Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Lagers

Bottoms Up!

Munich Helles

Munich helles is a style of lager originating from Munich, which is very soft and round on the palate with a pale to golden hue. These beers traditionally tend to be quite malt-accented with subtle hop character. They are generally weightier than standard pale lagers, though less substantial than Dortmunder Export styles. All the finest examples still come from the brewing center of Munich and are relatively easy to find in major U.S. markets.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

93 Jahrhundert-Bier, Privatbrauerei Aying (Germany). 5.2% ABV (10/07)

Pure golden yellow color with a lacy head. Rich dough and cream of wheat aromas follow through to a very frothy dryish medium body of clean, rich, honeyed toast and light citrus flavors with a crisp, smooth lingering finish. Great purity of flavor and drinkability.

93 Augustinerbräu Edelstoff Bier, Augustiner Brewery (Germany). 5.6% ABV (10/07)

Yellow golden color with an emerald straw cast. Delicate crusty sourdough bread and citrus marmalade aromas. A round, crisp entry leads to a soft dry medium body of biscuity flavors and a long candied citrus and toasty grain fade. Delicious and easy drinking.

89 Spaten Premium Lager, Spaten-Franziskaner Brau (Germany). 5.2% ABV (11/06)

Yellow golden color. Rich bread dough, dried apple and earthy hops aromas follow through to a dry lightly tart light-to-medium body of toasted apple bread, lemon peel and nut flavors. Finishes with a long grainy dough, sea salt and riverbed-like hops fade.

89 Original Munich Lager, Paulaner Brauerei (Germany). 4.9% ABV (10/08)

Bright golden yellow color. Salty roasted nut, baguette crust and mossy hop aromas follow through on a soft, gentle entry to a dryish light-to-medium body with lemon pith and clay accents. Finishes with a crisp-yet-creamy citrus, melon rind and toast fade. Very refreshing.

89 Munich Gold, Hacker-Pschorr Brauerei (Germany). 5.5% ABV (10/08)

Pure golden color with a lacy head. Toasted nut, bread dough and clay aromas follow through on a round, supple entry to a dryish medium body with lemon soufflé note. Finishes with a crisp, lingering well integrated fade. A delicious and refreshing helles.

88 Stegmaier 1857, The Lion Brewery (PA). 4.9% ABV (11/06)

Pale amber color. Candied apple, honey and puréed golden raisin aromas. A round, supple entry leads to tangy fruity medium body of sweet apple, honey, nut toast and dried citrus flavors. Finishes with a chutney-like, citrus and nut fade of mild hops.

88 Penn Gold, Penn Brewery (PA). 4.7% ABV (11/06)

Pure gold color. Toasted nut bread and margarine aromas. A lively entry leads to a dry medium body of white toast, salted butter and lemon rind flavors. Finishes with a wisp of mild citrusy hops. A very even and quaffable beer.

88 Original Lager, Löwenbräu (Germany). 5.2% ABV (11/07)

Rich golden color. Salt buttered baguette and faint citrus zest aromas follow through to a crisp medium body with a nice interplay of minerality, toasted grain and nuts and dried citrus on the finish. A rock-solid quaffer.

88 Bikini Blonde Lager, Maui Brewing Co. (HI). 4.5% ABV (10/08)

Pale golden yellow color. Fresh baguette, citrus rind and delicate mossy earth and metal ore aromas follow through on a round, crisp entry to a dryish medium body with excellent balance, appealing toastiness and a hint of asparagus. Finishes with a lemon curd, melon rind, faint pepper accented fade. A very nice quaffer.

87 Victoria Lager, Vancouver Island Brewery (Canada). 5% ABV (10/07)

Pale golden color. Nut toast and faint citrus aromas follow through to a frothy dryish, light-to-medium body of dried citrus and multi-grain nut dough flavors with an earthy, tangy finish. Refreshing.

85 Original Lager, Kalnapilis (Lithuania). 5% ABV (11/06)

Sunny gold color. Toasty, citrus and earthy hops aromas. A brisk entry leads to a dryish light-to-medium body of grainy toasty malt, bread dough, lemon rinds with a nice fade of earthy hops and creamy citrus notes.

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