Scott Mendes: The Brewer Behind Sidenote Brewing
Crafting a Helles Beer at Home: Instructions from Sidenote Brewing
Hey there! It's Scott, brewing enthusiast hailing from the lovely city of New Bedford, Massachusetts. I've been happily knee-deep in brewing for an impressive six years. I'm the proud founder of Sidenote Brewing, where I've dabbled in a wide array of beer styles. From the popular hop-forward and hazy brews to tart sours, crisp and clean lagers, and rich, robust stouts, I love bringing diverse flavors to the table (or glass, as it were).
My brewing arsenal mainly consists of a Spike Solo brewing system equipped with a Spike Steam Condensing Lid. Inside my brewhouse, you'll find two CF10 Unitanks, one CF15 Unitank, and two Spike Flex+ fermenters. These tools offer abundant opportunities for experimentation, creativity, and experimentation. Although my dreams touch on one day going pro and sharing my passion with a broader audience, I remain grounded in the present, crafting and refining my skills with every batch. For me, it's the journey that makes the destination all the more delightful.
So here's to the craft, the dreams, and the unforgettable stories we forge through the liquid creations we conjure!
The Brew: Helles Export
Appearance
A Helles Export bears a color spectrum that ranges from a medium yellow to deep gold. It's lighter than a Munich Dunkel but subtly darker than your typical Helles Lager.
Flavor Profile
The flavor of a Helles Export features a moderate, balanced malt sweetness. Expect a complexity reminiscent of fresh-baked bread, a grainy taste akin to toasted grains or crackers, and subtle toasty sweetness in some variations. This depth adds a unique charm to the malt profile.
Characteristics
Helles Export offers a harmonious balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness. The bitterness is present but well-controlled, resulting in a flavorful and highly drinkable lager. Crystal-clear fermentation is essential for a traditional German lager.
Alcohol Content
The ABV range for a Helles Export lies between 5.0% and 6.2%, contributing to its drinkability while allowing its malt and hop flavors to shine without overwhelming the palate.
Crafting the Perfect Helles Export
To craft the most flavorful Helles Export, opt for premium malts, particularly high-quality Pilsner malt, which forms the basis of the grain bill. The inclusion of Vienna and light Munich malts will introduce a delightful bready and grainy malt character to complement the floral and spicy hops.
After a lagering period of 3-4 weeks, relish in the full flavor experience by serving it fresh in a Willi Becher glass or classic dimpled mug.
The Recipe: Choices, Choices
Ingredients
GRAIN
- 20 lbs Pilsner Malt
- 1.625 lbs Light Munich Malt
- 1.125 lbs Vienna Malt
- 0.5 Melanoidin Malt
HOPS
- Boil hops: 1.5 oz Hallertau Mittelfruh - First Wort
- Boil hops: 1.25 oz Tettnang - First Wort
- Boil hops: 1.5 oz Hallertau Mittelfruh - 0:15 min
- Boil hops: 1.25 oz Tettnang - 0:15 min
- Boil hops: 1.25 oz Hallertau Mittelfruh - 0:05 min
- Boil hops: 1.25 oz Tettnang - 0:05 min
YEAST
- Fermentis Saflager W-34/70 Bohemian Lager
Instructions
- Batch Size: 11 gal
- OG: 1.052
- FG: 1.012
- IBU: 30
- ABV: 5.3%
- Efficiency: 66%
- Mash Temp: 148°F
- Boil: 90 min
- Fermentation: 52°F - 10 days & 60°F - 4 days
- System: Spike Solo
Pro Tips:
- Be patient! Remember, patience is key when brewing lagers like Helles Export. It'll be worth the wait.
- Tailor adjustments to your specific equipment and conditions, documenting your process for future refinement.
- Aim for a mash pH of 5.3-5.4 for optimal results.
- Utilize kettle finings like a Whirlfloc tablet or Irish moss to enhance beer clarity.
- For yeast nutrients, consider 1-2 teaspoons for an 11-gallon batch (or 0.5-1 teaspoon per 5 gallons).
- If you prefer a decoction mash, omit melanoidin malt and replace it with Pilsner malt.
- Water Chemistry: Adjusting your water to a balanced sulfate to chloride ratio profile works well. A water profile for this beer could be Ca2+ - 53, Mg2+ - 6, Na+ - 14, CI - 80, S04 - 60, HCO3 - 16
- Ensure a controlled fermentation by pitching a generous quantity of healthy lager yeast at a cool temperature (around 50-55°F or 10-13°C).
- Perform a diacetyl rest by raising the temperature to 60-65°F (15-18°C) after primary fermentation to remove diacetyl.
