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1516 Lager

Okanagan Spring Brewery
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🌍 Canada · Helles Lager · One of 158 Helles Lagers in hopIQ

Named after the Bavarian purity law of 1516 and brewed to it: barley, hops, yeast and water, nothing further. It arrives a clear golden colour under a thin white head, and the nose is malt-led — cereal, straw and a trace of fresh bread rather than hops. A mild grainy sweetness carries into a crisp, almost mineral finish, with bitterness held low at 17 IBU. A lager built on restraint rather than accent.

ABV
5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter17 IBU
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
See all Helles Lager alternatives →

AWARDS

Gold · 2015
World Beer Awards
German-style Pale Lager
Gold — World Beer Awards (German-style Pale Lager)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Crisp mouthfeel.

The texture leads here, with everything else held in gentle reserve.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Helles Lager.
Malt character
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean
Distinctive notes
mineral
Compare with another beer →

FEATURED IN

#1 of 50The Best Canadian Lagers

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for 1516 Lager

Appearance

A bright, limpid golden hue fills the glass, with excellent clarity and a fine white head that settles into a delicate lace. The carbonation is evident but restrained, befitting the style's understated character. The thin foam clings to the glass wall in sparse, deliberate patterns.

bright goldencrystal clearfine white headwell-defined lacing

Aroma

The nose leads firmly with Malz—cereal grains, straw, and a soft note of fresh bread dominate the sensory profile. Noble hops remain discreet, contributing only a whisper of herbal restraint rather than aromatic presence. The overall impression is one of malt-driven simplicity and purity, with no fermentation character to distract.

cereal grainbread cruststrawnoble hop restraint

Taste

A mild grainy sweetness enters cleanly on the palate, supported by the Malz character established in the aroma. The middle builds with a subtle mineral minerality—hard water tannins add structure without aggression—and the bitterness remains low and integrated at 17 IBU. No rough edges or fermentation esters interrupt the drinking experience.

gentle grain sweetnessmineral structurelow bitternessclean palate

Finish

The finish is crisp and dry, with a slight mineral astringency that lingers briefly before fading. The aftertaste is clean and unadorned, leaving the palate ready for the next sip.

mineral drynessbrief persistencerefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
80
Appearance
82
Finish
74
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of 1516 Lager

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 1516 Lager

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 malty, crisp, mineral character as 1516 Lager will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Helles Lagers in hopIQ

Explore all Helles Lager beers in hopIQ →New to Helles Lager? Read our guide →Browse Canada beers →