Lukas Helles Lager Beer Review

Lukas Helles is a Bavarian style lager from Thornbrdge brewery located in Derbyshire, England. A brewery which started life in 2005 in the grounds of Thornbridge Hall Estate in Bakewell, Derbyshire. Lukas Helles is said to be a straw blonde, full bodied lager that is sparkling light. But is it an good?

Lukas Helles is a decent lager, and pours a straw gold with a very thin head that barely covers the top. On the nose it is slight in aroma with just a hint of malt, but nothing else. The taste is malty, smooth and well carbonated, slightly dry with a good body and a bitter finish. Yea, it’s a decent lager and scores 4.3 out of 5.0.

It won’t blow your socks off, but it is way above a standard Macro lager.

Content

Lukas Helles Lager Review

Lukas Helles stands in a small 330ml can with a purple and gold label. Although it is also available in a 330ml brown bottle too.

The lager weighs in at just 4.2% ABV, so is classed as a session beer.

It is brewed with Hallertauer hops, with the malts being Pale, Carapils and Wheat. A gluten free beer that is of traditional Bavarian style lager.

The beer is described as full bodied yet sparklingly light, which sounds good, but is it?

Lets dive in..

Cracking the ring pull and pouring it into the glass with a some what conservative pour it is evident that there is not much life in the head. Just a thin cover hovers over the top of the lager, but there are plenty of bubbles rising in the glass.

The nose is slight too, with just a slight malty aroma, but nothing else. I guess it smells like a typical lager in that respect.

As for the taste, it is not complex, but gives a good malty flavour with a good carbonation hit, yet a very smooth body. It is slightly dry on the palate, but does have a good body and the finish has a nice bitterness too.

I like it, a decent lager that is a cut above any Macro lager, malty, smooth, dry with a nice bitter finish. For me it gets a rate my beer score of 4.3 out of 5.0.

M’Lady likes it too, saying “It looks like a lager, smells like a lager and tastes like a lager. It does what it says on the tin, it’s a good one. Lou scores it 4.2 out of 5.0.

Lukas Helles is a decent lager and worth giving a try, it might become your favourite lager.

Thornbridge Brewery

Thornbridge Brewery was set up by Simon Webster and James Harrison in 2005. Initially it was located in outbuildings at Thornbridge Hall Estate in the heart of the Peak District in Derbyshire.

The two young brewers they employed got to work and produced a classic bitter named Lord Marples weighing in at 4.0% ABV. Then came the famous Jaipur IPA 5.9% ABV which certainly put Thornbridge Brewery on the map.

Demand was so high that they had to expand and in 2009 they built a brand new brewery at Riverside, Bakewell, Derbyshire.

Since then there have been several more expansion, including a taproom and a canning line. Their range of beers have grown considerably too.

Thornbridge are seen by many to be the first craft beer brewery of the UK with plenty of fans worldwide.

Thornbridge Beer Range

This brewery produce a lot of beers in many different ranges and styles. There really is something for everyone, from lagers, pale ales, IPA’s, Sours, Porters to barrel aged beers.

There are plenty of session beers, but also plenty of higher ABV beers that are far beyond session.

I have tried their Astryd Juicy Pale Ale, and their famous Jaiper IPA, but I need to try more of their range. Here are a few that have caught my eye and need to be on my list of try’s.

Green Mountain

Green Montian is a Hazy Vermont Session IPA, a dry hopped IPA brewed with Amarillo, Citra, Galaxy and Mosaic hops. Said to be an aromatic and juicy fruit bomb of a beer.

It comes in a 330ml can weighing in at a session 4.3% ABV, and also vegan friendly too.

Sounds like a decent modern IPA and one I would like to try.

Brock

Brock is a Nitro Stout which means it should be smooth and creamy. I do love a stout, and this one is said to have notes of roasted malts, coffee and dark chocolate with a velvety smooth mouthfeel.

Another session beer weighing in at 4.1% ABV and served in a 440ml can. It is said to be decadent a flavourful, which puts it on my list of to do beers.

DDH Halcyon

DDH Halcyon is a Double Dry Hopped Imperial IPA which packs a real punch. Why? Because it is brewed with an array of hops, Bramling Cross, Chinook, Ella, Galaxy and Nelson Sauvin.

Not only that but it weighs in at a mighty 7.4% ABV, so definitely not a session beer. Served in a 440ml can it is said to be a pillowy mouthfeel with complex layered tropical flavours.

It sounds like a cracking modern IPA that needs to make its way to my fridge soon.

Final Thoughts

Although Thornbridge Brewery started from humble beginnings in an outbuilding on a country estate. Through the popularity of its second beer Jaiper IPA it soon became a powerhouse of a brewery.

Today it produces an impressive range of beers that are a popular as ever. There are plenty of beers I need to make my way through from their range.

As for Lukas Helles Lager, it is a decent session lager that is easy drinking with a good body. A beer I would have again and again, if there weren’t so many other beers to try.

If you have tried Lukas Helles or any other Thornbridge beers, then do share your thoughts below, and let me know what you think.

Cheers!