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Santa Clara

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A clean, straw-yellow Helles inspired by the classic Helles beers of southern Germany: classic malts whose sweetness recalls sunflower seeds, floral touches from Tettnang noble hops and a subtle fresh-grass bitterness. Santa Clara is named after the island in La Concha Bay in San Sebastián and is the brewers' favourite.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter30 IBU
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
cleannoble hopfloral
clean
noble hop
floral
malty
grassy
bready
Aroma
The nose opens with a pronounced malt-driven sweetness recalling sunflower seeds and grain, grounded in the classic Helles character.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Santa Clara

◎ Appearance

Santa Clara presents a luminous straw-yellow hue with excellent clarity and fine carbonation visible as delicate streams. The white head forms cleanly and maintains steady lacing down the glass, characteristic of a well-crafted Helles. The overall impression is bright, inviting, and classically pale.

straw-yellowclearfine carbonationclean head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with a pronounced malt-driven sweetness recalling sunflower seeds and grain, grounded in the classic Helles character. Tettnang noble hops introduce delicate floral and herbal notes that sit gracefully over the malt foundation, with a subtle suggestion of fresh grass in the background. The overall aromatic profile is clean, refined, and inviting without any harsh edges.

noble-hop floralsmalt sweetnessfresh grassclean grain

◐ Taste

On the palate, the beer opens with a soft, malty sweetness before a gentle, grassy bitterness emerges in the mid-palate. The noble hops provide subtle herbal and floral notes that integrate seamlessly with the clean malt character, creating balance rather than complexity. Crisp carbonation and a light body maintain briskness throughout, preventing any heaviness or cloying sensation.

balanced malt-hopgrassy bitternesscrisp carbonationlight body

◑ Finish

The finish is refreshingly clean and moderate in length, with the grassy bitterness fading into a dry, slightly sweet aftertaste. No harsh edges linger; instead, the beer leaves a pleasant dryness that invites another sip.

dry finishrefreshingmoderate length
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
80
Appearance
85
Finish
78
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Santa Clara

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About Helles Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Helles Lager?

Helles Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Helles Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same clean, noble-hop, floral character as Santa Clara will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Helles Lager beers in hopIQ →New to Helles Lager? Read our guide →Browse Spain beers →