A classic German lager! Doughy French-breaded baguette frontage secured by musty hop spicing to honeyed wheat spine of soft-watered moderate-bodied helles lager. Crisp, clean moderation finishes with salted cracker neutrality. Thin mocha undercoating fades to oblivion. Not complex by any stretch, but its underlying barley-rice easement, buttered popcorn midst and gently bitter dried fruit banter will suit softer tastes.

Caressing toasted wheat tag overlays bitter hop torrent, dry coriander-clove reticence, and less noticeable yeast sweetening. Vacant lemon rind finish gets watery, perhaps tinny, and surprisingly flaccid (considering its German roots).

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.