# Helles
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Helles
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Helles.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helles
> Source revision: 1354682674
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{Short description|Type of pale lager beer}}
{{use dmy dates |date=February 2020}}
{{distinguish|Hellas (disambiguation){{!}}Hellas}}
{{otheruses4|the beer|the place|Cape Helles}}
thumb|right|A glass of ''helles''
'''Helles''' or '''hell''' is a traditional German [pale lager](/source/pale_lager) beer, mainly produced in [Southern Germany](/source/Southern_Germany), particularly [Munich](/source/Munich). The German word {{lang|de|[hell](/source/%3Awikt%3Ahell)}} can be translated as 'bright', 'light', or 'pale'.
==Flavour profile==
Helles-style beers are typically medium-bodied, mildly sweet and light-coloured, with low bitterness (15-25 [IBUs](/source/Beer_measurement)) and strong malt aroma and flavour.[{{Cite web |title=Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines |url=https://www.brewersassociation.org/edu/brewers-association-beer-style-guidelines/ |access-date=9 February 2026 |website=[Brewers Association](/source/Brewers_Association)}}] The beer is clear due to filtration before bottling,[{{cite web |last1=Jositz |first1=Heinrich |date=n.d. |title=Kleine feine Bierkunde |url=https://davidgiacomo.com/kleine-feine-bierkunde/ |access-date=2022-08-31 |website=davidgiacomo.com}}] though some restaurants and breweries offer an unfiltered version.[{{cite news |author= |title=Helles & Dunkles: Die besten Berliner Bier-Brauereien, Brauhäuser & Biergärten |url=http://www.morgenpost.de/berlin-aktuell/article108440009/Die-besten-Berliner-Bier-Brauereien-Brauhaeuser-Biergaerten.html |newspaper=[Berliner Morgenpost](/source/Berliner_Morgenpost) |date=2012-08-01 |access-date=2015-10-22 }}][{{cite web |url=https://www.schanzenbraeu.de/biere/helles/ |work=Schanzenbräu |title=Helles }}] Munich-style helles is a yellow beer brewed using [cool fermentation](/source/Brewing) with a [lager](/source/lager) yeast such as ''[Saccharomyces pastorianus](/source/Saccharomyces_pastorianus)'', bitter hops such as [Hallertau hops](/source/Hallertau_hops), and an [original specific gravity](/source/Gravity_(alcoholic_beverage)) (prior to fermentation) between 1.044 and 1.048 (11 to 12 [degrees plato](/source/plato_scale)), and between 4.7 and 5.6% [alcohol by volume](/source/alcohol_by_volume).[{{cite web |url=https://www.bjcp.org/style/2015/4/4A/munich-helles/ |title=Munich Helles |date=April 2015 |work=Beer Judge Certification Program |access-date=9 February 2026 }}] Helles has a less pronounced hop flavour and aroma than German pilsner beers.[{{cite web|url=http://www.derberater.de/genuss-lebensart/trinken/bier/pils-oder-helles-wo-liegt-der-unterschied.htm |title=Pils oder Helles: Wo liegt der Unterschied? |last=Geyer |first=Tim |date=n.d. |website=derberater.de |access-date=2015-10-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021635/http://www.derberater.de/genuss-lebensart/trinken/bier/pils-oder-helles-wo-liegt-der-unterschied.htm |archive-date=2015-11-17 }}] which was also driven by changing consumer preferences from draft beer to bottled beer. In regions outside of Southern Germany, Helles was regaining popularity in 2010, particularly [Berlin](/source/Berlin), where the beer's traditional image has become trendy.[{{cite web |url=http://www.tagesspiegel.de/wirtschaft/augustiner-in-berlin-ein-helles-bitte/1864594.html |title=Augustiner in Berlin: Ein Helles, bitte |last1=Baumstieger |first1=Moritz |date=2010-06-20 |website=tagesspiegel.de |publisher=[Der Tagesspiegel](/source/Der_Tagesspiegel) |access-date=2015-10-22 }}]
==Distribution==
Helles enjoys great popularity in the [Southern German](/source/Southern_Germany) regions of [Bavaria](/source/Bavaria), [Franconia](/source/Franconia), and [Baden-Württemberg](/source/Baden-W%C3%BCrttemberg). It can be referred to as {{lang|de|Helles}}, {{lang|de|Spezial}}, {{lang|de|Landbier}}, "Munich lager", or "export". No clear distinction is drawn between lager and export, although export typically is closer in style to [Dortmunder Export](/source/Dortmunder_Export), which has a slightly higher [ABV](/source/ABV) of 5.5% for [extended shelf life](/source/extended_shelf_life).