Am I the only one to notice the reemergence of once rarely seen or forgotten German beer styles?

With so many of today’s top craft breweries churning out more and more hop bombs and mega stouts, many of these beers are flying under the radar, but are a perfect fit for our hot Florida summer just around the corner. Branch out and put down that usual light domestic lager and try an old style legacy that has been hit with a with a modern day craft brewer’s finesse

Helles, pronounced "hell-us," has taken off and seems to be popping up in many of our favorite breweries. Hell is the German adjective for "light;" helles is a noun used in the sense of "a light one.” While the word light usually makes Americans think less calories, the helles “light” here only refers to the color, which is a straw blond. It is usually a full-bodied brew, in spite of its light golden color. It typically has almost no nose or up-front bitterness and a mild malt character, finishing dry and refreshing.

Some Popular US-made helles are

Cigar City Hotter than Helles Lager, a 5% ABV Munich-style lager perfect for hot days or in a cooler for a trip to the beach.

Leinenkugel’s Hoppin’ Helles displays a non-confrontational hoppiness with a golden-yellow color and a semi-dry finish.

And a helles  dopplebock from Abita Brewing Co., Andygator. Fermented to a dry finish with a slightly sweet flavor and light fruit aroma, this beer sits at 8% ABV. It might not be a sessionable, but it is a helles dopplebock that should be tried.                              

Kolsch originates in Cologne, Germany, and typically has a clear, bright straw yellow hue with a prominent but not extreme hoppiness. It is usually less bitter than a typical German pale lager. Its popularity seems to really hit during the summer with many beer companies using this style for their summer seasonal rotation.

A few to check out are

Leinenkugel’s Canoe Paddler pours a crisp, pale golden color with a bright white head. Light hop notes with floral and grassy notes round out the palate.

Harpoon Summer is a straw gold color with a bubbly white head and aromas of light wheat. This is a delicate dry beer with some crisp bitterness.

Goose Island Summertime has biscuity malt flavors with light hop and lemon hints, slightly crisp and balanced.

Rogue Farms Honey Kolsch has floral hops on the nose and a faint honey flavor on the finish. It has a light body with a good amount of carbonation.

Pick up an American-made German-style brew this week in honor of American Craft Beer Week!

Brett Hallenbeck, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits

Follow me on Twitter @abcbeerbretth