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Vagabund Helles

Vagabund Brauerei
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🌍 Germany · Helles Lager · One of 222 Helles Lagers in hopIQ

Berlin-Wedding's answer to a Munich Helles, brewed at Vagabund since 2011 — the brewpub three Americans crowdfunded into Europe's first crowd-funded brewery, in a 1902 light-bulb factory on Antwerpener Straße. Decoction mash, Hüll Melon and Northern Brewer hops for honeydew and floral lift. 4.9% ABV, 28 IBU, soft-bodied with a Berliner-Schnauze bite.

ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter28 IBU
SRM
pale gold2
See all Helles Lager alternatives →
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
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Crisp mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

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

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Helles Lager.
Malt character
malty
bready
Fermentation & yeast
clean

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Vagabund Helles

◎ Appearance

Vagabund Helles presents a beautiful pale golden hue with exceptional clarity and brightness. The beer displays a fine white head with good retention, topped by lively carbonation that creates an inviting visual presentation characteristic of classic German lagers.

pale goldencrystal clearwhite headbright

◌ Aroma

The nose is delicately balanced with subtle grain and bread malt notes that form the aromatic foundation. Clean lager yeast character dominates without any off-flavors, while soft noble hop undertones provide gentle floral complexity rather than assertive bitterness.

grainbread maltclean lagersubtle nobility

◐ Taste

The palate opens with soft malt sweetness and grainy cereal character, establishing a smooth, light body that's highly approachable. Mid-palate reveals creamy mouthfeel with balanced breadiness, while the finish remains crisp and refreshing with minimal bitterness and no harsh edges.

malty sweetnessgrainysmooth creamycrisp finish

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and refreshing with a dry quality that invites another sip. Any residual sweetness fades quickly, leaving only pleasant malt echoes and a bright, thirst-quenching aftertaste.

cleanrefreshingdry
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
80
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Vagabund Helles

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 Vagabund Helles

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 clean, crisp, refreshing character as Vagabund Helles 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 →