Best Of Beer Camp: Weizenbock - Beer Camp #37 - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

zoolzoo

Connecticut

2.38/5  rDev -40.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

This is a banana party and I wish I wasn't invited. Medicinal, spicy, yeasty, banana....approaching sickly sweet. Im missing the grainy, bready malt base that makes beers like this a bit more balanced, and a lot more drinkable. Finish is banana cough syrup and black pepper. Mouthfeel is pretty good for the style though. Viscous enough to carry along these big fat flavors. Not really a fan, easily the worst of the Beer Camp pack.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 22:43:02 | More by zoolzoo

Beaver13

Colorado

2.65/5  rDev -33.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle. Pours a hazy golden amber with a big rocky off white head that retains well and leaves a little lacing.

The aroma is subdued - some grainy wheaty malts and musty earthy yeast with some banana and clove and some floral hops.

The flavor is grainy wheaty malts with a little sugary fruity sweetness, and a musty earthy finish with some banana. As it warms, the sweetness starts to overwhelm. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with full carbonation.

Overall, it's OK. It's a bit subdued and a little too sugary sweet. I don't really care for the banana notes either.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 04:55:48 | More by Beaver13

portia99

Massachusetts

2.9/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle that got lost in the back of the fridge for a couple of months...poured into a Bruery tulip.

A - Pours a well hazed golden orange color with a thin finger of foam cap with a white color. Head dissipates fairly quickly down to a rocky uneven collar.

S - Hmm...not getting much of anything. With a struggle, I pick up some cloves and a bit of wheat...but really not much of anything there.

T - Bubble gum, cloves, wheat, spices, sugary sweetness, a bit of alcohol, grainy and cereally.

M - Tingly mid level carbonation over a medium body. Fruity and bubblegum flavors dominate and linger well past the swallow.

O - Not my favorite style and certainly not one of the best examples of the style out there. Seemed very simple and lacking in complexity and/or nuance. Definitely drinkable, but lacking anything extraordinary. A rare miss from Sierra Nevada for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 22:30:32 | More by portia99

ZAP

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I expected a little more out of this one. Lacks the weizenbock characteristics I associate with Aventius...no dark fruits...no dunkelweizen characteristics...

Kind of like an Imperial Hefe..a little sticky sweet....some banana and vanilla...light cloves...

Not a bad beer but not what I am looking for in a Weizenbock. Schells Snowstorm weizenbock was 100 times better.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 19:37:52 | More by ZAP

harrymel

Washington

3.03/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

4/4 for the pack. Bottled in early April.

A: Pours a hazy apricotesque ale with a single finger of light caramel head. This falls quickly to a sheet of the same. Some spotty lacing.

S: The wheat is king in this nose. Plenty of sweet wheat notes with bready, biscuity malt in the back. Some nice floral notes. The yeast is pretty traditional for the style - earthy, a little sharp, hints of clove. Oddly, the alcohol comes through on this one for me, not good.

T: A little overly yeasty on the palate. The wheat is fun, but adds a little too much sweetness. Some banana. The beer has all the basic parts to make up a nice weizenbock, but they just don't weave quite too well. They seem to all be in combat with one another, rather than weaving properly.

M: Thick with high carb. Long, sweet, wet finish.

O: As above, this has all the pieces, but the puzzle isn't quite finished here. If they took another crack at this, I would give it another go, but as it stands, not quite on the level I would expect for Sierra.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 06:20:44 | More by harrymel

foles

Australia

3.05/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Cloudy, minimal head and carbonation. Typical weizen nose characteristics which die off with the head - some alcohol present on the nose. Some spice, clove, but with overbearing alcohol on the palate.

Not rich enough in flavour to justify its bock status, but hits you with alcohol which is not well hidden. To be honest the regular SN kellerweiss was tastier for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 12:57:04 | More by foles

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.1/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle.

It pours a hazy gold with a frothy foamy head. Looks pretty good for a Weizenbock.

The smell is okay for a weizenbock. There is lots of banana and clove and malt.

The flavor is a little off for a traditional Weizenbock, especially one of only 6.8%. It is hot and boozy, overly fruity. The body isn't perfect either.

From what I understand these recipes aren't necessarily made by the pros, so it isn't as good. Good to tick though and not the worst beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 01:27:45 | More by crossovert

racer2k

Massachusetts

3.13/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured 12oz beer in to my favorite pint glass

A - Chill Haze cloudy light caramel pour with decent carbonation action in the glass. The head is white and frothy which adds to the presentation.

S - Fresh baked bread, caramel malt and a hint of fruit and spices in the finish

T - A strong wheat bread like flavor with a sharp hoppy bitterness that is fruity and clove like. Hints of banana are everywhere! A bit of an alcohol warmth to this beer which is present in the finish. A nice hop and wheat balance to this beer.

M - Medium carbonation coupled with a warming sensation from the alcohol presence.

O - If you like complex front end wheat centric beers with a banana and clove backbone then this beer is for you. Personally I am not a fan of wheat beers but this is definitely a consumable beer. Nice job beer campers!

