American Craft Beer The Best Craft Beer, Breweries, Bars, Brewpubs, Beer Stores, And Restaurants Serving Serious Beer.
Helles is one of the most drinkable beers ever invented…It was designed to be consumed by the half-liter.” Jamie Floyd – Ninkasi Brewing
With summer fast approaching, beer fans tend to turn to Pilsners, but the Helles Lager is also another beloved beer style that makes sense as the temperatures rise and we’ve 5 essential Helles-style lagers that you need to try before you ‘kick it.”
First the Basics…
Like the Pilsners, the Helles is a bright lager that originated in Munich in the late nineteenth century. And it was specifically created by Bavarian brewers who were worried that they were losing their regional beer “cred” to the uber-hot Czech Pilsner, whose huge popularity was then bleeding across the border and threatening the locals pride as well as their pocketbooks.
Sweeter and more bready that the hoppier Czech Pilsners at that time, the Helles Lager quickly became a force to be reckoned with – and if you want to learn more about them we suggest you check out, What The Hell Is A Helles?
Now the Beers…
Ninkasi Helles Belles
Eugene, Oregon’s Ninkasi Brewing has a well-deserved reputation for the lagers they brew and their Helles is one of their best. Sporting an amazingly light mouthfeel, especially given its abundant malting Ninkasi Helles Belles (you gotta love the name!), is a 5.3% ABV Helles Lager that’s available all year round.
Schlafly Summer Lager
Saint Louis-based Schlafly Beer is another brewery with a deep respect for European brewing techniques and a love of lagers – so it should come as no surprise that they brew one of the best Helles-style lagers available anywhere. Bright and golden-toned Schlafly Summer Lager is a 4.5% ABV German-style Helles that’s as smooth as it is drinkable.
Sly Fox Helles Golden Lager
Sly Fox Brewing is renowned for their GABF award-winning Helles which is hand-crafted using rich imported German Pils malt and Saaz and Hallertau hops. Light-bodied, refreshing and crisp at its finish, Sly Fox Helles Golden Lager is the go-to work beer for the Sly Fox brewing crew.
Victory Helles Lager
Brewed using sweet Pilsner malt that rounds out the Tettnang and Mittelfrueh hops, Downingtown, Pennsylvania’s Victory Brewing has craft one of the best American examples of the Helles style – a perfectly balanced and eminently drinkable, 4.8% ABV celebration of all-German noble hops, malts and yeast.
