Munich-Style Helles – European Origin Lager Styles

Munich-Style Helles Style

  • Color: Pale to gold
  • Clarity: Appearance should be clear. Chill haze should not be present
  • Perceived Malt Aroma & Flavor: Malt aroma and flavor are pronounced. Low levels of yeast-produced sulfur aromas and flavors may be present. Malt character is sometimes bready and suggestive of lightly toasted malted barley. There should be no caramel character.
  • Perceived Hop Aroma & Flavor: Hop aroma is not present to low. Hop flavor is very low to low, derived from noble-type hops.
  • Perceived Bitterness: Low, derived from European noble-type hops.
  • Fermentation Characteristics: Fruity esters, DMS and diacetyl should not be present. A very low level of sulfur attributes may be present in balance with other attributes.
  • Body: Medium
  • Additional notes: Many beer brands known as Austrian-Style Maerzen are nearly indistinguishable from Munich-Style Helles and are appropriately categorized here.

Munich-Style Helles Vital Statistics

  • Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.044-1.050 (11-12.4 °Plato)
  • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.008-1.012 (2.1-3.1 °Plato)
  • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 3.8%-4.4% (4.8%-5.6%)
  • Bitterness (IBU) 18-25
  • Color SRM (EBC) 4-5.5(8-11 EBC)

2020 Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines used with permission of Brewers Association.

Credit: 2020 Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines – Lager Styles – European Origin Lager Styles – Munich-Style Helles