Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel - Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu

donniecuffs

New Jersey

4.63/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

At Croxley's Ale House in NYC. Into a weizen glass, it poured a chestnut brown with less than a finger of offwhite head, average retention, and average lacing. Little visible carbonation. Smelled of banana, clove, lemon/lime, brown sugar, and cocoa powder. The taste was a great blend of the aforementioned flavors, with some caramel also sneaking into the finish. A smooth, modestly carbonated medium bodied beer. Nicely drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2010 20:42:59 | More by donniecuffs

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass.

Served with a finger of off white head. Color is a dark murky brown. Head fades down to a thin layer. Some lace left.

Aroma: Smells very roasted and malty. Bananas, cloves, and wheat all show.

Taste: Same roasted malt feel which I normally don't get from a dunkel. It has some spice notes to it as well. Bananas, cloves, and wheat all show.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends with a bit of spice flavors.

Overall, the pint drank pretty easy. No real problems finishing it. The only difference with this beer was the roasted malts that I picked up.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2010 03:56:32 | More by mothman

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

3.8/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

P: Served on-tap @ Von Trier on 4-19-10. Reviewed from notes.

A: Pours a cloudy tobacco amber color with a generous tan head with excellent retention.

S: Roasted malts, banana, cloves and wheat.

T: Opens with deliciously complex malts and overtures of wheat. Clove and banana flavors begin to assert themselves. A hint of cherry cola in the background. Wonderfully well balanced with low levels of bitterness. Just imagine drinking 22 ounces of moist, flavorful banana bread. And how I do like banana bread!

M: Smooth and medium bodied with good carbonation.

D: Complex and flavorful taste profile. Medium-bodied. Low ABV. This Dunkelweizen is about as sessionable as it gets. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2010 15:32:19 | More by CaptainIPA

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

.5L draft into wheat glass on the outdoor porch at Bavarian Brathaus in Cary, NC.

Nearly opaque deep copper to brown body, plenty of visible carbonation, perfect 2-3" tan, creamy head. Decent lacing throughout.

Zesty citrus peel aroma, with some ripe banana and wheat.

Banana comes thru more powerfully in the flavor, accompanied by lemon citrus, whole grain bread, and some cinnamon and clove.

Wow, creamy smooth on the MF - just the right level of carbonation.

Drinkability is huge. Went down far too smoothly on a warm Spring day. I've never been a huge Franziskaner fan, but this one won me over.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2010 13:38:30 | More by BeerImmediately

Amalak

New York

4.35/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had at the Second Chance Saloon in Brooklyn.
A- Gold, like straw. Opaque. Some head and limited lacing.
S- Strong wheat scent.
T- Highly carbonated, very wheaty. Slight spice to it. It has a bit of a dark malt taste. Nice balance. High quality. Highly recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

12-29-2009 21:38:16 | More by Amalak

VTBobcat

Vermont

4.58/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Serving type: draft

Appearance: Pours a murky red/brown color with a big, foamy head that retains well through the whole glass

Smell: Banana & cloves.

Taste: Banana & cloves with malty sweetness coupled with wheat sweet tanginess evident and remains prominent through the finish. Carbonation brings forth a slight spiciness.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A really nice dunkel weizen, with plenty of banana and spice flavors; perhaps a bit too sweet, but spicy through and through

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2009 13:54:37 | More by VTBobcat

GoalieRon33

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A pleasant surprise to find this one on tap at my local watering hole. Wasn't sure what to expect, but the dunkel version compliments the standard Hefe nicely. A little heavier, with more flavor. Less of the standard "bland" wheat flavor found with many hefe's. Some spices detected. Overall, a joy to drink....From the biggest glass available

Serving type: on-tap

10-20-2009 04:12:14 | More by GoalieRon33

BDJake

Washington

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served at the Yard House in Waikiki on tap:

A- Hazy, brown, with low carbonation. A finger of head that dissipated quickly, without lacing.

S- Not very strong, but with decent wheat character and a mild fruitiness- I even sensed notes of caramel.

T- Tasted a bit grainy, wheat notes throughout the initial and aftertaste. Low spice, pretty much like the aroma but more prominent.

M- Murky and unfiltered, somewhat chewy but pleasant.

D- Went down easily, expected it to be thicker due to the color and style.

Not bad, I really enjoy this style, especially in the autumn, even though it is not personally my all-time favorite. I downed this like it was nothing, and since the guy on the label and tap handle looks God-like, this was probably intended as his session beer. If I find it locally at a decent price, I might try it again. But I wouldn't go far and wide to search it out.

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2009 15:56:41 | More by BDJake

Rayek

Colorado

4.43/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I reviewed a bottled sample of this before, but I just had it on-tap in Munich. It's an even better beer fresh from the brewery. Served in a Franziskaner Weizen glass.

A: Appropriately cloudy chocolate brown, with active carbonation. The big and puffy cream head has great retention and leaves spots of lace.

