Is the Helles style making a craft comeback?

Most of the ones I've had are just a random pale lager someone called a helles. Mainly because craft brewers love to add their "twist" to everything. Ditto with most craft pilsners, too.
That's not to say they taste bad, but they just don't taste like a helles should.
Hopefully they don't become as bastardized as poor Koelsch has.

 

Yes, a lot of the "craft" takes on the pilsner style that I've tried taste unbalanced - too hoppy or too much of a citrus taste that throws the whole feel of the beer off.

Maybe that's just what people prefer nowadays? The market will be the ultimate judge.

 

Yeah, and that comeback started about 2-3 years ago. I think you have been sleeping.

Sixpoint AlpenFlo for the win.

 

The Bruery's Ruekeller Helles is spot on for the style, a bit pricey though.

 

Agreed, virtually every American take on german/czech pilsners I've tried has been way too hoppy and citrusy.

 

Fair statement. Hopefully they continue to refine their recipes or just call them American pilsners instead of German or Czech. Helles is a specific style as well so maybe just go with American style lager. I'm happy about the lager trend overall.

Although I prefer many German imported lagers, it's hard to pass up an American version that is 3 weeks fresh rather than 3 months old.

 

Kellerbier is well on its way to becoming the next Koelsch.

 

I think you hit the nail on the head here. Things like using domestic 2-row or pale malt instead of European pilsner malt, straying from traditional noble hops, or not taking the proper approach to lagering are not innovative takes on a Helles. They just make it a random pale lager, like you mentioned, or a crappy version of a Helles.

 

Don't forget decoction mashing -- even though many traditional breweries aren't taking that step anymore, it still makes a good Helles better.

 

The funniest thing about most helles beers not really being one is the alternative.

That's when we suddenly have another "Italian Style Pilsner" on our hands and people start trying to create a new style because of one beer.

I think I like the idea of just using vague descriptions in these cases. "Hoppy lager" and such.

 

Nah, thats a fizzy plisner more than anything else.

 

To answer the original question, not really. I have noticed more Pilsners than anything else. It seems to be the default style for breweries who primarily brew pale ales and IPAs but want to offer a lighter, easier drinking beer to their customers. A Pilsner gives them a paler, lower ABV offering that is still hop forward enough to appease IPA lovers.

 

Yes, along with Pilsners.

 

My favorite American Helles - too bad it isn't the easiest to find!

I think though that we should really reconsider naming beers "Helles," especially when Miller is calling their new ultra-light beer St. Archer's Gold a Helles.

 

Great question, and my personal answer is: Helles definitely making a comeback in my beer rotation. In general I see and drink more interesting Helle beers from US brewers recently. For a while I was quite disappointed with the choices of Lager beers in general from the craft brewers in the US. Some brewers told me they did not try very hard for a number of reasons:
a) more interest by customers in other styles (IPA-NEIPA-Stouts-Nitro-Sours, etc.).
b) takes up too much time and space in the brewery due to lager time.
c) not really easy to make, shows flaws easily (due to delicate flavor profile).

Maybe other reasons exist.

Recently there are more interesting Lager choices from the Helles category, and I'm very happy about that. Some of them put an interesting spin on the traditional Helles concept but staying somewhat true to the original idea.

My current US/craft favorite Helles: LaGrow Beer Company Lager (Chicago) - excellent, slightly more fruity than the "original" from the fatherland, and everything is organic.
My current German favorite Helles: Fürst Wallerstein Helles, excellent in so many ways, light, super clean, some sweetness, very light grassy and hoppy notes.

That's my 2ct.