Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Lagers

Not Your Grandfather’s Lager

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 LTD 03, Full Sail Brewing Co. (OR). 5.6% ABV (9/10)
Bright golden amber color. Bold toasted baguette and salty butter roasted corn aromas. Round and plush with a rich, dryish medium-full body. Accents of citrus custard, grassy earth and minerals cascade on the long, smooth finish. A delightfully flavorful and food friendly beer that artfully balances depth with drinkability.

93 Hell, Privatbrauerei Hofmühl (Germany). 4.9% ABV (10/10)
Bright golden color. Rich aromas of toasted baguette and polenta with a crisp, frothy, dryish light-to-medium body and a long, tangy lemon curd and toasted nut accented finish. A delicious, vibrant, lighter styled lager that will be great at the table.

91 Hofbrau Original Lager, Hofbräuhaus München (Germany). 5.1% ABV (10/10)
Golden yellow color. Rich grainy dough, buttery roasted nut, and mossy clay aromas with a soft, supple dryish light body and a long, toasted bread and earthy hop finish. A superb session beer.

89 Premium Lager, Theresianer (Italy). 4.8% ABV (10/10)
Bright golden color. Bright roasted grain dough, corn bread, and dried lemon aromas with a round, crisp light-to-medium body with a radish, roasted root vegetable and mineral accented finish.

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 soufflÈ note. Finishes with a crisp, lingering well integrated fade. A delicious and refreshing helles.

89 Longboard Island Lager, Kona Brewing Co. (HI). 4.8% ABV (10/10)
Golden color. Bright aromas of buttered toasted baguette with a crisp, round dryish medium body with a touch of orange and honeyed macadamia nut on the refreshing finish.

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.

84 Duke Premium Lager, Burleigh Brewing Co. (Australia). 4.8% ABV (11/09)
Bright golden color. Aromas of muffin, creamed corn, and circus peanut follow through on a supple, frothy entry to a dryish light-to-medium body a hint of roasted root vegetables, orange peel, and metal ore. Finishes with a toast, mossy hop and roasted corn accented fade.

83 Black Art Gold, Braustolz (Germany). 4.9% ABV (11/09)
Deep golden color. Delicate aromas of peach butter on bread follow through on a big, frothy entry to a dryish medium body with pronounced wet husky grain and melon notes. Finishes with a fruity accent on a dusty grain and mineral fade.

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