S: Much more pronounced than the bottled version. The requisite banana and clove aromas are here. They're joined by a bit of sharp baking chocolate, plus a little lemon.

T: Again, things are amped up versus the bottle. A banana bread effect is in full force here. Banana, wheat, clove and a little lemon tartness intermingle nicely. There's a bittersweet baking chocolate flavor in the background that was more pronounced than my bottled sample. Finishes tart and dry.

M: A grainy body has quite a bit of prickly carbonation to it.

D: A perfect beer for a nice late summer day. The light body and low ABV make it easy to drink multiples without fear of doing something dumb. A great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-18-2009 15:00:24 | More by Rayek

techtatu

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a nice caramel color with a cream colored head. At first it looked similar to Spaten Optimator, however the aroma gave it away. It had a much bitter aroma than the Optimator. The taste had hints of a dark chocolate coffee, and very low sweet note.

This is a beer that I would drinking during the fall, and something I would enjoy with a nice cigar. Possibly a beer to recommend to someone who is exploring dark beers.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2009 18:15:18 | More by techtatu

jwhawkins81

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma - Interestingly it smelled like a Hefeweizen but without the citrus fruit aroma.

Appearance - Weird really. It was a brown maybe orange color. A friend suggested that is looked like muddy water more than a beer you would expect.

Taste - Surprisingly light a refreshing for a dunkel but a wheat dunkel was quite an experience.

Notes - Good moutfeel and carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2009 23:36:28 | More by jwhawkins81

ironarrow42

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer was served in the appropriate logo glassware, and had a cloudy amber-brown appearance with a half inch of thick, dense, cream-coloured foam. Aroma was reminiscent of banana bread with toasted walnuts. Body was medium with a creamy smooth texture and very fine carbonation. Tastes like banana bread with walnuts, with a mildly sweet malty undertone. Finishes with a drying clove note which becomes more prominent as the beer loses some chill. Very rounded, gentle character. Refreshing. The head fell after the first few sips, but then regenerated halfway down, leaving a little lace behind. Very nice.

5.0% ABV, on tap at Mecklenburg Gardens, Cincinnati

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2009 01:02:47 | More by ironarrow42

pants678

California

3.33/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Okay, let's see how well I can remember it. Just got back from the pub and it was the last pint that I had, so it should be at the top of my mind. It was a lot different than I expected, with a dunkel, I thought I would be getting sort of a burnt wheat brew but that's not what I tasted. It pours a solid cloudy brown that's in motion, if you know what I mean.

When it was set down in front of me, there was literally no head, so I've no judge on that. I could hardly get smell of it either, it smelled like a typical hefe.

However, the taste started as a stout but ended as a very citrus hefe. Very odd, the citrus was hiding behind a coffee flavor, stark contrast from beginning to end.

It felt alright, better than your average brew, which was nice. But wasn't the most drinkable. I definitely had to take my time to get through it. Not easy going, but I was glad I got through it as it was unique.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2009 07:20:32 | More by pants678

superdedooperboy

Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a Weizen glass at the Augsburg Haus in Augusta, GA.

Murky chestnut-hued liquid with a big, frothy head of light tan foam that holds true to the end and clings to the sides of the glass as it goes down.

A bit of toasted bread appears in the nose amongst aromas of clove, banana, and a bit of chocolate.

Medium-bodied and rich on the tongue with a nice middling level of carbonation. Flavors of slight sweet, caramel and chocolate malt come in at the front, with the rest of the palate being surrounded with yeasty, spicy flavors, with more clove and banana peering through toward the back, finishing off with a slight dryness and a lingering malt flavor on the back of the tongue.

A great example of a Dunkelweizen, and for me much easier to drown in than the brewery's normal Hefe, with the dominating clove and banana flavors so inherent to the lighter version of the style being balanced nicely with the darker, maltier flavors. Very refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2009 16:14:43 | More by superdedooperboy

lamarr04

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

half liter on-tap

A: dark to medium cloudy brown with inch pillowy white head

S: bready/yeasty, banana and fruity esters, spicy cloves

T: yeast and spice are the two most predominant flavor notes, a mild bitterness is also present

M: light to medium body with a crisp carbonation. wheat lends a subtle heft to the the body that keeps the beer from being watery. the finish is dry

D: It was quite easy to drink

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2009 03:34:19 | More by lamarr04

tconboy

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy brown, tan head with nice retention. Smells of malts and light fruits and some nice sweetness. Nice smooth malty taste with nice complexity makes this one pretty enjoyable. Mild carbonation and smooth mouthfeel that you'd expect. Not my favorite dunkel but found everywhere in Bavaria.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2009 19:20:26 | More by tconboy

brewmudgeon

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

light muddy brown color, left a ring but not any significant lace.

smells just like a regular hefe. banana, clove and some lemon. a nice smelling beer.

taste leans a little more toward lemon than suggested by the bouquet, but all the flavors are there. nice. but i expected a touch of toastiness.

light to medium body and brisk carbonation.

apart from the color, what's the difference? maybe the banana is a little riper? in any even, very good!

