Helios Kölsch

A crisp, refreshing beer with a Cologne accent and a Toronto address. Steadfast Brewing’s Helios is a Kölsch-style beer at 4.4% ABV, a good companion for a leisurely lunch, a plate of snacks, or the first round while dinner is cooking. Its name offers a little sunshine of its own: Helios is the personification of the sun in Greek mythology.

Kölsch takes its name from Köln, the German city known in English as Cologne. The style bridges familiar beer categories: traditionally fermented with ale yeast and then conditioned cold, it brings an ale’s brewing heritage together with the clean-drinking appeal often associated with lagers. In Cologne, it is famously served in small, straight-sided glasses called Stangen, keeping each pour fresh.

Take a cue from the beer’s German roots and serve it with a pretzel, mustard, or grilled sausages. It’s also a good direction for fish and chips, a chicken sandwich, or a simple cheese plate with young Gouda, pickles, and crusty bread. Serve chilled and keep the food uncomplicated; this is the kind of beer that fits easily around the table.