Weihenstephaner Korbinian - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

scottfrie

California

4.33/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

500ml bottle into pilsner glass.

A: Pours a nutty, ruddy, brown color with two fingers of fluffy dark tan head. Head faded into a thick dense film that lasted the whole beer through.
S: Coppery smelling and metallic with notes of dark roasted grains, toasted oats, nuts and mild coco powder.
T: Sweeter, spicier and hopier than the nose. Complex notes of roasted nuts, toasted malts, faint char, earthy hops, milk chocolate, plums, faint banana yeast, leather and wood fill my palate. The finish is sweet and sticky with notes of caramel and burnt sugar, and the aftertaste is bitter with herbal and earthy hops. I get hints of black cherry juice as well.
M: Very smooth and silky mouthfeel, soft carbonation, medium-full body. I can detect the alcohol but just barely.
O: Not as good as Ayinger IMO but definitely a well balance and easy drinking beer. I’d gladly drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 00:58:06 | More by scottfrie

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Really have enjoyed beers from Weihenstephaner. Their Hefeweiss is one of the best beers of all time IMO. I think I have had this before but passed on the review for whatever reason.

A- Poured into a pint glass with a very dark brown body, just some red around the edges of the beer. A nice cap of foam forms on the beer to about two fingers in size displaying a light brown hue. Head retention is decent. Lacing is plentiful and appears thin but forms a nice creamy shield down the glass.

S- A good mix of German yeast and darker malts. Spice, banana esters, raisins and dark fruits seem to come from this yeast strain. Nutty, slight roast and toasted malt hints.

T- More from the yeast here with a pretty nice dose of banana and clove as well as the dark fruit raisin spice I have come to expect from certain European breweries. Some Doppelbocks have way too much yeast presence but this one makes a good impact while still being balanced. The balance comes from caramel sweets, toasted nut and lightly roasted malts. Raisin and spice grows with each sip but still tastes great with the brown sugar toasted malts.

MF- Silky and very smooth, something I also have come to expect from this brewery. The beers go down like water but feel so satisfying. Creamy overall and moderate carbonation, supporting the flavors nicely. Slightly spicy bitterness.

I expected this to be good and it really is. Maybe not quite as complex as some of the great Dopplebocks but very flavorful and extremely drinkable. I would buy this again and suggest it to anyone that likes stronger German beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 00:45:27 | More by cbutova

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

500ml bottle. A deep amber/brown with a couple fingers of rich light mocha head. Foamy retention with loads of spotty lace. Smells sticky and burnt with fresh floral notes and earthy citrus flavors that emerge as this is agitated. The nose has a nice robustness to it. The taste is sticky sweet initially with notes of cocoa, caramel, dark roast and nuttiness. Citric hops really gives this a green tightness that then begins to take over the profile and leaves this dry and bitter on the finish but the sweetness does pick up again as this warms. The feel is medium to fuller with a firm sharpness up front and then more of a smooth texture the rest of the way. Tiny bit of warmth but this drinks nicley for 7%+. This was a really nice Doppelbock with the type of rich flavors and smooth feel that I look for in the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 18:01:02 | More by Kegatron

WunderLlama

Massachusetts

4.11/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Chilled 22 oz bomber poured into a pilsener glass

Pours a beautiful deep dark mahogany brown color. Dark brown / ruby color when held to the light. Clear in color with three fingers of hardy foam which settles into a nice tan layer with staying power. Small lacings on the glass close to the foam.

A nice roasted malt smell with reminders of chocolate. A deliciously sweet taste of rich malt. Not cloyingly sweet. Chocolate with the faintest essence of coffee & roasted nuts. No heavy alcoholic taste. Pure malty goodness with no hoppy bitterness. Clean after taste.

Good body. Heavier than medium but not too heavy. Smooth. Active carbonation on the pour which quickly settles down to a nice tan cap.