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2008 00:48:23 | More by brewmudgeon

jeremyd365

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured into an 80oz glass boot. Poured very dark with just a bit of light brown head that dissapated pretty quickly. Smelled of coffee and some alcohol could be sensed. The taste was coffee and chocolate and it went down smooth. Despite having on the medium side of a heavy body, this one was quite drinkable, as the boot took just barely over an hour so I would guess. I would definitely get this again, perhaps in a smaller container. Perhaps not!

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2008 20:50:22 | More by jeremyd365

glid02

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this on-tap at The Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta.

Pours a cloudy medium-brown color with a big three-finger tan head. The head slowly dissipates into a patchy layer of foam on top and a thick ring around the glass. Lacing sticks around for a bit but rolls back down into the beer pretty quickly.

Smells good. The most pungent is the smell of bananas, but even that is subtle. There's also a malt aroma, both bready and sweet.

Tastes just like it smells. There's a big hit of bananas up front followed by the malt flavors, again they're both bready and sweet, but both mildly so. Every now and then a light wheat flavor pokes through.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a good thickness that's substantial but also light. The carbonation is very fine and it gently bursts, releasing the flavor. Very smooth.

Drinkability is good. It goes down very easily, and none of the flavors are overwhelming.

Overall I thought this was a solid Dunkel. Nothing is done exceptionally well, but it's very solid. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2008 03:19:46 | More by glid02

jenbys2001

Florida

3.68/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I was a little hesitant to try this one because I really didn't care much for Franziskaner's Hefe-Weisse. However, I actually enjoyed this brew a lot better - although I drank this one on tap so it's not an entirely fair comparison. Anyways, in the glass this brew resembles a black and tan, with a dark caramel color. The smell is reminiscent of apples and maple syrup. The carbonation and mouthfeel is excellent with a dry (but not too dry) slightly medicinal finish. An apple fruitiness dominates the flavor with hints of bubblegum sweetness. Although I found this sweetness to be more balanced than the Hefe-Weiss. Towards the end of a sip there is a tiny bit of bitterness and hoppy sting. This is not my favorite Hefe Weisse, but it's a pretty good beer on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2008 14:02:24 | More by jenbys2001

mwilbur

Minnesota

4.85/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured on-tap into weizen glass...direct from the source in Germany!
A: Cloudy dark tan with hints of yellow around the edge. Thick, foamy head forms and lasts.
S: Malt, banana, clove, and other spices.
T: Superb and fresh flavors. Nice malt backbone that doesn't overpower. Equal parts banana, clove, and yeasty malt. Tremendous on-tap (not the same in the bottle unfortunately).
M: Wonderfully smooth and coats the tongue. Medium body...almost chewy. Taste lingers nicely.
D: Oh so drinkable. One weizen glass is not enough! My favorite dunkelweizen that I had in Germany.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2008 00:53:51 | More by mwilbur

baos

Indiana

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From notes found in bottom of buchertasche

A: Looks like tea with a bit of head in there.

Very ciderish i wrote over and over. Then I wrote Opaque dark amber then I wrote orangey-cidery

I remember that it leaves the mouth dry and the head virtually disappears to nothing but the tiniest of collars.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2008 02:08:17 | More by baos

Overlord

California

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I really enjoy Franziskaner's Hefe-weiss as a "session" beer, but this just didn't quite work for me.

Pours a crazily cloudy brown. Not much head. Smells of wheat and ... wheat. The flavor is more complex, with banana, wheat and grass, some raisins, and some roasted caramel malt that isn't as predominant as I expected.

I don't know if I've had a dunkelweizen before this, and I'm not sure how often I'm going to want one in the future. While I'm a fan of new blends and divergent styles, these two just didn't mesh real well on my palette.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2008 18:18:31 | More by Overlord

champ103

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

A: A dark and cloudy brown with a decent head and little lace.
S: A very faint smell. Maybe some citrus, banana, a little spicy.
T: Very malty with a big banana and citrus taste. Not complex, but I like it a lot.
D: Great, I can put many of these away. Very smooth and a good coat of the mouth, A session beer.

This is one of my go to beers at bars. Very nice malt character that I enjoy tremendously.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2007 01:35:06 | More by champ103

rec

Australia

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've had this many times in Hahndorf, South Australia, and I dare say it's one of my very favourite German beers.

A cloudy, opaque, light brown body with two finger head fills the glass during pour. There is very little lacing, but the retention is relatively impressive.

The aroma, while without stand-out definition, revolves around bananna and sweet malt. Hops and spice are also evident.

Sweet light fruits, wheat and some floral flavours come through most dominant upon first sip. Toasty malt lingers before the slightly bitter run-off aftertaste.

The only thing really letting this beer down is the over-carbonation, but it far from ruins it.

Highly recommended, and overall delight.

Serving type: on-tap

11-10-2007 10:18:45 | More by rec