BJCP 2008 Style Guidelines

1D

Pleasantly grainy-sweet

clean Pils malt dominates

Low to moderately-low spicy noble hop aroma

low background note of DMS (from Pils malt).

No esters or diacetyl. 

Medium yellow to pale gold

very clear

creamy white head. 

Slightly sweet, malty profile

Grainy Pils malt flavors dominate

low to medium-low hop bitterness

Low to moderately-low spicy noble hop flavor

Finish and aftertaste remain malty

Clean, no fruity esters

no diacetyl. 

Medium body

medium carbonation

smooth maltiness

no trace of astringency. 

Malty but fully attenuated Pils malt showcase.

Unlike Pilsner but like its cousin, Munich Dunkel, Helles is a malt-accentuated beer that is not overly sweet, but rather focuses on malt flavor with underlying hop bitterness in a supporting role.

Created in Munich in 1895 at the Spaten brewery by Gabriel Sedlmayr to compete with Pilsner-style beers. 

Moderate carbonate water

Pilsner malt

munich malt (less than 10%)

German noble hop varieties. (hallertau)

Munich lager yeast

Low fermentation temp (50F/10C)

4+ weeks lagering

OG: 1.045(11.5P) - 1.051(12.5P)

FG: 1.008(2P) - 1.012(3P)

ABV: 4.7-5.4%

IBU: 16-22

SRM: 3-5

Weihenstephaner Original, Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Gold, Bürgerbräu Wolznacher Hell Naturtrüb, Mahr’s Hell, Paulaner Premium Lager, Spaten Premium Lager, Stoudt’s Gold Lager 

Dortmunder Export

1E

Low to medium noble (German or Czech) hops

Moderate Pils malt aroma (grainy to sweet)

May have sulfury aroma (from water and/or yeast)

May have low background note of DMS

No diacetyl.

Light to deep gold

clear

persistent white head.

balance of Pils malt and noble hops

touch of malty sweetness

smooth yet crisply refreshing beer.

hop bitterness lingers in aftertaste

some examples finish slightly sweet

Clean, no fruity esters

no diacetyl

Some mineral character from water, not overt

Medium body

medium carbonation

Balanced and smooth

malt profile of a Helles, hop character of a Pils

slightly stronger than both.

higher starting gravity than other light lagers

firm malty body and underlying maltiness

balanced sulfate-accentuated hop bitterness

"Export" is a German beer strength category

Beer from other regions can be brewed to Export strength, and labeled as such.

indigenous to the Dortmund industrial region

on the decline in Germany in recent years.

Minerally water with high levels of sulfates, carbonates and chlorides (gypsum and chalk) without being sharp

German or Czech noble hops

Pilsner malt 70%

Munich malt 30%

cold fement (50F10C)

lager 4 weeks

2-2.5 vol CO2

German lager yeast.

OG: 1.048(12P) - 1.056(13.5P)

FG: 1.010(2.5P) - 1.015(3.5P)

ABV: 4.8 - 6.0%

IBU: 23 - 30

SRM: 4 - 6

DAB Export, Dortmunder Union Export, Dortmunder Kronen, Ayinger Jahrhundert, Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, Barrel House Duveneck's Dortmunder, Bell's Lager, Dominion Lager, Gordon Biersch Golden Export, Flensburger Gold

Lite American Lager

Standard American Lager

Premium American Lager

Munich Helles

Dortmunder Export

German Pilsner (Pils)

Bohemian Pilsner

Classic American Pilsner

German Pilsner (Pils)

2A

light grainy Pils malt (Graham cracker-like)

flowery or spicy noble hops

Clean, no fruity esters

no diacetyl

May have an initial sulfury aroma (from water and/or yeast)

low background note of DMS (from Pils malt).

Straw to light gold

brilliant to very clear

creamy, long-lasting white head.

Crisp and bitter

dry to medium-dry finish

Moderate to moderately-low maltiness

well attenuated

some grainy flavors and slight Pils sweetness

Hop bitterness dominates taste and continues through the finish and lingers into the aftertaste.

low to high high hop flavor

only German noble hops.

Clean, no fruity esters, no diacetyl.

Medium-light body

medium to high carbonation.

Crisp, clean, refreshing

prominently features noble German hop bitterness

accentuated by sulfates in the water

Drier and crisper than a Bohemian Pilsener

bitterness tends to linger more in the aftertaste due to higher attenuation and higher-sulfate water.

Lighter in body and color, and with higher carbonation than a Bohemian Pilsener.

Paler in color, drier in finish, and more bitter as you move from South to North in Germany.

Bohemian Pilsener adapted to brewing conditions in Germany.

Pilsner malt (100%)

90min boil to reduce DMS

German noble hops (Hallertauer, Tettnanger and Spalt)

medium sulfate water (added gypsum if soft)

German lager yeast

fermented cold (50F/10C)

4 weeks lagering