Tentative creamed corn lead-in of light-bodied helles lager cannot escape astringent phenol hop sabotage and soapy flow. White-breaded sourdough yeast informs oats-flaked wheat-dried biscuit-y nuance.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: PRIVATE LANDBRAUEREI SCHEUERER, MOOSBACH, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: HARPOON BREWERIES, WINDSOR, VT.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Casual moderate-bodied amber-hued German-styled blond lacks overall distinction and fruity pizzazz. Buttery pale-malted honey-roasted barley graining enjoins basic floral-hopped orange-peach-cherry tang and pastry-like sugar cookie sweetness. Vanilla, iced tea, and wet paper illusions receive tertiary whiskey-zapped ransom.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BRAUEREI HELLER, BAMBERG, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Uncommon light-bodied pale lager brings aromatic charred wood impetus to complementary smoked meat and burnt cedar scheme. Dry-hopped sour lemon fizz tickles tongue, absorbing black pepper tease and ash-singed firewood peculiarities.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: AKTIEN BRAUEREI, KAUFBEUREN, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Crisp, silky smooth, light-bodied Helles lager with papery Eastern Euro-like white bread malting loses dry-grained sturdiness by dankly phenol cardboard finish. Lemony hop setting consumes corn syrup sweetness.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ALLGAUER BRAUHAUS, KEMPTEN, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Malted barley-wheat palate sweetens polite hop bitterness in a straightforward manner, remaining light-bodied, absolutely smooth, and watery, but lacking discernible character. Musk-y yeast aroma typical of German brews. Drink ice cold for true briskness.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ALLGAUER BRAUHAUS, KEMPTEN, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Unique translucent blue bottle contains middling oat-wheat-scented dry malt lager with prissy roasted barley sweetness stifling soft-textured pale-bodied triviality.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: ATWATER BLOCK BREWERY, DETROIT, MI.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
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.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BRAUEREI-AYING FRANZ INSELKAMMER, AYING, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Creamy pale-toned ‘Munich Helles’ permits subtle pepper-spiced hops, candied malts, and powdered cocoa to inform lemony banana bread midst. But fruited frontage and polite peach-marmalade backdrop are never sweet, raspy, bitter, or brazen enough to compare with Ayinger’s better efforts.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: BURGERBRAU, WOLNZACH, GERMANY
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
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.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: CAPITAL BREWERY, STEVENS POINT, WI.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
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.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: CISCO BREWERIES, NANTUCKET, MA.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
After yeast particles settle, turbid yellow-gold glowed summery 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.
- Author: John Fortunato
- Brewery: EDENTON BREW. CO., RALEIGH, N.C.
- Category: Beers A-Z
- Comments: None
Butterscotch-glowed Munich-styled lager hides biscuit-y wheat nuance and orange-mango fruitiness beneath high carbonation. Sharp hop bitterness encounters candied medicinal mildness at moderate grain finish.