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54 Lager

Black Sheep Brewery
United Kingdom·Helles Lager
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Named after the 54th parallel north, which passes through Masham; it was first sold as 54° North and shortened to 54 in July 2020. The recipe follows the German Helles pattern: Pilsner malt, the German hops Polaris, Magnum and Tettnang, water from the Yorkshire Dales and fermentation in Yorkshire Square vessels. Grassy, herbal and floral hop notes come first, then a light, slightly sweet malt body and lively carbonation, with a crisp, dry finish. Gold in colour; sold on keg.

ABV
4.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
grassyfloralherbal
grassy
floral
herbal
malty
clean
bready
Aroma
The nose opens with fresh grassy and herbal notes from the Polaris and Tettnang hops, followed by subtle floral undertones.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 54 Lager

◎ Appearance

A pale golden colour with excellent clarity and bright luminosity. The head forms quickly and clings to the glass in fine, persistent lacing. Vigorous carbonation creates a steady stream of small bubbles that sustains the foam throughout the drinking experience.

pale goldclearfine lacingwell-carbonated

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with fresh grassy and herbal notes from the Polaris and Tettnang hops, followed by subtle floral undertones. A delicate sweetness from the Pilsner malt base emerges underneath, clean and mineral-forward from the Yorkshire Dales water. The overall impression is crisp and inviting, with no yeast-derived or estery character.

grassy hopherbalfloral noteslight malt sweetness

◐ Taste

The palate enters with a light, slightly sweet malt foundation that feels gentle and approachable. Mid-palate brings forward herbal and grassy hop character balanced against the malt's soft body. Bitterness arrives as a clean, moderate presence—measured at 18 IBU—that does not overpower but rather frames the finish with restraint.

light bodysoft maltmoderate bitternessherbal balance

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with the hop bitterness lingering pleasantly without astringency. Carbonation accentuates the clean, refreshing aftertaste that invites the next sip.

crisp finishdryrefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
78
Taste
77
Appearance
80
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 54 Lager

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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 grassy, floral, herbal character as 54 Lager 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 United Kingdom beers →