I was in Freising this spring and kept seeing the signs for the home of Korbinian. Weihenstephaner dominates this Munich suburb near the airport. I like malty Bavarian biers and truly enjoyed this selection. It is smooth & sweet but not too sweet. Great choice for after dinner. A delicious beer that I will enjoy again. Oldest brewery in the world and they got it right.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2013 00:12:26 | More by WunderLlama

MickeyBeer

Illinois

3.76/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

22 oz bomber poured into a tulip glass

A- Pours a beautiful deep brown color with hints of red where the light comes through. Clear in color with about two fingers of light tan head.

S- A nice roasted nutty smell with hints of toffee and chocolate.

T- A sweet malty taste with roasted nut flavors. The alcohol is pretty well covered here by the sweetness. No real hop presence.

M- Medium bodied and overall quite smooth. Medium carbonation with a crisp finish.

O- I enjoyed this beer but I probably wouldn't have more than one at a time. It is very sweet and in my opinion is a good after dinner beer. The ABV% can certainly pack a punch and a 22 oz bottle can leave you with a nice buzz.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 17:53:34 | More by MickeyBeer

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.29/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I poured this into my tulip glass. I got about a finger of foam, but that died down pretty quickly. I like the color on this one when the light hits it. You see a deep reddish brown.

The smell on this one is really good. I really enjoy the toffee/caramel in this one. The dark fruit works really well in the Korbinian as well. The flavor is rich. I really enjoy how the dark flavors play off each other so well. This has a really good balance.

This is another great beer by Wehenstephaner. I love their history and consistency in making really good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 21:29:57 | More by ummswimmin

Braz

Washington

4.19/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Dark brown to amber in color, but clear. Tall sudsy tan head recedes to splotchy areas lacing. Smells are yeasty, light citrus and a sort of sourdough aroma. Taste is lightly sweet with no bitterness at all. A very subtle spice in the back and a light clove presence. A very small hint of sweet chocolate towards the end. Has sweetness to it but is also pretty dry at same time. Smooth and medium carbonation. This is very good and I'll look forward to having again.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 07:08:19 | More by Braz

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle poured into a pilsner glass.
7.4% ABV, Store dark and keep cool 46°-52°F, 8192 on back label.

A - A tall pour creates a lush tan head with stable retention but little lace remains on the glass when the towering foam drops to just cover the clear ruby chestnut beer.

S - Like any good Doppelbock, this beer starts quite malt forward with a hefty nose of caramel malt; sweet and bready. Dense, robust, and smooth, the nose offers notes of chocolate from roasted malt as well as dusty cocoa; not entirely clean.

T - Malt heavy, hops are completely overpowered in this robust beer. Sweet caramel and honey is produced first with a following trail of nuttiness and dry cocoa. Suggestions of coffee grounds and milk chocolate peek though on the finish of this Doppelbock.

M - Korbinian is very smooth starting with a full body and slick finish. It's carbonated but not overly noticeable; it doesn't feel flat but it's not sparkling by any means. While the beer is quite sweet it never approaches a cloying level thanks to the inherent dryness of the roasted malts.

O - Korbinian is a roasty Doppelbock that develops more chocolaty, dry cocoa notes as the brew progresses for a bit of a twist on the style. It's not quite as clean as some other German versions but, this doppel is a great brew for any malt-lover.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 21:19:59 | More by BeerFMAndy

CwrwAmByth

United Kingdom (Wales)

4.03/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a straight pint glass.

Pours a rich looking dark brown/black colour, with a decent white head.

Smells sweet and malty.

Tastes sweet and very wholesome, like wholemeal bread as a drink. Sweet malts, slight hop tang, dry slightly bitter finish.

Overall a really great beer. Weihenstephan hits another home run.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 20:24:24 | More by CwrwAmByth

sweemzander

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a tulip.

(A)- Pours a nearly pitch black/dark brown color. Some reddish highlights around the edges. Produced some good tan froth and lacing.

(S)- A nice deep body of raisin, cocoa, and molasses. Bits of a subtle yeasty bread component.

(T)- A great combo of a bready raisin and cocoa profile. A very smooth malt body with just a tiny bit of dryness at the end.

