Munich Helles Recipe (All-Grain): 5 to 30 Gallons
An all-grain Munich Helles recipe you can brew at 5 to 30 gallons: 4.9% ABV and 19 IBU, with the grain bill, hop schedule, yeast and step-by-step process.
In this post
Munich Helles at a glance: 4.9% ABV, 19 IBU, OG 1.048. A soft, bready, golden Munich lager. It’s all about the malt, with just enough Hallertau to balance it: less bitter than a pils and easy to drink by the litre.
Bräu Supply recipe · All-grain
Munich Helles
Grain · for 5 gal into the fermenter
| 9 lb (4.08 kg) | Pilsner malt | 90% |
| 0.75 lb (0.34 kg) | Munich malt | 8% |
| 0.25 lb (0.11 kg) | Carapils | 2% |
Hops
| 1.25 oz (35 g) | Hallertau Mittelfrüh · 4% AA | 60 min |
| 0.5 oz (14 g) | Hallertau Mittelfrüh · 4% AA | 15 min |
Yeast and water
| 2 pkg | German lager yeast (W-34/70, WLP830 or Wyeast 2124), 2 packets or a starter | |
| Water | Soft water with a little calcium chloride for a round, malty finish. | |
Process
- Mash: 150°F (66°C) for 60 minutes, then mash out at 168°F (76°C)
- Boil: 90 minutes
- Ferment: 50°F (10°C) for 10 to 14 days, then a diacetyl rest at 60 to 62°F (16°C)
- Condition: Lager near 34°F (1°C) for 4 to 6 weeks
- Carbonate: 2.5 volumes of CO₂
Brew it on
Based on 72% brewhouse efficiency and about 5.5 gal after the boil for a 5 gal batch. Adjust the base malt if your system runs higher or lower. Hops scale in a straight line; larger kettles extract a little more bitterness.
How to brew it
- Mash at 150°F (66°C) for 60 minutes, then mash out.
- Boil with the lid off, adding the hops on schedule.
- Chill to 48°F (9°C), oxygenate well and pitch plenty of healthy lager yeast.
- Ferment at 50°F (10°C). When the gravity is about three quarters of the way down, let it rise to 60 to 62°F (16°C) for a 2 to 3 day diacetyl rest.
- Cool it a few degrees a day, lager near 34°F (1°C) for 4 to 6 weeks, then package at about 2.5 volumes of CO₂.
Tips
- A little Munich malt adds bready depth without darkening the beer.
- Helles hides nothing, so a clean fermentation and a proper diacetyl rest matter more than in most beers.
- Serve it cold and fresh, in a big glass.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between helles and pils?
Helles is maltier, softer and less bitter. Pils is drier and more bitter. Try our German pils recipe.
What does helles mean?
“Light” or “pale” in German, as in a pale beer.