BJCP 4A · Pale Malty European Lager
Munich Helles
A golden lager from Munich, smooth and clean, where bready malt leads and the hops just play backup. Easy to drink but full of grainy flavor.
Munich Helles by the numbers
- Alcohol (ABV)
- 4.7 – 5.4%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
- Bitterness
- 16 – 22 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
- Color
- 3 – 5 SRM6–10 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
- Original gravity
- 1.044 – 1.048on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
- Final gravity
- 1.006 – 1.012on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040
What Munich Helles is like
A pale, malt-leaning lager with bready, sweet-grain flavor, restrained bitterness and a clean finish. It's the everyday beer of Munich's beer halls.
Appearance
Yellow to light gold, very bright. Creamy, persistent white head.
Aroma
Sweet grainy, bready malt with low floral or spicy hops. A light touch of sulfur is acceptable; there shouldn't be any DMS or fruitiness.
Flavor
Soft bready, grainy malt with a light sweetness, low to medium bitterness that only balances, and a clean, smooth finish, neither dry nor sweet.
Mouthfeel
Medium body and medium carbonation. Smooth and rounded.
Where Munich Helles comes from
The Spaten brewery launched it in Munich in 1894 in response to the success of Czech pilsner. It soon became the everyday lager of Bavaria and pushed aside Munich Dunkel.
Ingredients
German pilsner malt, sometimes with a little light Munich malt. German noble hops like Hallertau or Tettnang, soft to moderately hard water and a clean German lager yeast.
Brew it yourself
How to brew Munich Helles at home
Use a good pilsner malt and soft water; a step mash or a decoction helps the bready flavor. Ferment at 9-11 °C (48-52 °F), do a diacetyl rest and lager cold for four to six weeks. Carbonate to 2.4-2.6 volumes; the typical mistake is oxidation, which shows right away in such a delicate style, so rack without letting air in.
Food pairing
Goes well with Weisswurst (Bavarian white sausages), pretzels or potato salad.
Glassware: beer mug (stein), big and with a handle, as in German and Czech beer halls.
Classic examples
- Augustiner Lagerbier Hell
- Weihenstephaner Original Helles
- Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Gold
Frequently asked questions
How strong is Munich Helles?
Between 4.7% and 5.4% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a moderate strength.
How bitter is Munich Helles?
It has 16 to 22 IBUs, a low bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.
What color is Munich Helles?
Straw to gold: 3 to 5 SRM (6 to 10 EBC).
What food pairs well with Munich Helles?
Goes well with Weisswurst (Bavarian white sausages), pretzels or potato salad.
Which styles are similar?
If you like it, also try German Helles Exportbier, German Pils and Festbier.
If you like Munich Helles, try these
Classification and statistics: official Munich Helles guidelines from the BJCP, 2021 edition. Original text by Hacer Cerveza Casera.