(M)- A smooth carbonation level and a fantastic balance. Sweet and rich, but in a balanced way. A very subtle yeasty bitterness at the end of it that helps counteract its overall sweetness.

(O)- Overall, a fantastic Dopplebock from a classic brewery. Rich and sweet, but balanced well for smooth and easy drinking for the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 19:36:36 | More by sweemzander

VoodooBear

Puerto Rico

3.85/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: One pint brown bottle served in a steidel.

Appearance: Beautiful, deep, rich, dark brown color that looks almost black. Turns a dark reddish hue when held up to the light. Develops a one and a half finger tan colored head that fizzles out into a thin ring. Very nice lacing throughout.

Smell: Smells mainly of malt, and a bit of pie crust. It's a very pleasing aroma that's not overpowering.

Taste: Very smokey, with a lot of malt in there. Caramel and chocolate can be tasted as well. It's quite sweet. The mix and complexity of flavors is very nice.

Mouthfeel: It's strong and full-bodied, but very creamy and smooth to drink. There's little carbonation and it has a sticky sweet finish.

Overall: It's a good beer to have with sweet desserts or to sip at night and enjoy it all by itself. A very interesting and complex taste, plus great texture make for a wonderful experience. Another high quality product from "The World's Oldest Brewery".

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 07:33:39 | More by VoodooBear

RichD

Rhode Island

4.28/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I decided to give this one a review so it can get to 1,000 and thrown into the beers of fame list.

500mL bottle poured into a Seidel mug.

A: Pours a dark brown with a huge foamy, tannish head. Wouldn't expect anything other than this for a doppelbock. I held this up to the light and saw a deep red which looked great.

S: The mug kind of masks the smell but from what I did smell, I got sweet caramel and maybe some dark fruits. Also caught a bready smell in there.

T: The taste follows the nose very well. Caramel caught my palate first with the dark fruits coming in shortly after. The bready malts come in for the grand finale. Good stuff here.

M: Low carbonation but there is some there. Quite a medium mouthfeel with some creaminess which make this brew smooth as smooth can be.

Overall: This is a great doppelbock. I'd put it on the board as my 2nd favorite doppelbock behind Ayinger. Very solid representation of what a doppelbock is supposed to be and I can definitely see myself picking this up regularly. Especially for the $3-4 for a 16 ouncer. Good shit, Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan in Freising, Germany!

P.S. I wish 4.25 was an option for overall... Just saying.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 03:19:06 | More by RichD

jeffeljefe

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

poured from bottle into weizen glass.

A: Dark chocolate brown, i think it's clear (if you had a strong enough light to penetrate) ample head.

S: Caramel, nutty banana bread. heavenly.

T: mellow, chocolaty, toasty.

M: smooth, rich, creamy, medium-full body, coats mouth, very long finish.

O: grew on me as I reached the middle of my glass (as is often the case.) The aroma and finish will keep this one in the back of my mind for a revisiting.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 06:51:44 | More by jeffeljefe

smwesson500

Kansas

4.18/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours dark brown with 1/4 inch head

S: malted barley, coffee.

T: mild bitterness associated with the coffee smells, dark chocolate

M: Exceptionally smooth for a doppel-bock

O: A great beer, extraordinary taste and mouthfeel. Glad I found this at my local liquor store.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 02:02:10 | More by smwesson500

BucannonXC5

California

4.45/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Type: 500ml bottle
Glass: Manzanita pint glass
From: Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, Calif., on Dec. 27, 2012
Price: $3.49
Misc.: Part of the bottle reads “Brewed under the purity law, of 1516.”

Poured a mahogany, almost black color with about a finger of khaki tan head that dissipated rather quickly. Very light lacing on the sides, pretty weak retention on the top.

Smelled a sharp whiff of malty alcohol right away. Very malty, including roasty, nutty, dark chocolate, toffee, dark fruit and some kind of liquor (maybe rum?) Late I got some smoky fire and coffee beans. Despite the high presence of alcohol, the flavors work together in the nose.

