Munich Helles

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Munich Helles, also called Helles, Hellbier, and Helles Bier, is a style of light-colored lager traditionally brewed in the city of Munich in Germany. Helles is maltier, sweeter, and less hoppy than a Pilsner but features stronger flavors than ordinary American or international pale lager.

History of Munich Helles

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Types of Munich Helles

Wiesen, the beer now generally served at Oktoberfest instead of the traditional Märzen, is sometimes considered a strong Munich Helles.

Brewing Munich Helles

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Competition Styles

Both the BJCP and the GABF recognize this style.

BJCP Style Guidelines

Munich Helles

1D. Munich Helles Vital Statistics
BJCP Style Guideline Definition (2004)
IBUs: 16-22 SRM: 3-5 OG: 1.045-1.051 FG: 1.008-1.012 ABV: 4.7-5.4
Aroma: Grain and sweet, clean malt aromas predominate. May also have a very light noble hop aroma, and a low background note of DMS (from pils malt). No esters or diacetyl.
Appearance: Medium yellow to pale gold, clear, with a creamy white head.
Flavor: Grain and sweet, clean malt aromas predominate. May also have a very light noble hop aroma, and a low background note of DMS (from pils malt). No esters or diacetyl.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, medium carbonation, smooth maltiness with no trace of astringency.
Overall Impression: Grain and sweet, clean malt aromas predominate. May also have a very light noble hop aroma, and a low background note of DMS (from pils malt). No esters or diacetyl.
History: Created in Munich in 1895 at the Spaten brewery by Gabriel Sedlmayr to compete with Pilsner-style beers.
Comments: Unlike Pilsner but like its cousin, Munich Dunkel, Helles is a malt-accentuated beer that is not overly sweet, but rather focuses on malt flavor with underlying hop bitterness in a supporting role.
Ingredients: Moderate carbonate water, Pilsner malt, German noble hop varieties.
Commercial Examples: Hacker-Pschorr M̹nchner Helles, Paulaner Premium Lager, Spaten Premium Lager, Andechser Hell, Augustiner Lagerbier Hell, Weihenstephaner Original, Stoudt's Gold Lager

GABF Style Listings

Münchner (Munich) Style Helles

23. Münchner (Munich) Style Helles
GABF Style Listing (2007)
This beer should be perceived as having low bitterness. It is a medium-bodied, malt-emphasized beer; with malt character often balanced with low levels of yeast produced sulfur compounds (character). Certain renditions of this beer style approach a perceivable level of hop flavor (note: hop flavor does not imply hop bitterness) and character but it is essentially balanced with malt character to retain its style identity. Malt character is reminiscent of freshly and very lightly toasted malted barley. There should not be any caramel character. Color is light straw to golden. Fruity esters and diacetyl should not be perceived. There should be no chill haze.
Original Gravity (ºPlato): 1.044-1.050 (11-12.5 ºPlato)
Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (ºPlato): 1.008-1.012 (2-3 ºPlato)
Alcohol by Weight (Volume): 3.8-4.4% (4.5-5.5%)
Bitterness (IBU): 18-25
Color SRM (EBC): 4-5.5 (8-11 EBC)
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