#30SecondBeerReview · #FPLBeerClub
Munich Helles Lager
California Coast Beer Company — Paso Robles, CA
Munich Helles Lager
California Coast Beer Company
4.7%
ABV
20
IBU
Pale straw
Color
Contributing Factors
Presentation
✓
Character
✓
Experience
✓
Return
✓
4 / 4
I'd order another
Tasting Notes
Appearance
Pale golden, brilliantly clear, with a fine white head and delicate lacing. Bright and luminous in the glass — the kind of beer that looks like it was poured in Munich even though it was brewed on Railroad Street in Paso Robles.
Aroma
Fresh grain leads — think soft bread dough, clean cereal malt, a hint of honey sweetness. The Perle hops add a gentle herbal and floral background note, barely there but purposeful. No fruit, no resin, no dankness — just clean, fresh, and inviting.
Palate
Medium body, smooth and rounded. The fresh grain character carries all the way through the middle with a soft malt sweetness that never tips into cloying territory. The Perle hop bitterness builds gently at 20 IBU — firmer than the Lager’s 9 IBU, giving the Helles a little more structure and presence on the palate without pushing it anywhere near hop-forward. Clean lager yeast character underneath keeps everything precise and tidy.
Finish
Crisp, clean, and dry. The grain character fades cleanly, the Perle herbal note lingers briefly, and the finish resolves completely without any residual sweetness or bitterness. Medium length — satisfying but never heavy. The kind of finish that makes the next sip automatic.
The Verdict
A technically demanding style executed with confidence. The Perle hop choice is the right call — traditional, restrained, and in service of the malt rather than competing with it. If the Lager is Cal Coast’s crushable everyday beer, the Munich Helles is the one that shows you they can really brew.
— Stephen · Contributing Factor Brewing · 27 Jul 2026
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