STYLE: Munich Helles
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: Slightly sweet, malty profile. Grain and malt flavors predominate, with a low to medium-low hop bitterness that partially offsets the malty palate. Very slight hop flavor acceptable. Finish and aftertaste remain malty. Clean, no fruity esters, no diacetyl.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, medium carbonation, smooth maltiness with no trace of astringency. Overall Impression: Malty but fully attenuated. 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.
Vital Statistics:
OG: 1.045 - 1.051
IBUs: 16 - 22
FG: 1.008 - 1.012
SRM: 3 - 5
ABV: 4.7 - 5.4%
Commercial Examples: Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Helles, Paulaner Premium Lager, Spaten Premium Lager, Andechser Hell, Augustiner Lagerbier Hell, Weihenstephaner Original, Stoudt's Gold Lager
Wyeast Strains:
2042 - Danish Lager™
2124 - Bohemian Lager™