It was just last month that I was practically waxing poetic about how solid the Kirkland Helles Style Lager is. Well, the higher-ups at Costco and Deschutes, in a cruel twist of fate, have decided not to continue the partnership that yielded the only good Kirkland beer to ever hit shelves.
This is a bad day for anyone who enjoys incredibly well-priced, decent lagers and has a Costco Membership.
According to Deschutes Brewery CEO Peter Skrbek, both the Helles Style Lager and Vintage Ale are being discontinued this month, with the beers expected to stop hitting shelves when supply runs out at some point in September or October. This means that, by 2027, you’ll probably be unable to find this beer in Costco.
Farewell to an Award-Winning Beer
The Kirkland Helles Style Lager was first released in 2024, and it recently won Bronze for the Munich-style Helles at the 2026 World Beer Cup.
And for good reason; the beer is genuinely solid. Which is still crazy to me, since it’s just $14 for a 12-pack AND it has the Kirkland branding.
For long-time Costco fans and beer drinkers, the Helles Style Lager was a breath of fresh air. Most Kirkland beer products have been, at best, not very good, with ill-fated Kirkland Light being one of my least favorite beers that I’ve ever had the displeasure of tasting. The Helles Style Lager was more than we could have asked for, and now it’s going away.
It’s not clear exactly why the popular beer is being discontinued. It seems like it sold well, it won awards, and people have raved about it online. Oh well.
We can only hope that Costco’s inevitable return to Kirkland beer is at least somewhere near the quality of the Helles Style Lager, and not a return to the dark days of yesteryear.
You can find me this weekend shopping at Costco to enjoy what’s left of my favorite cheap beer.
- Farewell, Kirkland Helles Style Lager - July 15, 2026
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