Stammgast Lager
Frankenthaler Brauhaus

On first sip, the temptation is to write off Stammgast as a typical mid-Rhine Valley beer under the influence of Bavaria. But I started this at lunch and finished it an hour later on a hot day in Puerto Vallarta. And two things happened. Stammgast went well to wash down a below average lunch; not surprising since that is how I often drink Helles. But what was surprising is that Stammgast never got too sweet as the day warmed it. The hops that checked the sweet actually worked as well when most beers get warmer and sweeter.

Stammgast Looks (big foam on blonde as blonde gets) and Smells (mostly sweet malt) are both slightly above average for the Helles style. Tastes are bland, but balanced; particularly in the finish as implied above. Soft like a Helles, but thin.

Frankenthaler is now owned by Eichbaum in nearby Mannheim. But Eichbaum's webpage is has no English translation and I see no mention of Frankenthaler, so I cannot offer one of my micro-reviews.