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Hells Lager

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Camden's first lager and the beer the brewery was built around; the first batch came out in autumn 2010. The name fuses Helles and Pilsner: one lends the gentle hopping, the other the crisp, dry body. Malt and hops still come from Germany, with Pilsner malt, Perle and Hallertauer Tradition giving a clean, grainy beer with a light herbal note, rounded by long, slow tank maturation. Sold in cans, bottles and on draught; gold at the International Brewing Awards 2013.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter24 IBU
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession

AWARDS

Gold · 2013
International Brewing Awards
International Keg Lager, Class 1 (2.9%–4.7% ABV)
★Gold — International Brewing Awards (International Keg Lager, Class 1 (2.9%–4.7% ABV))
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
cleanherbalmalty
clean
herbal
malty
floral
bready
Aroma
Clean and inviting, with a subtle herbal character from the noble hops that emerges without aggression.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Hells Lager

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a fine, white head that clings to the glass with persistent lacing. The carbonation is crisp and steady, creating a visibly active pour that settles into a refined, compact foam collar.

pale goldencrystal clearfine white headpersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

Clean and inviting, with a subtle herbal character from the noble hops that emerges without aggression. The Pilsner malt provides a soft, grainy foundation with a whisper of bread crust, while the lengthy tank maturation has refined any sharp edges into a harmonious, understated profile.

herbal hopsgrainy maltbread crustrefined

◐ Taste

Smooth entry with a light, crisp body that allows the malt sweetness to register gently on the palate before the gentle bitterness arrives. The noble hops deliver a restrained herbal note rather than citrus or pine, while the dry finish prevents any cloy, maintaining balance throughout the mid-palate.

light bodymalty sweetnessnoble-hop bitternesscrisp

◑ Finish

Clean and dry with a lingering herbal hop note that fades gradually. The aftertaste is refreshing and grainy, inviting another sip without leaving any sticky residue.

dryherbal faderefreshing
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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 Hells 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 dry, crisp, clean character as Hells Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

FEATURED IN

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