Brewed by Stone Creek since ’04, light-bodied, yellow-bellied, cumulous-headed German-styled ‘helles’ retains off-dry white ale spicing, sour malt skulk, herbal hop stint, and minor floral waft. Grassy hay earthiness and doughy yeast nearly salvage thin finish where soft wheat bed weakens.

Translucent gold pearly-headed Munich-styled helles lager tucks grapefruit-soured lemon rind bittering below abrupt husked wheat dalliance. Green apple cameo mired by cloying malt complacency and high acidity.

Made at reputed oldest monastery brewery since 1050, this medium-bodied smoothie maintains polite peppery hop bitterness underscored by allspice, coriander, and thyme, but its sweet buttery malt finish fades abruptly.

Creamy pale-toned ‘Munich Helles’ brings subtle peppery hop-spiced bittering to vague malt-candied cocoa powdering informing lemony banana bread midst. But lazy yellow-fruiting and polite peach marmalade frailty are never sweet, raspy, bitter, or brazen enough to compare with Ayinger’s better efforts.

Plain German knockoff fails to deliver. Foamy hop bitterness, thin malt sweetness, and perky berry moderation barely enliven flaccid grain finish, as delicate apricot tones and musty tangerine scent get lost in the shuffle. Only amateur pilsner fans ready to take off their Bud/ Miller training wheels need apply.

Dreary rust-hued Bavarian suffers from blandness. White grape aroma and chaffed wheat earthiness evaporate in a sea of bittersweet mediocrity before barren floral yeast finish gets anemic. Serve to softhearted novices as fizzy alternative to predictable pilsners.

Enticing honey roasted malts, silky spiced hops, and estery dried fruits characterize terrific, full-flavored, solid-bodied helles bock. Thick yeast sinew effectively heightens residual butterscotch-candied almond glaze, wavered red cherry gleam, sugar plum sugaring, orange marmalade wisp and mild floral tinge. Beautiful chewy caramel-nut sweetness kindles elegant honeycomb finish.

Labeled as “German style,” but bubbly white-headed pale amber remains too inconsequential to make effective distinction. Musty toasted grains get sedately cardboard-like as soft hop fizz annuls Scotch malt souring.

Closer to an expressive pale ale than an obvious lager, rusty nickel hued nomad brings feisty bruised orange sourness, lemony white peach tagline and dry cork waft to vinous grape-draped cherry pucker. Thick malt lacquering consumes floral-hopped fruit finish as recessed smoky wood tempest builds strength. Brewed by Calapooia Brewery after 2008.

After yeast particles settle, turbid yellow-glowed Helles lager brings acidic lemon tartness to grassy hop bittering, staying lightheartedly fizzy. Metallic clink negates citrus-y wildflower souring, cork-y dryness, and floral outline, but crisp, clean finish welcomes softer palates to summery session beer.

Muted dry Scotch opening and toasted hop crisping encounter flimsy herbal tea nuance before soapy metallic finish ruins delicate grain foundation. Brewery defunct: 2006.

Weirdly vegetal German-styled peculiarity punctuates malted barley-wheat frontage with ambrosial citric efficiency and delicate hop bitterness. Sweet carrot, fresh asparagus, and fresh tobacco leaf illusions positively complement mineral grained earthiness.