Weihenstephaner Korbinian - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

THEMGG

Australia

4.78/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark brown with reddish/orange hues. Head is great, thick and uniform, about one and half fingers, lacing is great around the glass.

S - Delicious. Huge range of bready aromas, sourdough, rye. Strong malt smells with subtle spice ( maybe from the noble hops?) Also dark fruits, dates, figs and raisins.

T - Huge bread flavours from the malts, taste is almost identical to the nose. All the dark fruits are there, so is the subtle spice aroma/flavour. Interested to know what the choice of hops are for this beer. Flavours are ongoing into the finish which seems to last forever.

M - Perfect. Greatly balanced, velvety, no alcohol present despite its 7.4%.

D - I could drink this like water. The flavours really seem to agree with me. This has been one of my favourite beers/doppelbocks for a long time, i'm glad I finally reviewed it! In my opinion its Weihenstephaner's best beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2009 09:09:47 | More by THEMGG

inebrius

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a deep russet under a sticky bone head. A nose of puff pastry drizzled with maple syrup and stuffed with whipped chocolate cream that segues nicely into a beautiful velvety textured flavor that's like chewing chocolate covered roasted almond pillows with a smooth caramel center. A small hop finish keeps the huge malt spine contained, barely. Weihenstephaner never fails to please the senses and when the hell are they going to brew a Weizenbock?

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2003 17:36:14 | More by inebrius

SetarconeX

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Sometimes, you get a beer so complicated you need to go item by item. Here we go:

Appearance: Very dark, very shiny. Damn, but I love how dark beers look sometimes. A wonderful red tinged blackness to this one.

Smell: Fruity, toasty, and remarkably, almost absurdly malty.

Taste: Malty like crazy, but unusually fruity. Tastes like malted prune juice. Didn't like it at first, but after half a glass or so it starts growing on you. It has a unique earthy sweetness which has its own unique appeal. Definately for those who like to try new things.

Mouthfeel: Don't even know where to begin. All parts of your mouth feel something. It's sweet, it's sour, it's malty.... it's complicated.

Drinkability: This one's a heavy beer which begs to be paired with heavy food. I had it over bratwurst and kraut, and can't imagine drinking it with anything else. Hearty doesn't even begin to describe it. A brewery doesn't last since 1040 for no reason, I guess...

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2003 06:57:55 | More by SetarconeX

ColoradoBobs

Colorado

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Well, well, well, where have you been, Korbinian? In side by side tasting with Celebrator, using the same kind of glasses, at the same temperatures, I like this one more. Richer, thicker, better head, stickier lacing, more malty and chocolatey. Coffee, figs, pepper, allspice. It's all in there. Looong dry bitter finish, with a hint of malt sweetness even there. A malt bomb with a bitter end. About six different beers, depending on the temperature.
Freakishly smooth and full round mouthfeel. Mmmmm.
I will be looking for a case of this soon. If it weren't for the ABV, you could drink a dozen. Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow!

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2005 01:51:42 | More by ColoradoBobs

dalherring

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

As a double bock fan, this is simply one of the best of its kind. The color is a dark amber that is extremley sharp with a white creamy head. The smell is loaded with malt, chocolate, raisins, and other fruity goodness. The taste begins as slightly bitter but quickly is overtaken by a sweetness explosion that lingers on the palate. Goes down so smooth and would be great with a a chocolate or fruit desert. This is my kind of beer, and would gladly pay another $2.59 for a 16.9 oz bottle. Look out Ayinger Celebrator, you have company.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2006 06:02:23 | More by dalherring

bearrunner44

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance- A very dark brown; light can only pass through it at the edges of the glass. Thick, creamy tan head.

Smell- Rich, full aroma. Soft, nutty, and tangy. Pleasantly aromatic malt backbone; smells of toffee, oatmeal, and some cocoa. Raisiny, tangy overtones give it a twang.

