The Helles is a masterclass in restraint, subtlety and drinkability – which makes it an enduring style for true beer lovers, and an elusive style for craft brewers to recreate. Brian Judd’s Helles Fine Lager balances pleasant German malt sweetness and body with floral Noble hops and restrained bitterness. Given that his homebrewed version won the 2023 McFarland Hopslingers Brew-Off, we agree with that assessment! To get his beer in front of a wider audience, we chained Brian to our pilot brewhouse and didn’t let him leave until the batch was done.