Helles is a German-style blonde lager that is one of the few beers with an actual birth date — March 21, 1894, courtesy of the Spaten Brewery in Munich. Helles (pronounced “HELL-us”) was an invention of competitive necessity, like a few other styles. In the mid-1800s, the Bavarian brewer, Josef Groll, developed a new style of beer for brewers in Plzeň, Bohemia — the pilsner. Gabriel Sedlmayr, owner of Spaten, would have none of it. That fateful March day, he released an answer to pilsner — a light golden lager style called Helles, which translates to “bright,” “pale,” or “light.” The Münchner (Munich) Helles is known for being medium-bodied, emphasizing malt character and low bitterness. The maltiness is soft and smooth, with bready or toasted qualities. A Helles should be clear and bright. These beers commonly range in alcohol content from 4.5% to 5.5%. This style is quite popular in Germany; it even outsells Oktoberfest beers at the Oktoberfest event in Munich. Hell yes, Helles is our to-go flight of the day. Please stop by our Proctor District craft beer bar, bottle shop, and restaurant, and grab Peaks & Pints Beer Flight: Helles.
Peaks & Pints Beer Flight: Helles
Varietal Hell S
4.8% ABV
Released for its annual GoatFest, Varietal Beer’s Hell S is its new helles-style lager. Varietal dug deep into the well of beer names to present this simple beauty. The Hell S comes from German malt and Hallertau Mittelfrueh hops in the boil before a long, cool lager fermentation. It’s simple, straightforward, and with the right amount of sweetness.
Weltenburger Kloster Hell
4.9% ABV
The Weltenburg Monastery brewery was founded by Iro-Scottish wandering monks in the 7th century and is now owned by the Benedictine Abbey of Weltenberg. One of the oldest monastery breweries in the world, Weltenburger Kloster, is responsible for all steps of the brewing process. Formerly “Urtyp Hell” (and still referred to as such in part of the brewery website), the brewery has rebranded this helles lager simply as “Hell.” Expect notes of biscuit and cracker infused with subtle honey.
Wayfinder Hell
4.9% ABV
Welcome to Hell, Wayfinder Beer’s Munich-style helles lager, which was voted “Oregon Beer of the Year” by New School Beer and the Oregon Beer Awards in 2019, plus a silver medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival. This clean lager smells of fresh-baked white bread, honey, and floral hops. On the tongue, we get subdued malt character with a twinge of citrus, all set off with a delicate, balanced hop bitterness.
Weihenstephaner Original Premium Lager
5.1% ABV
In 1895, Spaten Brewery brewed a Helles lager to compete with pilsner-style beers. Unlike German pilsner, Helles lager emphasizes malt sweetness rather than bittering hops; the beer isn’t sweet by any means, but the hops balance the beer rather than provide a bitter edge. Well-balanced and classic, Weihenstephaner Original Premium Lager is a delicious Helles. Light-bodied and refreshing, it’s well-brewed and executed with just the right amount of malt focus to make it appropriate for the style.
Cellarmaker Precision Helles
5.1% ABV
Crafted with simplicity in mind, Cellarmaker Brewing uses only Weyermann Pilsner malt, Hallertau Mittelfruh hops, Cellarmaker’s preferred larger yeast strain, a cool fermentation process, and an extended lagering period for natural carbonation for its crisp, nuanced, smooth Precision Helles.
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