Munich Helles

Question 1

Munich Helles
Aroma

Answer 1

Malt: Moderate (grainy-sweet)

Hops: Low to Moderately-Low (spicy, floral, or herbal)

Esters: None

Other: Clean fermentation profile, with malt dominating the balance. The freshest examples will have more of a malty-sweet aroma.

Question 2

Munich Helles
Appearance

Answer 2

Color: Pale yellow to pale gold (3-5 SRM)

Clarity: Clear

Head (color, texture, retention):
White, Creamy, Persistent

Question 3

Munich Helles
Flavor

Answer 3

Malt: Moderate (grainy-sweet) Soft, rounded.

Hops: Low to Moderately-Low (spicy, floral, or herbal)

Bitterness: Low to Medium-Low

Fermentation Character: Clean

Balance: Malt dominates hops in the palate, but hops should be noticeable.

Finish/Aftertaste: Soft and dry finish, not crisp and biting. No residual sweetness, simply the impression of maltiness with restrained bitterness. Malt dominates hops in finish, and aftertaste, but hops should be noticeable.

.

Question 4

Munich Helles
Mouthfeel

Answer 4

Body: Medium

Carbonation: Medium

Warmth: None

Creaminess: Smooth, well-lagered character.

Astringency: None

Other: None

Question 5

Munich Helles
Overall Impression

Answer 5

BJCP
A gold-colored German lager with a smooth, malty flavor and a soft, dry finish. Subtle spicy, floral, or herbal hops and restrained bitterness help keep the balance malty but not sweet, which helps make this beer a refreshing, everyday drink.

BJCP Written Exam

Munich Helles has a moderate grainy-sweet malt aroma with a low to moderately-low spicy, floral, or herbal hop aroma. Clean fermentation profile, with malt dominating the balance. The freshest examples will have more of a malty-sweet aroma.

The appearance is pale yellow to pale gold , clear, with a persistent creamy white head.

Moderate grainy-sweet malt flavor with low to medium-low bitterness, supporting the malt without dominating. Low to moderately-low spicy, floral, or herbal hop flavor. The beer finishes soft and dry, not crisp or biting, with no residual sweetness.

Mouthfeel is medium-light to medium, soft and rounded, with moderate carbonation and a smooth, well-lagered character.

Question 6

Munich Helles
Characteristic Ingredients

Answer 6

Malt/Adjuncts: Continental Pilsner

Hops: Traditional German

Yeast: Clean German lager

Other: None

Question 7

Munich Helles
Vital Statistics

Answer 7

IBU’s: 16 - 22
SRM: 3 - 5
ABV: 4.7 - 5.4%

Question 8

Munich Helles
Classic Examples

Answer 8

Augustiner Lagerbier Hell, Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Gold, Löwenbraü Original, Paulaner Münchner Lager, Schönramer Hell, Spaten Münchner Hell, Weihenstephaner Original Helles

Question 9

Munich Helles
History

Answer 9

Created in Munich in 1894 to compete with pale Pilsner-type beers, often first credited to Spaten. More popular in Southern Germany.