Taste- Loads of malt up front. Smooth, subdued caramel-toffee flavors lead the way. The taste becomes more complex as the beer passes by; the malt flavor gradually dries, becoming more like buttery whole wheat bread. Luxurious, sweet, estery undertones carry the beer home, leaving the tongue coated in tangy fruit flavor as the dryness in the malt peaks. Alcoholic spice burns the back of the throat (just a tiny bit) on the way down.

Mouthfeel- Bulky, yet incredibly smooth and creamy. It doesn't get much better.

Verdict- Sit back, and let this beer take you to a very happy place. A benchmark doppelbock for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2006 04:48:05 | More by bearrunner44

GreenWBush

Oregon

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Korbininan egresses from the bottle a charcoaly rust-colored brew that whips a moderate head and leaves suspension bridges of lace on the glass.

Above the snifter wafts a pungent aroma of toasted walnuts, dark cherries, fruitcake, and an overall sense of richness. The maltiness of this brew is imposing and regal.

This beer is flavorful, complex, and incredibly harmonius. Its hard to tell where one flavor begins, another sprouts up, since they are all locked in such a stage of convergence. Intense maltiness - as realized on the tongue as toffee - nuttiness, and dark fruits are the key elements which constitute this stately, luxurious beer.

As with the flavor, the mouthfeel of this beer envelops you. It is incredibly rich, smooth, glides on your tongue and disappears like a whisper in the night. For such a weighty beer, it is as spry and silken as anything I've experience. Drinkability is high, but its sheer girth forces you into moderation.

Thanks to Shbobdb for his unintentional endorsement of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2006 02:57:21 | More by GreenWBush

HotterThanHell

Arizona

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What can you say about the boys from Freising? Korbinian is another in a long list of phenominal beers from Weihenstephan.

Korbinian pours a dark brown with with an off white/tan creamy head that is retained for as long as you take to drink it.

The aroma is malty, and reminds me a bit of bread pudding with a slight raisin, cinamon finish.

The taste however is not as sweet as you might think. Which for me is a good thing, as some of these heavy malt beers become too much like desserts. This beer comes across smooth, very smooth considering the alcohol content. Nice malt character, with just the right hint of hops on the finish.

I love the beer and I think you will too.

Prosit!

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2008 04:50:16 | More by HotterThanHell

iso

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Rich dark mahogany in color, retains a tan head about 1 finger thick.

Smell: Savory malt, brown sugar.

Taste: You willingly drown in the endless layers of malt. Bready with surprisingly delicious chocolate notes.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and creamy with a complementary amount of carbonation.

Drinkability: At 7.40% ABV it's almost scary how well hidden the alcohol is. Of particular note with this beer, I found myself wanting another glass almost immediately. Highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2010 06:45:03 | More by iso

Schwarzwald

Tennessee

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I love this meaty doppelbock. Rich color and pour, lots of fruit and even a hint of carmel. It was a wonderful variety from Weihenstephaner, a true bavarian doppel. I drank it with hot nuts (no comments please) and some other finger food. Very good pair with savory foods. I will be on a search to find this at my store. Great high ABV too, just right for a winter night.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 01:31:39 | More by Schwarzwald

angusdegraosta

New York

4.73/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I'm three sips in as we speak. Korbinian is no joke. Deep brown with an impressive tan head. I'm smelling it, and the first thing that comes to mind is a Belgian dubbel. The same with the taste - raisiny, hints of chocolate. But doppelbocks are in the lager family. The specific gravity is lower. So it's not as dense and creamy as an ale might be, but o, this is a remarkably full and satisfying experience. No soy sauce here; this is a full-blooded beer among the very best, which is no surprise for a Weihenstephaner. Even still, I am surprised, maybe even astonished. Absolute tops in drinkability - highly, highly recommended.

Note: I'm always worried about norms and percentages, but let me give the right kind of credit where it's due - I upped the taste rating to 5.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 05:14:17 | More by angusdegraosta

Ryanm1

Pennsylvania

4.73/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed this from my local whole foods. Normally I reach for the German wheat beers, but with it being March and the bock season I said why not. I was glad too. Originally cracked this open to offset the firey taste in my mouth from what I was cooking. Was taken aback as this wasn't what I thought it'd be. It was an excellent semi milky, sort of sweet, brown sugary brew. Brown in color as most bocks are there was a hint of malt in it, not the coffee, chocolate malt, but more of a toffee, carmely flavor. So smooth I didn't dare mix it with the rest of my spicy thai food dinner. Best doppelbock I've ever had!

