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Necessary Evil

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Necessary Evil is the house lager of Dancing Man Brewery and is always on draught at the Wool House. Brewed from barley alone at 5.0 %, it is built on a soft water profile; Columbus hops add a slight herbal, spicy edge and a snappy hop finish, and it ends crisp and dry. It has been in the range since 2017, and the brewery also brews occasional variations on the theme, such as smoked, dry-hopped and black lagers. It is unfined, like all of the beers.

ABV
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
hoppyherbalspicy hop
hoppy
herbal
spicy hop
malty
clean
smoky
Aroma
The nose is understated and elegant, leading with subtle malt sweetness and a whisper of grain character.
also:bready
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Necessary Evil

◎ Appearance

Necessary Evil presents a pale golden hue with excellent clarity, reflecting the clean, soft-water brewing approach. The head forms quickly with fine, persistent bubbles that cling to the glass in delicate lacing. Carbonation is lively and well-integrated, lending visual snap to the pour.

pale goldenbrilliant claritypersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose is understated and elegant, leading with subtle malt sweetness and a whisper of grain character. Columbus hops contribute a restrained herbal and spicy dimension, with a hint of black pepper that remains secondary to the clean malted barley foundation. The unfined character brings a soft, slightly grainy quality without any harsh or oxidative notes.

soft malt sweetnessherbal spiceclean grain

◐ Taste

Entry is crisp and dry, with a light, approachable maltiness that sits low on the palate. Columbus hops deliver a gentle herbal bite with a touch of spice in the mid-palate, building toward a snappy finish. The 18 IBU integration is seamless—present enough to define character, restrained enough to preserve the beer's refreshing drinkability.

crisp maltherbal hop bitedry palate

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and dry, with lingering herbal and spicy notes that fade without bitterness. A brief, pleasant hop edge gives way quickly to silence, leaving the palate ready for the next sip.

dry, cleanherbal fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
80
Finish
77
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 Necessary Evil

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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, hoppy character as Necessary Evil 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 →