- Take advantage of ALDC enzyme at yeast pitch if possible. ALDC, or alpha acetolactate decarboxylase, helps reduce diacetyl production, protecting your finished beer from off-flavors, and reducing conditioning time.
- Cold conditioning at near-freezing temperatures (32-35°F or 0-2°C) for several weeks enhances flavor and clarity.
- Carbonate to moderate levels (around 2.5-2.6 volumes of CO2) for a balanced mouthfeel. This can be done during conditioning to save time.
Cheers,
Scott Mendes - Sidenote Brewing
Spike Summarizes: All Things Helles
What is a Helles Beer?
Helles, pronounced "hell-us," is a traditional German lager beer with a delicate balance of flavors, smoothness, and refreshment. Its name means "bright" or "pale," referring to its clear, golden appearance. Helles separates from other beers by its emphasis on malt character and restrained hop bitterness.
Distinguishing Characteristics of Helles
Helles is lighter in color and flavor than other lagers, offering a supremely drinkable and sessionable beer style. It features a subtle malt sweetness with notes of fresh bread, crackers, and a hint of honey-like sweetness. Its hop bitterness is mild but present, creating harmony.
Origins of Helles
Helles has its roots in Munich, Germany, where it was brewed in the late 19th century in response to the increasing popularity of Pilsner-style lagers. Brewers aimed to create a beer that combined the drinkability of Pilsner with the traditional character of German lagers. The style quickly gained popularity and remains widely enjoyed today.
Helles Tastes Like
Helles offers a well-balanced flavor profile, emphasizing its malt character. The flavor profile features a gentle malt sweetness with notes of fresh bread, a grainy taste reminiscent of toasted grains or crackers, and subtle toasty sweetness in some variations. The hop bitterness is restrained, adding balance without overwhelming the malt.
Helles Brewing Process
The brewing process for Helles entails mashing malted barley to extract sugars, boiling wort with hops for bitterness and aroma, and fermenting using lager yeast at cooler temperatures. The choices of malt and hops affect the beer's color, flavor, and aroma.
Key Ingredients in Helles
The primary ingredients in Helles include malted barley, hops, yeast, and water. Pilsner malt is commonly used, providing a pale color and a clean maltiness. Noble hops offer mild bitterness and delicate aroma, while lager yeast contributes to a smooth and crisp finish.
Best Food Pairings for Helles
Helles pairs well with a range of dishes, complementing grilled sausages, roasted chicken, seafood, salads, and even spicy foods. Its malt sweetness and gentle bitterness aid in cutting through rich or spicy flavors, creating a harmonious blend.
Helles Alcohol Content
Typical Helles beers have an alcohol content ranging from 4.5% to 5.5% ABV, making them moderately strong and contributing to their drinkability while allowing the malt and hop flavors to shine without being overpowering.
Helles Variations
There are regional variations of Helles, such as "Export Helles" or "Munich Helles," reflecting different brewing traditions.
Popular Brands of Helles
Several German breweries are well-known for their delicately crafted Helles beers, including Weihenstephaner Original, Ayinger Helles, and Augustiner Helles. These breweries exemplify the artistry behind Helles.
Is Helles Aging-Worthy?
Helles is best enjoyed fresh to savor its delicate malt and hop balance. Stronger ales benefit from aging, whereas the subtleties of Helles tend to diminish over time.
Pouring Helles Beer
To pour a Helles, hold the glass at a slight angle and pour the beer down the side. As the glass fills, gradually straighten it to preserve the beer's carbonation and head and welcome its subtle aroma.
Other Names for Helles
In Bavaria, Helles may simply be called "Helles Bier" or "Hell." Local variations in dialect might result in other names for Helles.
Learning More About Helles
Discover more about Helles by exploring beer-related books, attending beer tastings, visiting breweries, and engaging with beer communities online.
- Scott Mendes, the founder of Sidenote Brewing, uses data and cloud computing tools to optimize his beer recipes, such as the Helles Export.
- Technology plays a crucial role in brewing, as Scott utilizes the Spike Solo system and various fermenters like conical fermenters for experimentation and creativity in his craft beer brewing process.
- The Helles Export recipe from Sidenote Brewing features cooking ingredients such as Pilsner Malt, Light Munich Malt, Vienna Malt, Melanoidin Malt, hops like Hallertau Mittelfruh, and Tettnang, and Fermentis Saflager W-34/70 Bohemian Lager yeast.
- The food and drink lifestyle continues to grow and evolve as brewers like Scott Mendes explore new and exciting ways to craft unique beer experiences, bringing diverse flavors from conical fermenters to people's glasses all around the world.
