Helles / Dortmunder

These two lager styles are very similar and are often grouped as only one style. The helles ("bright") style originated in the Munich / Bavaria areas of Germany, while the Dortmunder from Dortmund in Northern Germany. Both are golden yellow pale lagers with somewhat showy white heads. They feature grainy, bready, biscuity, even cookie-like (but never caramel) malt backbones with a noticeable hops presence (Dortmunders tend to be slightly more hopped than Helles). Both styles fall short of the hop levels typical of Pilsners, but they are crisp and clean, somewhat balanced lagers with a sometimes dry finish. Both also make for good "session" beers due to their high drinkability.

	Beer | Location	Reviews	Score
	Ballast Point Smoke Screen Helles CA, United States	1	3.250
	Northern Breweries Edelbrau Canada	4	3.243
	Depot Street Loose Caboose Lager TN, United States	2	3.240
	Traunstein Fürstenquell Export-Hell Germany	2	3.240
	Iron Hill Dortmunder DE, United States	2	3.240
	Jamtlands Hell Sweden	4	3.229
	Schlafly Helles MO, United States	8	3.228
	Witzgall Vollbier Germany	1	3.225
	Cigar City Hoppier FL, United States	1	3.225
	Bushwakker Kai's Munich Helles Canada	1	3.225
	Schloss Eggenberg Golden Spezial Austria	1	3.225
	Jack's Abby Beer Geek Helles MA, United States	1	3.225
	Kommunbräu Sommerbier Germany	1	3.225
	Fässla Lagerbier Germany	1	3.225
	Troegs Scratch 6 PA, United States	1	3.225
	Hoss Allgauer Oko Bier Helles Vollbier Germany	1	3.225
	Drummer Helles Lager Germany	2	3.220
	Tegernseer Hell Germany	3	3.217
	Okanagan Spring 1516 Bavarian Lager Canada	12	3.206
	Buzzards Bay Olde Buzzard Lager MA, United States	5	3.200