August Schell Cypress Blanc

This is a 7.4% ABV American lager brewed in the berlinner weisse fashion, and then dry hopped with Hallertau Blanc hops from Germany. It is from the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota.  Schell's was established in 1860 and I believe they are the second oldest family owned brewery in the United States, behind Yuengeling. 

This beer is the sixth release in their Noble Star Collection of Berliner weisse style beers. The first release was Star of the North (unfortunately I missed that one),  the second was the Framboise du Nord made with raspberries, the third was North Country Brunette, a marzen Berliner weisse; and the fourth was Black Forest Cherry, followed by Dawn of Aurora.   These releases are made in the brewery's original 1936 cypress wood lagering tanks. The bottles are hand filled and bottle-conditioned. 

The beer pours a clear, pale, golden yellow. There is over an inch of white head that fizzed quickly down to nothing. The beer is well carbonated. The aroma is woody, tart, white grapes, sweet, sour and dry. The taste is clean and crisp, slightly sweet golden grains followed by a dry tartness, with a woody note beneath. The beer drinks easy, dry and tart, with a tingling and bright carbonation. This is an interesting beer, but not the best of the series.