Truth be told, I am running a little campaign of sorts to prove that lager doesn’t have to be boring. And my mates at Maltgarden are helping push this agenda with this Helles Style Lager. Which is perfectly named as ‘Just A Beer!’
As many good lagers do, this style originated in Germany and is a staple for most traditional German breweries. The word ‘helles’ is the German word for ‘bright’ (or it can mean ‘pale’), referencing the colour of the beer. And this is a beautiful golden colour.
The main difference between a helles lager and a pils is that the helles is a bit fuller bodied, with a more noticeable malt profile and a little less hop bitterness. And I think MG have done a good job of presenting this profile.
There is a bready malt sweetness, though it is balanced well by the earthy and spicy hop character. No surprise that they’ve used German Hallertauer Mittelfruh and Tradition hops for that authentic touch.
It is a tasty, refreshing and very satisfying beer, typically easy drinking for those afternoons where one pint is not enough.