Hello Lager British Helles Review: A Properly Balanced Alcohol-Free Lager

When it comes to alcohol-free beer, there are now plenty of brands trying to do things a little differently, and HELLO Lager is one of the newer names to make an impression. The independent company was founded by a husband-and-wife team with a background in the drinks industry, bringing together a passion for beer with an interest in sport, wellbeing and a more balanced approach to drinking. The person behind HELLO Lager also has more than 25 years’ experience in the drinks trade, including working as an international beer judge.

The idea behind HELLO Lager came from a fairly simple frustration: finding an alcohol-free lager that was genuinely enjoyable to drink. Rather than creating something overly sweet or lacking in body, the aim was to produce beer that retained the refreshing qualities people look for in a lager, while also fitting into an alcohol-free lifestyle. The brand has also taken the idea of functional drinks and brought it into the beer world, with its beers containing magnesium, L-theanine and vitamin C.

HELLO Lager also puts an emphasis on British ingredients. The beers use East Anglian malts and British-grown Opus hops, with the latter being used as a late addition to bring bitterness along with citrus and herbal character. Although HELLO Lager is an independent brand, the brewing itself is carried out in Suffolk with the historic Adnams, giving the beers a connection to one of Britain’s best-known brewing regions.

One of the core beers in the range is HELLO Lager British Helles. At 0.5% ABV, it takes its inspiration from the classic Helles lager style, with a pale golden appearance and a combination of gentle citrus and herbal notes, East Anglian malt and British Opus hops. It’s also gluten-free and vegan-friendly.

So, with the background of HELLO Lager and its approach to alcohol-free brewing covered, let’s take a closer look at the British Helles itself.

My Review: First Sip Impressions 

Aroma

The aroma is fairly subtle rather than jumping out of the glass. There’s a gentle hop character, with a light herbal and slightly citrusy quality that gives the beer a fresh lager-like character.

It’s not an intensely aromatic beer, but that’s probably not what you’re looking for from a Helles. The aroma sets things up nicely without giving too much away.

Appearance

In the glass, the British Helles pours a lively golden colour with a decent white head.

There’s plenty of carbonation visible, giving it the bright, refreshing appearance you’d expect from a lager. It certainly looks the part, with a clean and inviting appearance.

Taste & Mouthfeel

This is where the beer really starts to stand out.

There’s a good depth of flavour for a 0.5% lager, with a noticeable malt character providing some substance behind the lighter hop notes. The bitterness is particularly well balanced, giving the beer enough bite without becoming harsh or overpowering.

The carbonation works well with the flavour, adding to the refreshing character without making the beer feel thin.

The mouthfeel is also worth mentioning. Rather than having the watery texture that can sometimes be associated with alcohol-free lager, there’s a reasonable thickness and body here. That gives the beer more presence on the palate and makes it feel more like a proper lager rather than simply a carbonated soft drink.

The combination of malt, gentle hop character and balanced bitterness makes this an easy beer to keep coming back to.

Verdict

HELLO Lager is a new brewery to me, so I was looking forward to trying one of its beers, and the British Helles proved to be a very good introduction.

What impressed me most was the combination of flavour and mouthfeel. There’s a good depth to the beer, the bitterness is nicely judged and the carbonation helps keep everything fresh and lively.

At 0.5% ABV, it also manages to avoid one of the common problems with alcohol-free lagers: feeling too thin or lacking in character. It’s not trying to overwhelm you with hops or flavour; instead, it keeps things relatively simple and balanced, which suits the Helles style.

Overall, this is a very drinkable alcohol-free lager with enough body and bitterness to make it feel like a proper beer.

Final Thoughts

HELLO Lager British Helles is a good example of how far alcohol-free lager has come. It keeps the approach relatively straightforward, concentrating on the things that make lager enjoyable: malt character, gentle hop flavour, balanced bitterness, carbonation and a satisfying mouthfeel.

For me, it’s the combination of flavour and body that makes this one stand out. It’s an easy-drinking lager, but there’s enough going on to keep it interesting.

If you’re looking for an alcohol-free lager that sits somewhere between refreshing and full-flavoured, HELLO Lager British Helles is certainly worth adding to the list.

What do you think of HELLO Lager British Helles? Let me know in the comments, and check out more alcohol-free beer reviews here at ModestDrinker.com.