German Brewing

Is Jahrhundert a traditional helles, helles export or simply a German style lager?

Export hell

At 24ibu it's too bitter to be a standard helles.

Two questions:

When you make reference to helles, are you talking about a traditional or export?

What's your white whale for a traditional helles?

If it's us it's quite likely tradional. If it's Nico is most likely a certain export. I don't I have one. I really like WO though.

I think the focus for most of us is to just make the best possible helles, without being a copy of something.
...A bier that can be put next to 4 or 5 classic examples & hold its own.
Many of us are of the opinion that the BJCP has an inherent flaw, in that they end up judging beers against one another, rather than judging beers against the main characteristics exemplified by classic examples of a style.
So, we've been making a lot of beers using what most would consider a base helles recipe, in order to really nail the style.
From there, we add personal tweaks, to make a bier that's our own.

If you can make a helles that holds it own against the best Bavarian stuff then you are in a good position to brew any beer well. I know it sounds cliche but it's quite true.

Of course, if you can brew an excellent Bavarian helles...why would you brew anything else?