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Schwarzwald Michel

Alpirsbacher Klosterbräu
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🌍 Germany · Helles Lager · One of 253 Helles Lagers in hopIQ

A Black Forest Helles named after the Michel of regional legend, whom the label casts as a burly woodcutter enjoying a swig after work. It is brewed with whole hops and the brewery's very soft spring water. It pours clear gold under a solid head. Grainy, bready malt with a light sweetness leads, while an earthy, blossomy hop adds spice and a bitterness that tasters find noticeably firmer than in many southern German pale lagers. The finish is dry and moreish.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
See all Helles Lager alternatives →

AWARDS

Silver · 2017
World Beer Awards
Gold · 2020
World Beer Awards
★Silver — World Beer Awards
★Gold — World Beer Awards
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
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
earthy
spicy hop
floral
Malt character
bready
malty
Fermentation & yeast
clean

FEATURED IN

Featured inThe Best German Lagers→

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Schwarzwald Michel

◎ Appearance

Pours a clear, bright gold under a solid, persistent head with good retention. The beer displays excellent clarity with fine carbonation throughout. The foam exhibits tight structure and leaves delicate lacing on the glass.

bright goldclear and crispsolid white head

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with clean, grainy malt notes complemented by a light, honey-like sweetness from the base malt. Earthy and floral hop character emerges in the background, suggesting traditional Edelpilz or regional German cultivars. No yeast-derived esters; the profile remains balanced and approachable.

grainy maltearthy floralslight honey notes

◐ Taste

Entry is soft and slightly sweet with bready malt character that builds into a more pronounced bitterness in the mid-palate than typical southern German pale lagers. The earthy, blossomy hop spice develops into a notably firm, dry finish. The bitterness is restrained yet measurable, lending grip and complexity without harshness.

bread and maltfirm hop bitternessspiced florals

◑ Finish

The finish turns dry and clean, with lingering hop bitterness that invites another sip. The aftertaste remains crisp and refreshing without any cloying sweetness.

dry and moreishclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
76
Taste
79
Appearance
82
Finish
77
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Schwarzwald Michel

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 Schwarzwald Michel

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, bready, bitter character as Schwarzwald Michel 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 Germany beers →