Helles: Munich’s Golden Lager Explained

German name

Helles Lager

Alcohol

4.7–5.4% ABV

Colour

Pale to golden yellow

Fermentation

Bottom-fermented (lager)

Origin

Munich, Bavaria, first brewed in 1894

Glass

Maß stein, Willibecher or a straight lager glass

Serve at

6–8 °C

Helles is the beer Munich drinks every day. It is pale gold, soft and gently malty, with just enough hops to keep it fresh, and it is one of the easiest German beers to enjoy on a warm Australian afternoon.

Where does Helles come from?

In the late 19th century, pale pilsners from Bohemia were winning over Bavarian drinkers, who had mostly drunk dark Dunkel. Munich’s brewers answered with their own pale lager. On 20 March 1894, Spaten released the first Munich Helles, and the other Munich breweries soon followed.

Helles became the standard beer of Bavaria’s beer halls and beer gardens. Today every Munich brewery, from Augustiner to Paulaner, builds its range around one.

What does Helles taste like?

• Look: Pale to golden yellow, clear, with a bright white head
• Aroma: Fresh bread, light honey and a touch of floral hops
• Taste: Soft, rounded malt sweetness with a very mild bitterness
• Finish: Clean and smooth, rather than dry

If you find Pilsner too bitter, Helles is the German beer for you.

How to serve Helles

Serve it at 6–8 °C. In a Munich beer garden it comes in a one-litre Maß; at home, a half-litre stein or a straight lager glass works well. See our guides to beer steins and German beer glasses.

Food pairing: Pretzels, Weisswurst, roast chicken, pork knuckle, schnitzel and a backyard barbecue.

Helles in Australia

Munich Helles is widely available in Australia. Paulaner, Löwenbräu and Hofbräu are in most big bottle shops, while Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr and Augustiner are easier to find at larger stores and specialists. German beer halls such as Hofbräuhaus Melbourne serve it on tap. See our Melbourne and Sydney guides.

German beer brands that brew Helles

From our top 20 German beer brands in Australia, ranked by how easy they are to find here.

1. 01PaulanerMunich’s best-known exportMunich, Bavaria · since 1634
   Try: Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier NaturtrübEasy to find
2. 03WeihenstephanerThe world’s oldest breweryFreising, Bavaria · since 1040
   Try: Weihenstephaner HefeweissbierEasy to find
3. 05LöwenbräuMunich’s lion breweryMunich, Bavaria · since 1383
   Try: Löwenbräu OriginalEasy to find
4. 06Hofbräu MünchenThe royal brewery behind the HofbräuhausMunich, Bavaria · since 1589
   Try: Hofbräu OriginalEasy to find
5. 12SpatenThe brewery that invented Munich HellesMunich, Bavaria · since 1397
   Try: Spaten Münchner HellIn larger bottle shops
6. 13Hacker-PschorrMunich tradition since 1417Munich, Bavaria · since 1417
   Try: Hacker-Pschorr Münchner GoldIn larger bottle shops
7. 14AugustinerMunich’s cult favouriteMunich, Bavaria · since 1328
   Try: Augustiner Lagerbier HellSpecialist bottle shops

Helles FAQs

What is the difference between Helles and Pilsner?

Both are pale German lagers, but Helles puts the malt first: it is softer, rounder and slightly sweeter, with only a gentle hop bitterness. Pilsner is drier and more bitter, with more hop aroma.

What does Helles mean?

Hell means “light” or “pale” in German, so Helles simply means “a light one”. The name refers to the colour, not the alcohol content.

Which Helles can I buy in Australia?

Paulaner Münchner Hell, Löwenbräu Original, Hofbräu Original and Spaten Münchner Hell are the easiest to find in Australia. Augustiner Lagerbier Hell, the Munich locals’ favourite, is available at specialist bottle shops.

Is Helles served at Oktoberfest?

The beer served at the Munich Oktoberfest is a Festbier, a stronger (around 6%), fuller version of Helles. The everyday Helles is what Munich drinks the rest of the year.

← Back to all German beer types · Last updated 2 October 2026.