Just a fantastic first taste. Still heavy with the malts, mainly dark fruit (cherry, plum, raisin, fig) and chocolate (not as dark as the smell). A little bit roasty and toffee, ending with a lingering bitter but smooth finish.

Medium body. Slick texture. Soft (below average) carbonation. Long bitter and smooth finish.

Was really into this beer. I picked it up half by accident, but I would seek it out again. Tasty and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 03:53:04 | More by BucannonXC5

BigBarley

Texas

4.53/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a deep, dark brown, visibly caramel through the light, with a fingers worth of thick, beige head. Good head retention.

S - Caramel malty sweetness right up front. Very strong malt profile, with subtle hints of chocolate and toffee, maybe even a little honey or maple. No real detectable hop aromas, mostly just sweetness all over.

T - Malty stuff! Surprisingly there are some dry, raisin-like notes, wrapped in some thick, dark chocolate, some sweet caramel, and some smokey hints of coffee. Almost comparable to some RIS's as far as the malt profile, with enough of that dark bitterness to balance things out. Delicious!

M - Smooth, refreshing entry, with an immediate thickening effect and lots of foamy carbonation. Plenty drinkable for a fan of double beers, and works great with the style. Once again, almost reminds me of stout.

O - My impression of this beer (other than "Oh hell yes!") was that if you tried to convert a stout-drinker to a dopplebock enthusiast, this would be the first step. This beer has a lot of the better qualities of heavy stouts, while holding true to the essential bock flavors. A fantastic brew all around.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 17:02:55 | More by BigBarley

WayneScoting

4.35/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A venerable doppelbock for a reason. Sweet, balanced, smooth. It is a dark brown coloration--not nearly black like coffee or Guinness--like most (all?) doppelbocks. The head has above-average staying power. It's not overpoweringly sweet--just the right amount, though I would say it is more sweet than hoppy, certainly. (Note: I'm not a fan of really hoppy beers and simply do not understand the utter fixation on hoppiness of so much of the albeit wonderful and welcome fine beers awareness movement that I'm a beneficiary of....I guess that makes me a neophyte &/or barbarian, but whatever.) I'd pick this beer over Ayinger's Celebrator, another beer in many appreciator's pantheon of dark German beers, or, for that matter, any standard IPA under the sun. (I know, apples to oranges, but, like I said: not big fan of overly-hoppy selections.)

This beer is a wonderful doppelbock and I highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 01:58:00 | More by WayneScoting

acelin

Kansas

4.63/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a weihenstephaner weizen glass from a large Euro-bottle.

Color of this beer is dark brown at first, almost black. Holding up to the light exposes the ruby color of this beer. It's beauty. Small tan head that lasts forever with moderate lacing.

Smell is of dark munich-caramel malt, slight syrup, some maple, figs, plums, sugar.

Taste is super malty, giant, with a very syrupy, almost molasses body, and huge amounts of figs, plums, sugar, and rye bread in the finish. Incredibly delicious. Almost meal like. English style beers stand no chance. An insanely tasty beer. Super drinkable. Mouthfeel is creamy beyond belief. Such a great example of this style, and so affordable as well.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 06:41:41 | More by acelin

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- pours a dark chestnut brown with a ruby hue, creamy long lasting light tan head

S- robust and malty with notes of caramel, sweet doughy bread, dark cherry and prunes, quite complex

T- sweet bready malts with caramel and prune notes, hints of chocolate and toasted bread crust. Moderate hop bitterness adds just a bit of peppery spice, finishes a bit sweet and earthy with just a trace of underlying booze.

M-medium body, low carbonation and a velvety creamy mouthfeel and finish.

O- this is a great beer, most doppelbocks seem to be so sweet that it lowers their drinkability. I could drink this one all day though. The flavors are well balanced and overall the best I've had of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 02:41:46 | More by Treyliff

Luigi

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours out a rich brown color with ruby hues. Large light tan creamy head with a lacing all over the glass. Retains as a thick blanket on top of the lager till the last drop.

The aroma is full of soft toasted bread, caramel, and hints of chocolate.

