Helles
A traditional German pale lager from Southern Germany.
Helles, or hell, is a traditional pale lager from Germany, mainly brewed in the south, particularly Munich. The German word *hell* means "bright," "light," or "pale," which describes the beer's look and style.
This beer is medium-bodied, mildly sweet, and light in color, with low bitterness (15–25 IBUs) and a strong malt aroma and flavor. It is usually clear because it's filtered before bottling, though some places offer an unfiltered version. Munich-style helles is a yellow beer made with cool fermentation using a lager yeast like *Saccharomyces pastorianus*, bitter hops such as Hallertau, and an original gravity between 1.044 and 1.048 (11–12 °Plato), giving it an alcohol content of 4.7 to 5.6% ABV. It has less hop flavor and aroma than German pilsner beers.
Until the 1960s, helles was common across German-speaking areas. It was gradually replaced by pilsner in many regions, driven by a shift from draft to bottled beer. Outside Southern Germany, helles regained popularity around 2010, especially in Berlin, where its traditional image became trendy.
Helles is very popular in the southern German regions of Bavaria, Franconia, and Baden-Württemberg. It may be called Helles, Spezial, Landbier, "Munich lager," or "export." There is no clear distinction between lager and export, though export is usually closer to Dortmunder Export, with a slightly higher ABV of 5.5% for longer shelf life.
Examples include Andechser Hell, Augustiner-Bräu Lagerbier Hell, Ayinger Lager Hell, Bayreuther Hell, Chiemseer Hell, Dinkelacker Hell, Erdinger Brauhaus Helles, Flötzinger Hell, Giesinger Münchner Hell, Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Helles, Hofbräu München Original, Kichesippi Beer Co. Heller Highwater, Löwenbräu Original, Oberdorfer Helles, Paulaner Münchner Hell, Spaten Münchner Hell, Schönramer Hell, Stiegl Hell, Tegernseer Hell, Weihenstephaner Original, Ølsnedkeren Sikkert og vist, and Юзберг Helles.
- Ibu range
- 15-25
- Abv range
- 4.7-5.6%
- Original gravity range
- 1.044-1.048 (11-12 degrees Plato)
- Yeast type
- Saccharomyces pastorianus
- Hop type
- Hallertau hops
- Fermentation
- cool fermentation
Lore & Background
Helles is a yellow beer brewed using cool fermentation with a lager yeast such as Saccharomyces pastorianus, bitter hops like Hallertau hops, and an original specific gravity between 1.044 and 1.048 (11 to 12 degrees Plato), with an alcohol content between 4.7 and 5.6% by volume. It is typically medium-bodied, mildly sweet, and light-colored, with low bitterness (15-25 IBUs) and a strong malt aroma and flavor. The beer is clear due to filtration before bottling, though some restaurants and breweries offer an unfiltered version. Helles has a less pronounced hop flavor and aroma than German pilsner beers.
Until the 1960s, Helles was universally available in German-speaking regions. In many regions, it was slowly replaced by pilsner-style beers, driven by changing consumer preferences from draft beer to bottled beer. Outside of Southern Germany, Helles was regaining popularity in 2010, particularly in Berlin, where the beer's traditional image became trendy.
Helles enjoys great popularity in the Southern German regions of Bavaria, Franconia, and Baden-Württemberg. It can be referred to as Helles, Spezial, Landbier, 'Munich lager', or 'export'. No clear distinction is drawn between lager and export, although export typically is closer in style to Dortmunder Export, which has a slightly higher ABV of 5.5% for extended shelf life.
Reader's Guide
Helles holds significance as a traditional German pale lager that was universally available in German-speaking regions until the 1960s. Its decline in many areas was due to the rise of pilsner-style beers, influenced by a shift from draft to bottled beer. However, by 2010, Helles regained popularity outside Southern Germany, particularly in Berlin, where its traditional image became trendy. The style remains deeply rooted in Southern Germany, especially in Bavaria, Franconia, and Baden-Württemberg, where it is known under various names including Helles, Spezial, Landbier, 'Munich lager', or 'export'. The lack of a clear distinction between lager and export reflects the style's regional flexibility. Its legacy is tied to its malt-forward profile, low bitterness, and clear appearance, distinguishing it from the more hop-forward German pilsner. The beer's continued production by numerous breweries, as listed in the examples, underscores its enduring place in German beer culture.
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