Augustiner HellesvsPaulaner Original

Pours paler than you'd expect — almost straw, barely golden. The foam is proper and sticks around. There's a whisper of fresh grain, almost like bread just coming out of the oven, then almost nothing else on the nose — which sounds boring and isn't. The first sip is clean and dry with a subtle sweetness that disappears fast. Bitterness is just barely there, a ghost of Noble hops. The finish is where Augustiner lives: bone dry, refreshing, gone so quickly it's basically asking you to drink again.

Pours a shade deeper than Augustiner, a proper golden colour that looks exactly like a Munich Helles is supposed to look. There's more malt presence up front — sweet grain, a hint of honey, nothing cloying. The hop aroma is low but you catch a faint floral note if you're paying attention. Body is slightly fuller than Augustiner, which makes it feel more substantial in the mouth. The finish lingers a little longer with a soft sweetness before drying out. It's a complete, confident Helles.