REVIEW: Friday Night Lites Helles Lager

School Night Brewing (Austin, Texas) Friday Night Lites Helles Lager

Where’d We Find It: Samples provided by the brewery.

ABV: < 0.5%

Hometown: Austin, Texas (brewed in Minneapolis, MN, through a production partnership with Bauhaus Labs)

Our N/ATION Review:

Based deep in the heart of the Lone Star state, Friday Night Lites by School Night Brewing is a non-alcoholic beer that even Coach Taylor would be proud of. If only Riggins could’ve had these around instead of the full-alcohol ones, well, maybe he’d have been playing on Sundays along with Smash! (IYKYK) But seriously, an Austin, Texas-based NA brand with high school football energy as its central vibe? Yes, please. We were excited before even opening the box with our six pack. Texas forever!

Our first impression of the beer on the pour was a more fuller-bodied appearance than we were expecting. At only 40 calories (putting it nearly in Partake Brewing range) we were concerned the result could be something a little thin, but those initial concerns were put to rest. With a clear, golden color we detected just a hint of sweetness in the first sip, a common characteristic of a helles, followed by some nicely subtle hop flavors. And a solid finish that more than meets the threshold of a refreshing, but flavorful malt beverage. We also got a little bit of a pilsner vibe the closer we got to the bottom of our glass, except for the aforementioned pop of sweetness.

As for where you can find Friday Night Lites on the field, er, in the wild, your best bet is to buy from their website while they ramp up their home and away schedule. But when you do manage to find a six pack, you know what to do. Clear eyes, full hearts…