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 22:45:33 | More by Ryanm1

DogFood11

California

4.72/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a flute this brew forms a tan head that retains and fades to ring lacing. Reddish tones to a dark brown body.

Fascinating rich aroma. Stong dark fruits. Plum, Prune, combined with the sweet caramel forms an inviting trifector.

It has a bitterness that is not shy at all. Mostly it is malted to the max and sweet but there is enough raw bitterness in the middle to settle it all out and serve this offering well. Good god this is a fine brew. The plum is prominent, balanced, sweetened, and no acidity that I could find. Nice. Melts in your mouth. Creamy, chewy mouthfeel that is second to none. Smoooth.

Weihenstephaner is a top 5 brewery for me. This beer adds to their legacy.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2005 05:09:53 | More by DogFood11

chOAKbarrell

Maryland

4.72/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

As dark as any stout. Minimal head, but with good retention in my Unibroue glass.

Lovely sweet nose. The definition of a malty beer. Smells as good as, if not better than, Celebrator.

Truly delicious. Sweet, chewy, deep, dark, rich. I could see this pairing up perfectly with some moist velvety chocolate cake.

In midsip I get a tiny bit of something that seems off. A slight thinness? Maybe that's just normal for this style. Maybe its the water used.

This beer is guilty of YUM in the first degree. Seconds, please.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2006 23:31:11 | More by chOAKbarrell

ultralarry2006

Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 500 ml. bottle. Leaves a one finger tan tinted head that recedes to surface skim, and leaves some spotty lacing. Body is a hazy garnet.

Smell - dates, raisins, plums, malt bread, and medicinal phenols. Mouthwatering.

Taste - as promised by the nose, with the addition of sweet caramel and sugar on the finish. Well hidden alcohol. Delicious and yummy.

Mouthfeel - full, smooth, low carbonation, and slightly slick.

Drinkability - this is excellent ale, and could be sessionable if you're careful not to overindulge, as this is just over what I consider to be the abv limit for sessionability ( i.e. 7% abv).

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2006 21:44:22 | More by ultralarry2006

LvilleIPA

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This has been one of my favorites for a while. Probably the best doppelbock I've ever tasted, but I've never reviewed it.

Poured out of the 16.9oz bottle into a pint glass.

A - A dark red/brown color that leaves a nice lacing as the tan head disappears.

S - Unbelievable smell. Caramel, some fruity notes and roasted malts jump out of the glass.

T - Actually a ton of different flavors in this brew. Caramel, lots of malt and alot of different fruit flavors are the most noticeable.

M - Excellent. Vibrant and medium to full bodied on the tongue. Literally feels like each flavor is jumping up and down. The immediate aftertastes is full of fruit flavors, then it dries out a bit (probably due to the decently strong abv).

D - As drinkable as a 7.4% beer can be. You'll be amazed at how easily this slides down (and how much you'll enjoy it).

Great, great beer. One of my favorites, which is why I gave it such a high rating. If you see this anywhere, definitely pick one up and give it a shot.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2006 04:46:28 | More by LvilleIPA

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.72/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I love this beer; it is absolutely one of the most phenomenal beers in existence. The fact that it is widely available, and cheap, is a godsend.

A – Dark as hell, it is the same color as the brown bottle it comes in.

S – Raisins and brown sugar and perhaps a little raw green cabbage-y. Delicious and earthy.

T – Amazing taste: rich dark fruits, buttery smoothness, and a nice dry bittering finish.

M – Great; velvety with just the right carbonation.

D – Always a great choice.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 02:46:04 | More by ktrillionaire

jbonapar

Ontario (Canada)

4.72/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Visiting Ann Arbour, i found the most amazing beer stores and found this beer, amongst many others. I love their Wheat, thus was super excited to try the others Weihenstephaner offered.

