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Sunglider

Firestone Walker Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Helles Lager · One of 231 Helles Lagers in hopIQ

Sunglider is a Helles-style lager first brewed for Earth Day and brought back for a second run. The malt is Atlas, a six-row barley grown near Paso Robles and floor-malted in California; Willamette and Hallertau Tradition hops come from a family farm in Oregon. It pours straw-yellow and light-bodied, with wildflower honey, water cracker and fresh grass in the nose, a soft grainy sweetness mid-palate and a crisp, drying finish with only mild bitterness.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
See all Helles Lager alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Lean body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Dry finish.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A sharp texture drives the beer — a clean, direct pour with room for the palate to fill in.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Helles Lager.
Hop character
grassy
Malt character
honey
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
smooth drinking

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Sunglider

◎ Appearance

Sunglider presents a bright straw-yellow hue with excellent clarity and fine carbonation. The head forms a delicate white foam that settles to a thin lacing that clings moderately to the glass walls.

straw-yellowbright clarityfine carbonationdelicate foam

◌ Aroma

The nose reveals a harmonious blend of wildflower honey and subtle floral character, layered with gentle notes of water cracker and fresh-cut grass. The Willamette and Hallertau Tradition hops contribute a refined, understated herbal quality that complements the clean malt backbone without dominating.

wildflower honeywater crackerfresh grasssubtle herbal

◐ Taste

The palate opens with soft, grainy sweetness from the Atlas malt, displaying the characteristic clean malt profile of a traditional Helles. Mid-palate remains light-bodied and approachable, with gentle cereal notes that maintain the beer's refreshing character without cloying.

soft malt sweetnessgrainylight-bodiedclean palate

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with only mild bitterness that provides gentle balance. The aftertaste is clean and fades smoothly, leaving a refreshing impression.

crispdry finishmild bitterness
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
80
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Sunglider

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Stein
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Sunglider

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, grassy character as Sunglider will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Helles Lagers in hopIQ

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