Rich malts hit the palate with hints of toasted bread, caramel, chocolate, and a bit of plum. There is a good hint of peppery spice from the hops. Finished semi dry and the toasted malt lingers on the tongue for a bit.

Medium to full bodied and slick on the palate.

Loved it and is a pleasure to drink during the colder months.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 19:51:58 | More by Luigi

scratch69

Missouri

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I poured a bottle into a pilsner glass.

Appearance- Clear, dark brown color with two fingers worth of light tan head. Moderate amount of sticky lacing.

Smell- Sweet caramel malt aroma with notes of wheat and raisins.

Taste- Rich flavors of wheat, raisins, and a light caramel malt sweetness. Just a hint of hops for balance.

Mouthfeel- Medium bodied and velvety smooth. Very nice amount of carbonation.

Overall- A very good doppelbock with no hint of booziness like you get from some other doppelbocks.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 18:29:12 | More by scratch69

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip pint.

Appearance
Deep, deep, dark chestnut brown with 1-2 fingers of tan head. Decent clarity and moderate carbonation.

Nose
Concord grape, molasses and bread.

Taste
Concord grapes, dates and hints of maraschino cherry juice. Sweet breads, molasses and touches of brown sugar. Just a touch of chocolate.

Mouthfeel
Light-medium bodied, soft and incredibly smooth.

Overall
This is an incredibly flavorful and complex Doppelbock. Definitely one of the best I've had in a long time. This was an absolute pleasure to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 00:14:02 | More by justintcoons

doopiedoopiedoo

Netherlands

3.55/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

From a 0.5 liter bottle into a Franzsikaner Weisbeer glass.

Comes out looking like cola with a lively two finger head. tons of carbonation visible.

On the nose tons of dark fruits and a bit of booze.

Full flavors of dark fruits, winter spices, caramel, a hint of coffee, some sweetness and a bunch of malt.

Full flavors but a medium body and a neutral finish. A lot fuller and bigger than the 7.4% suggests

It took me a little to get into this. Gets better as it warms up but one a night is enough for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 10:54:57 | More by doopiedoopiedoo

Douberd

Netherlands

3.85/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

ABV 7,4%. Bottle of 500 ml. Made of water, barleymalt and hops.
Poured into a weizen glass. Very dark brown colour, two and a half fingers of off-white head with average retention.Lots of activity in the glass.
Aroma of roasted malts, caramel, toffee.
A great taste of toffee, quite sweet and malty. Roasted malts on the aftertaste, along with bitter dark chocolate.
Full body and although when I poured it seemed to have a hell of a carbonation, the fact is carbonation is just as much as it's needed.
Very nice beer, I was a bit disappointed by the foam's retention, as I wasn't expecting to go down that fast, but everything else is making up for it.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 14:21:08 | More by Douberd

AmitC

Indiana

4.6/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Last of the five bottles. Korbinian from Weheinstephan. I though it would e more to my liking. From the smells and looks it does not disappoint.

Appearance: Poured into the traditional wheat beer glass. Dark brown mahogany color with ruby hues. Almost three fingers thick off white head. Which stays for 2-5 minutes and then becomes a thin creamy layer. Excellent lacing that stays for a long time. Clear appearance when brought to light the light does travel But of course you cannot see through because of the dark color.

Smell: Magic. Complex. Dominant malt, caramel, coffee and chocolate flavor. Slight presence of wheat. Rich warmth in the nose. Bready smell due to malt heaviness. A lot of sweetness in smell.

Taste : Little subdued as compared to smell. Sweetness is in good enough amount. Rich and a lot of malt. Lot of warmth. Some nut presence. More caramel like taste. Some coffee presence as an after taste. Slight hop presence towards the end. Nothing is overpowering. Well balanced.

Mouth feel: Medium bodied feel. Very smooth and soothing even with over 7%. Easy feel on the tongue. Low on carbonation.

Excellent brew. Style wise: 4.5 Personal : 4

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 00:24:44 | More by AmitC