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 22:53:37 | More by racer2k

Heatwave33

Florida

3.13/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle to a Dogfish head Snifter.

Color: Cloudy orangish-yellow

Smell: Sweet note from the banana and a nice wheat smell.

Taste: Clove, banana and wheat in that order. I can't get past the clove.

Mouthfeel: Smooth

Overall: A great brew besides the clove taste. I had a traumatic childhood experience with clove. There is a lot of clove that's hard to get past. But besides that everything about the brew is great. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 15:22:11 | More by Heatwave33

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a very thick and creamy. A lot of yeast in this one. 1 finger of white head with good retention and lace. Color is a super hazed golden orange.

Aroma: Orange peel., bananas, lemon zest, cloves, spices, yeast, bready malts, and some caramel. More of a wheat.

Taste: Matches the nose but, but it has a much fruiter flavor and a more developed malt profile bring out a lot of bock flavors. A lot of caramel and toffee with some darker fruits.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and spritzy. High carbonation..way to much. Light to medium bodied. Ends fairly clean.

Overall, it wasn't my favorite weizenbock, but it wasn't bad. Too much wheat flavors and not enough bock flavors. Missed the chocolate on this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2011 03:00:29 | More by mothman

Blakaeris

Iowa

3.2/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours cloudy orange-yellow with a dense creamy head that hangs around awhile.

Aroma is bready caramel malt, hints of toffee, lemon grass and orange rind.

Taste is more bready malt and dark fruit sweetness up front. Then lemon grass, coriander, and allspice make an appearance. Finishes with an orange rind bitterness and vague yeasty funk.

Mouthfeel is a very soft and creamy medium body.

Overall, a very mild version of a weizenbock. There are no off flavors, but there isn't anything to keep your attention either.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 20:38:04 | More by Blakaeris

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.25/5  rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I am not a big weizenbock drinker so maybe I was not ready for this but I have never had one that was so damn yeasty. Dark and turbid orange color. The smell was all yeast and bananas. The flavor was yeast, banana, clove, yeast, bubblegum, yeast. This was not bad but I'd rather have a vitus any day of the week.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 02:16:55 | More by ArrogantB

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.28/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle. Pours an insanely cloudy orangey swamp water kind of color with a decent sized head. It almost looks like someone left the beer in the freezer, forgot about it for a bit, and then poured it out and it was semi-frozen. Aromas of booze, yeast, banana, and some orange peel. Taste is boozey upfront and then tastes like banana bread. A lot of yeast flavor. Mouthfeel is super thick and heavy. This beer isn't a style I buy often and although there are some I really like out there this one is just alright. Overall, probably my least favorite of the pack but not a bad beer by any means.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 06:16:08 | More by PicoPapa

GregBlatz

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a golden orange opaque color. Thick white rocky head.

S - Bready, citrusy and phenolic. Slight banana notes.

T - Very similar to a hefe but without the esters. Alcohol warmth is apparent. A cloying sweetness lingers.

M - Very full mouthfeel with strong carboonation. Alcohol heat.

O - A very tasty beer. Not a warm summer beer, this is a bit more substantial.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2011 23:16:07 | More by GregBlatz

beer2day

North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy orange gold with very active carbonation. 2-finger head, leaving just a trace of foam by the end of the glass. Oddly shaped fingers of lace on the back half of the glass.

Nose is all bananas and cream. Light hint of spice, maybe nutmeg.

Big malty, yeasty flavor. Bananas and cream carry through to the taste profile with a stronger hint of spice in the finish. Bit of roasted marshmellow coming in at the end.

Creamy without being cloying. Just a hint of fizz.

Overall, not bad but my least favorite of the Beer Camp 12 pack.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2011 01:36:46 | More by beer2day

Burt

Rhode Island

3.3/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass.

Yellow orange that is cloudy, thick off white head that slowly dispersed but never completely. Left thick lacing that was clumpy.

Over ripe bananas, some clove and hint of alcohol.

Huge over ripe banana in the beginning (almost too much) breadiness in the middle that finishes slick with clove and yeast.

This beer had a lot of flavor and depth but seemed to be over the top. Not sure if the over ripe banana was from the alcohol, as it warmed up the clove and yeast got stronger and made this beer more palatable. Not a bad beer but further research for myself is needed into this style.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 10:39:53 | More by Burt

ms11781

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -17%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed on 05/13/2011. Bottled on 04/05/2011. 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

Pours an extremely cloudy, yellowish orange with a 2 finger, fluffy white head. Almost murky looking. Foamy lacing clings for a bit and slowly slides back down the glass.

The aroma is unmistakably banana-like. Some yeast and clove are here in addition to some more spice-like characteristics. There also seems to be a slight fruity sweetness as well.

The taste is almost identical to the nose. Starts off with a banana flavor and the clove and spice give it a pleasant bite. A soft, fruit-like sweetness mellows out the finish.

