Beer Styles

What's the difference between Helles and Festbier? Both are golden, bottom-fermented lagers, but Festbier is brewed to a higher strength. By style guidelines, a Helles has an original gravity of 11 to 11.9 degrees Plato and 4.7 to 5.4 percent alcohol, while a Festbier comes in at 13.3 to 14 degrees and 5.8 to 6.3 percent.

Original gravity refers to the dissolved substances present in the wort before fermentation, measured in degrees Plato. The more there is, the more sugar is available to the yeast, and the more alcohol results. That keeps a Helles light and easy-drinking, while Festbier has more body and a richer golden hue.

In Würzburg, the Festbier is called Kiliani Festbier, named after the festival honoring Saint Kilian. Würzburger Hofbräu brews it specially for the Volksfest, and according to the brewery, it's only available for a few weeks each year. Don't confuse it with a Märzen: a Märzen is noticeably darker, somewhere between amber and copper.

Beyond that, Mainfranken Bier covers quite a range. The EU registration doesn't dictate a single style; it protects the origin instead. So both pale and dark, mild and robust beers can appear under the name, as long as they come from the region and meet the specification. Anyone looking for a beer that truly tastes of Würzburg is best off trying the Helles and the Kiliani Festbier from the Hofbrauerei side by side.