?