A medium body paired with lower carbonation give the beer a fuller mouthfeel that expected. The lack of carbonation does give it an extremely smooth finish.

Overall, a pretty good beer. Towards the end of the beer the flavors and aromas seem to drop off a bit, otherwise it a solid take on the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 04:03:01 | More by ms11781

rcfunk

Texas

3.38/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I like a good weizenbock, but this one let me down. I guess I was expecting a lot from Sierra Nevada on this one. The yeast esters diminished too soon for my taste and, frankly, after the first few sips, I couldn't even tell they were there anymore. This left the beer tasting like something overly boozey that happened to have some wheat in it.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 15:11:13 | More by rcfunk

nrbw23

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- Pours a really hazy honey color with a whiteish colored head. Head has good retention and leaves some really nice thick layered lacing.

S- Wow blasted by spices and pepper. Quite a bit of fruits here too such as bananas, pears and maybe plum.

T- Follows the nose quite well. A lot of spices and yeast for sure. A lot of wheat, bready and cloves.

M- Medium in body and lighter side in carbonation.

0- Not my favorite by any style the yeast and spice dominant this brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 10:37:25 | More by nrbw23

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From 12oz bottle to Bruges hybrid glass on 5/24/11
*From notes

A: Pale and unfiltered, it looks like a woody CA chardonnay. A standard pour yields a 2.25 finger head and some attractive lacing.

S: Maple cured bacon and semi-sweet, earthy yeast follows.

T: Bananas Foster and lemongrass hit first and carry through to the mid, where a dense and slightly cloying dose of liquid smoke takes this one on to the finish.

M: Slightly thin, which is unexpected considering the layer of sediment hanging out in the bottom of the glass.

O: Sierra-Nevada's Beer Camp Weizenbock is in my opinion, the weak link of the Beer Camp mix-pack. It was the perfect pairing with my meal, but as a stand-alone, I wouldn't go out of my way to seek this out.

*Paired with scrambled eggs, crispy shredded hashbrowns and juicy bacon strips

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 23:43:56 | More by Rhettroactive

chinchill

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle from 2011 Beer Camp mix pack that had just arrived at retailer. Served in a pint glass.

A: The beer pours a hazed golden orange color with a super creamy and very high bone-colored head. Head has excellent retention and more than 2 pours were required to get this in my glass. {A 2nd bottle only produced a modest but durable white head} Cloudy, unfiltered look. Limited lacing.

S: Yeasty and wheaty with clove, citrus and banana tones. Perhaps not bad for style but not to my taste.

T: Low levels of bitter, sweet and sour largely in balance, but with a sweet start and a sour finish. Hints of citrus under clove, banana, and light malt. Well done but not really my cup of tea.

M: medium/thin body; low but fine carbonation; after a bit of crispness initially it is quite soft

O: My first beer from the Beer Camp. Given my love for Sierra Nevada Brewing, this one was a little disappointing but ... Not a favorite style, but clearly a step above average for style IMO.

(revised 6/15/2011 with 2nd tasting)

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 00:45:16 | More by chinchill

JoeAmerican77

Colorado

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours like a perfect brass monkey, dark orange with some clouds floating through the ether under a canopy of white...

Very fruity, some pear and citrus fruits as well as some alphalic esters

Spicey and sweet, a tad warm. Mandarin orange fruit, orange skin and cooked corn, it starts incredible but the flavor quickly fades for some reason

Soda can bubbly, medium bodied and warming

Overall its a good beer, the whole sample beer camp pack was good for me

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 00:46:37 | More by JoeAmerican77

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a cloudy dark orangey/amber color bock with a good size foamy head with good retention but minimal lacing. Aroma of residual sugar and light wheat notes with some caramel also noticeable. Taste is a mix between some deep caramel malt notes with some residual sugars with some wheat malt. A bit low on ester for the style in my opinion. Body is full with limited filtration and good carbonation with no apparent alcohol. Not bad though I find that additional focus on ester with less residual sugars would be best.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 18:08:27 | More by Phyl21ca

ColForbinBC

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a weizen glass

Pours extremely cloudy. A golden orange body with a huge, fluffy white cap that rises and falls slowly. Moderate lacing.

Aroma is very heavy on spice; cloves especially. Alcohol, damp hay, and banana round out the aroma.

The spices really jump to the front here with alcohol quickly in tow. Cracked, damp wheat and a lingering mild banana sweetness to finish this off.

Creamy on the palate and a light body. The carbonation hits near perfect here.

Overall, this is a different weizen that definitely re-shapes the mold a bit. The spices are biting along with a huge wheat/wet hay presence that puts me off a little bit, but not enough to ruin the experience. An above average to good example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 21:22:41 | More by ColForbinBC

BeefyMee

Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev -12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Awesome haziness. Color is a little dull but not much to complain about here.

S: Bananaclove, alcohol and general wheatiness.

T: Muted wheat flavors and a surprisingly strong taste of alcohol. A little disappointing here.

M: A whole lot of substance.

A good weizenbock if somewhat underwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 18:41:30 | More by BeefyMee