Helles Lager
Bellwoods Brewery
- From:
- Bellwoods Brewery
- Ontario, Canada
- Style:
- Helles
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- +1 rating needed
- Avg:
- 4.14 | pDev: 6.76%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 5
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 18, 2026
- Added:
- Oct 03, 2018
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
-
-
A modern, Bellwoods take on a southern German lager. This Helles, which translates as "bright" or "light", checks the full-bodied and subtly sweet boxes present in the traditional style, but showcases slightly more hop bitterness in the finish. Voluminous, refreshing, and easy to drink.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
4.05/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
473 mL can from the brewery; dated Oct 20 2025 and served barely chilled.
Pours a clear golden-yellow colour, sporting an inch of soapy, frothy white head that dissipates within three minutes or so. A delicate swath of lace adheres to the glass, with a tight collar and filmy cap remaining on the surface; looks normal enough so far. Wholesome aroma of bready, crackery malts and grainy sweetness, interspersed with hints of grassy, herbal hops. Nothing fancy, but if it works, it works.
It's a solid German lager, though perhaps a bit more hop-forward than anticipated for the style. Grainy pale malts, bread & cracker sweetness dominate the front end of the sip, with grassy, spicy, herbal hops providing a distinct counterpoint on the back end. Balanced aftertaste of crackers and herbal hops, with a grainy aftertaste that doesn't linger for long. Medium in body, with middling carbonation that supplies some bite to this lager's smooth mouthfeel; crisp and effortlessly easy to knock back.
Final Grade: 4.05, a notable A-. Bellwoods' Helles Lager is the 40th helles that I've reviewed on BA, and I assure you I'm being honest when I say that it's one of the best I've ever had - top five, at worst. Its malt flavours are robust, easily surpassing much of the domestic competition, and even comparing favourably with some of my preferred imports (e.g. Hofbräu Original). The noble hops also serve their role admirably, combining to make a very well-rounded, highly quaffable helles; one which I encourage other German lager-loving beer geeks to seek out and try for themselves.
Feb 18, 2026Pours a clear golden-yellow colour, sporting an inch of soapy, frothy white head that dissipates within three minutes or so. A delicate swath of lace adheres to the glass, with a tight collar and filmy cap remaining on the surface; looks normal enough so far. Wholesome aroma of bready, crackery malts and grainy sweetness, interspersed with hints of grassy, herbal hops. Nothing fancy, but if it works, it works.
It's a solid German lager, though perhaps a bit more hop-forward than anticipated for the style. Grainy pale malts, bread & cracker sweetness dominate the front end of the sip, with grassy, spicy, herbal hops providing a distinct counterpoint on the back end. Balanced aftertaste of crackers and herbal hops, with a grainy aftertaste that doesn't linger for long. Medium in body, with middling carbonation that supplies some bite to this lager's smooth mouthfeel; crisp and effortlessly easy to knock back.
Final Grade: 4.05, a notable A-. Bellwoods' Helles Lager is the 40th helles that I've reviewed on BA, and I assure you I'm being honest when I say that it's one of the best I've ever had - top five, at worst. Its malt flavours are robust, easily surpassing much of the domestic competition, and even comparing favourably with some of my preferred imports (e.g. Hofbräu Original). The noble hops also serve their role admirably, combining to make a very well-rounded, highly quaffable helles; one which I encourage other German lager-loving beer geeks to seek out and try for themselves.
Reviewed by Mikehicks100 from Canada (ON)
4.5/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bought pretty fresh and canned about 2 weeks ago. Poured a very small head. Barely existing. Has some lacing to it. Color is standard light gold. Taste is pretty good. There's a decent amount of grain and hop in each sip. Fermented sugar malt taste as well. Maybe some watery oatmeal hints to it. I quite like it. After taste stays with you for a little while. This is a beers beer with everything you expect a good beer to taste like. I'd buy this one again next time online from BellWoods.
Mar 23, 2025
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)
3.93/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Brewery purchase. Served cold into a beer mug.
Appearance - Clear rich golden color with a finger of frothy foam on top that fizzles out relatively quickly.
Smell - Clean and grainy lots of crackery goodness inside.
Taste - More crackery qualities, semi-sweet with some bitterness sticking around at the tail end making this quite good. Good intensity on a Helles Lager too.
Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, with crisp carbonation and nice quenching finish. Would be super easy to crush a bunch of these once patio season arrives.
Overall - Very solid Helles Lager, one of the best locally made. Well worth the purchase.
Mar 14, 2023Appearance - Clear rich golden color with a finger of frothy foam on top that fizzles out relatively quickly.
Smell - Clean and grainy lots of crackery goodness inside.
Taste - More crackery qualities, semi-sweet with some bitterness sticking around at the tail end making this quite good. Good intensity on a Helles Lager too.
Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, with crisp carbonation and nice quenching finish. Would be super easy to crush a bunch of these once patio season arrives.
Overall - Very solid Helles Lager, one of the best locally made. Well worth the purchase.
Reviewed by AnyBeerULike from Canada (ON)
3.99/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.99/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours clear, gold colored. Medium head formation with little retention. Bready, cereal on the nose. Crispy, tasting one with nice bitter finish. Overall a great lager!
Mar 11, 2023
Reviewed by octortus from Canada (ON)
4/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500 mL Bottle. ABV 5%.
Appearance: Veiled pale gold, One finger of eggshell white head, Beautiful and lively carbonation, Good retention, Collar remains, Decent lacing.
Aroma: Bready malts, Slight spiciness, Gentle herbal aroma.
Mouthfeel: Soft light-medium body, Pleasant carbonation, Off-dry finish.
Flavour: Bready malts, Slight spiciness, Bitter finish.
Overall: Good example of the style. It is simple, refreshing and well balanced.
Review: 27
May 13, 2019Appearance: Veiled pale gold, One finger of eggshell white head, Beautiful and lively carbonation, Good retention, Collar remains, Decent lacing.
Aroma: Bready malts, Slight spiciness, Gentle herbal aroma.
Mouthfeel: Soft light-medium body, Pleasant carbonation, Off-dry finish.
Flavour: Bready malts, Slight spiciness, Bitter finish.
Overall: Good example of the style. It is simple, refreshing and well balanced.
Review: 27
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