If just plain beer is what you seek, you can't get just-plainer than a helles lager. Helles (pronounced “HELL-us”) is the immensely quaffable golden lager downed by the tanker truckful in Bavarian beer halls. Stylistically, it's a cousin to Pilsener..
Keeping this in view, what makes a Helles lager?
“Helles” means “pale in color,” as these beers are often golden. The German-style helles lager is a bit rounder or fuller-bodied than light lager and even all-malt pilsners. Helles lager beers offer a touch of sweetness that balance a measurable addition of spicy German hop flavor and light bitterness.
Furthermore, is Helles a pilsner? A bill of German pilsner malt and a noble hop variety are all that is needed to produce the unpretentious helles wort. Though slightly tilted towards the malt, helles is a well-balanced beer. It offers the spicy, herbal aroma of German hops at restrained levels, and enough bitterness in the finish to dry the palate.
Also to know, what is the difference between Pils and Helles?
Helles generally have lower abv, less bitterness, less AA, and more CaCo3 from the Munich water, giving a more minerally (firmer) mouth feel. Pilsner is just generally a better beer in my opinion. Some styles are better than others, though I have certainly had some spectacular helles, particularly at the Sandlot.
What is a Marzen beer?
Märzen or Märzenbier (German: March or March beer, respectively) is a lager that originated in Bavaria. It has a medium to full body and may vary in color from pale through amber to dark brown.
Related Question Answers
What is the difference between a pilsner and a lager?
-Lagers are beers made with bottom fermenting yeast. -Ales are beers made with top fermenting yeast. -Pilsners are a style of lager made hoppy, and light, and clear, and hopefully with a beautiful white head, using pilsner malt and usually Noble hops.What's the difference between ale and lager?
For the average beer drinker, the difference between an ale and a lager comes down to how the beer looks, smells, and tastes. Ales tend to be fruity-estery, while lagers are clean-tasting and frequently described as "crisp." But to a brewer, the difference is more fundamental than that.Is Dunkel a lager?
Dunkel, or Dunkles, is a word used for several types of dark German lager. Dunkel is the German word meaning dark, and dunkel beers typically range in color from amber to dark reddish brown. They are characterized by their smooth malty flavor.Is Pilsner a lager?
Pilsner (also pilsener or simply pils) is a type of pale lager. It takes its name from the Czech city of Pilsen, where it was first produced in 1842 by Bavarian brewer Josef Groll. The world's first blond lager, the original Pilsner Urquell, is still produced there today.What is a German pilsner?
German Pilsner. Pilsner is one of the most popular styles of lager beers in Germany, and in many other countries. It's often spelled as "Pilsener", and often times abbreviated, or spoken in slang, as "Pils." Classic German Pilsners are very light straw to golden in color.How many styles of beer are there?
There are two major styles of beer - ale and lager - which are defined by the method used to brew them.What percentage is Camden Hells?
Beers. Camden Town Brewery's all-year-round 'present' range includes: Hells Lager (4.6% ALC, 24 IBU) – their signature lager, combining the two German beer styles Helles and Pilsner. Pale Ale (4.0% ALC, 38 IBU) – a British take on the U.S. pale ale style, using American hops.What does altbier mean?
Altbier (German: old beer) is a style of beer brewed in the historical region of Westphalia and around the city of Düsseldorf, Germany. Its name comes from it being top-fermented, an older method than the bottom fermentation of other lagered beers.Are lagers sweet?
Ales are generally fruitier, sweeter, more full-bodied and more complex than lagers, which tend to be smoother, lighter and generally easier to drink. But the major difference between these two beer types? The temperature at which they are fermented (and subsequently, the type of yeast used).Is German beer Hoppy?
Beer is a major part of German culture. German beer is brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot, which permits only water, hops, and malt as ingredients and stipulates that beers not exclusively using barley-malt such as wheat beer must be top-fermented.What is a Vienna lager?
Vienna lager is a reddish-amber colored, malt-forward beer that showcases the toasted flavors of Vienna malt. Hop bitterness is just high enough to balance the malt's sweetness without overshadowing the flavor. The spicy flavor and aroma of European hops may be present but usually at only very low levels.Is Doppelbock a lager?
Doppelbocks are extra strong, rich and weighty lagers characterized by an intense malty sweetness with a note of hop bitterness to balance the sweetness. Color can vary from full amber to dark brown and alcohol levels are potently high, typically 7-8 percent ABV.What does marzen mean in German?
Märzen or Märzenbier (German: March or March beer, respectively) is a lager that originated in Bavaria. It has a medium to full body and may vary in color from pale through amber to dark brown. It is the beer traditionally served at Oktoberfest.Is Hefeweizen a lager?
Hefeweizen (pronounced hay-fuh-veyt-ssenn not haffie-vi-zon) is the more popular word among Americans for what Germans call weissbier or weizenbier. This style predates lagers and pale ales. The yeast also contributes unique qualities to the aroma and flavor of a hefeweizen.How do you pronounce marzen?
Say it: Märzen sounds like MAER-tzen; not MAR-zen. That first syllable rhymes with “bear,” not “car.” Since the style's a riff on a Vienna lager, look for German Vienna malt as a primary ingredient; Munich and pilsner malts are fine, too.Why is Oktoberfest beer seasonal?
“Oktoberfest” was attached in relatively recent times, as the release of the beer coincided with the famous fall festival in Munich. As 19th century brewers took advantage of technology that allowed year-round brewing, Märzen/Oktoberfest biers became a vestige of the original unforgiving, seasonal timetable.Why is it called Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest starts in September…why is it called Oktoberfest? The first Oktoberfest was celebrated in Munich in 1810 in honor of Prince Ludwig's marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festivities began October 12, 1810, and lasted for almost a week, until October 17.What does Oktoberfest beer taste like?
The beer is amber, with plenty of the malty flavor expected from Bavarian malts and a sweet accent. Spicy-dry aftertaste with a faint mild hop background. From Germany. 
