KC Bier Co. Head Brewer Karlton Graham Talks KC Helles Lager

We spoke with KC Bier Co. Head Brewer Karlton Graham about KC Helles Lager.

BC: Who came up with this beer's recipe?
Steve Holle, our founder, is responsible for the original recipe and for acquiring the yeast strain that we use with it from a monastery brewery near Munich, Germany.

BC: What's your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)?
The best thing about Helles Lager is that it's a crisp, clean and easy-drinking bier that has enough malt and hop character to be satisfying and interesting to the palate. It is hard to find all of this in a truly refreshing bier, which is why I believe it's the most-consumed bier style in Bavaria.

BC: Where does this beer's name come from?
Helles means "pale" or "bright" (in color) in German and is the generic name for a golden lager in Bavaria

BC: Is this your "desert island beer?"
YES! Helles is the bier that is famous for being served in a one-liter stein in Bavaria. It is interesting to the palate as well as bright and thirst-quenching enough that you always want to drink more. If I were trapped on a desert island, our Helles Lager would be the one bier I would want to have with me.

BC: Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?
The ultimate, flavorful, everyday bier!

BC: Do you know a story - or have a personal story - that revolves around this beer?
Most people don't know that for a Helles to have the perfect character, it needs some fermentation by-product flavor to go along with the malt and hops. This fermentation character usually tastes a little like minerals or sulfur. I often say that for Helles to taste just right, it must have a three-way balance between malt, hops and sulfur.

BC: What's a good food pairing for this beer?
My favorite food with Helles Lager is bratwurst and cheese. A little salt and fat, cut with the crisp malt character of our Helles Lager, is a fitting combo.

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