Beer Style Guide: Get to Know Munich Helles with Em Sauter
If you love lagers, then you love Munich Helles. This malt-forward golden German lager is the pride of Bavaria and the most popular beer brewed in Munich, although it wasn’t always this way.
Historically, the brown Munich Dunkel (Dunkel is the German word for “Dark”) was the most popular beer in Bavaria and other regions of Southern Germany. Due to the area’s hard water, pale beers would never taste right if brewed there as they would be bitter and unpleasant. Fifty years after the invention of the mass-produced golden lager, the people of Southern Germany learned enough about water chemistry to remove this temporary water hardness and thus brew tasty golden lagers the way they wanted. Now Helles is the queen of beer. Spaten Brewery is credited with brewing the first one in the late 19th century.
Tasting Notes
Hell is the German word for “light” or “pale” hence the name as it is golden in color. Helles is a malt show, meaning the malt is the flavor you will associate with it; it’s not as hoppy or dry as its hoppier lager cousin German pilsner or as Czech Lagers. A Helles’ typical ingredients include pilsner malt, German lager yeast, and subtle “noble” hop character but its focus is on that tasty grainy sweet, fresh bread taste of malt. A young Helles can be served unfiltered as a “kellerbier” or “cellar beer.”
Helles is served by the liter or half liter masskrug mug in the drinking houses of Southern Germany and is a symbol of pride for the Bavarian people. The breweries of Munich each brew excellent Helles. Helles is also a great beer for new drinkers or people who just want (sigh) “beer that tastes like beer.” You will find no better beer than a Helles if you are craving that classic, crisp, refreshing quality that beer drinkers crave.
Food Pairing
Helles’ blank slate and malty richness make it the perfect canvas to add to when it comes to food. Go German with a spicy brat with even spicier mustard if you feel like traveling to the beautiful beer gardens of Franconia. Helles is great with other spicy dishes as its light sweetness helps clean your mouth of bold flavors. Anything from spicy chili to vindaloo would be great with Helles.
Beers to Try
Munich Helles is a very popular style of beer and is seeing a rennsaiance here in America as more and more breweries look to German brewing traditions.
Minnesota regional brewery Surly makes a damn fine Helles and it comes in both 16 oz. and 12 oz. cans. At 5%, this is the perfect beer for all four seasons of Upper Midwest weather.
This 1000 year old brewery makes a stellar Helles at their brewery just north of Munich in Freising. Known for its Hefeweizen, Weihenstephaner’s lager in 16 oz cans here in America and it’s worth a visit to the brewery if you find yourself in Munich as it sits in the town adjacent to the large Munich International Airport.
Framingham, MA-based regional brewery Jack’s Abby is known for excellent lagers and their flagship is the House Lager Helles. Its crisp drinkability makes it a great addition to parties and events as it is sold in either 16 oz cans or 15 pack 12 oz cans.