Poured a hazey dark amber brown, wonderfull head (like all their brews).

Smell is beautiful: toasty malt, bread, nutts. Sweet dried fruit. a touch of anise.

Taste: I've honestly never tasted anything like this. Almost like a root beer version of a bock. Root spices along with dark malt sweetness. Bready, sweet. Just amazing. a nice white pepper spice at the end. I must admit, i'm a abit overwhelmed by this one. It has now been added to my top 5 favorite beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 21:44:45 | More by jbonapar

rootbeerman

Virginia

4.72/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: pours reddish brown with and odd red brown head which was initially two fingers and settled to a thin layer
S: sweet sort of honey malt, a dry grass hop. the bock smell, i cant explain it any other way.
T/M: burnt caramel, sweet malt, very smooth medium carbonation, very lightly bitter
D: very good flavor, another i wish came in liter bottles.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2010 08:12:01 | More by rootbeerman

tubacharlie

Michigan

4.72/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A creamy tan head, three-fingers in stature, recedes slowly in the Weihenstephan Weizen glass, leaving trails of lacing as the head replenishes from the active carbonation below. The dark, deep hued red-brown doppelbock is very clear when held to the light.

The aroma of molasses is distinct in the nose, with hints of yeast, coffee and caramel.

A wonderfully robust brew hits the mouth with a rich roast caramel flavor, slightly sweet up front with smoky mellowness, a hint of coffee and hazelnut, with a smooth hop kicker that leaves a lingering bittersweet farewell.

Excellent beverage by all measures. Fit for a King's banquet of rich foods and dessert.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 01:47:51 | More by tubacharlie

cooch69

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a deep semi clear mahogany brown with a nice one inch white head.

Aroma is nice and juicy. Really rich sweet hearty bready roasted maltiness. Some raisins and a little alcohol in the back. Mollasses and brown sugar as well.

Really smooth and creamy. Super easy to drink. There is a really rich roasted caramel breadiness. A tad bit of hops throw some spice into the brew in the finish.

This beer is world class. It is at the very upper end of medium bodied, almost getting to full.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 03:51:51 | More by cooch69

cretemixer

Indiana

4.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours the color of Coca-cola with an almond colored head that fades to a fine layer rather quickly. Aroma of chocolate and caramel dominate the nose. Deep roasted maltiness. Smell delicious! Bitter chocolate flavors drown my tastebuds, very malty. Smooth and creamy with medium to light carbonation. A top shelf beer. I wish I would have bought more than one.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2003 07:14:29 | More by cretemixer

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A curious, yet appealing, conflagration of umber, orange, bronze and red that becomes a less interesting dark cherry when backlit with morning sunshine. When tangentially lit, the beer appears bright, juicy orange at the bottom of the glass and becomes progressively darker and more serious looking as the eye ascends to the creamyfirm, golden sandstone colored cap. All in all, this is one of the better looking doppelbocks that I've ever laid eyes on. The appearance is hampered somewhat by a near complete absence of lace.

The nose is tangy, dark fruity and dark malty. It's bewitchingly complex, even as it lacks a commensurate amount of power. I also pick up a mild peatiness that would be at home on a wee heavy. Cocoa is the centerpiece and holds the center unwaveringly. Crank up the olfactory volume and it'd be unbeatable.

The power vacuum has been filled with a few thousand volts of deliciousness. This is one amazing beer! After one gulp, comparisons to my doppelbock gold standard (Liberator) are in order. There's a huge malt presence with innumerable flavors zinging this way and that. Each mouthful delivers a near perfect mix of roasted malt and dark fruit. Chocolate, dark caramel, toffee, a swirl of treacle, dates, plums, sugared pecans... you name it. If it tastes good, it's in here.

At its apogee, the constellation of flavors is mind blowingly complex and is as multifaceted as a perfectly cut diamond. The finish lingers and redounds with echoes of magnificence that urge me to drink and drink and drink again. Wow. I need a cigarette and I don't even smoke.

The mouthfeel is perfectly matched to the flavor profile. It's medium-full with an exquisite smoothness reminiscent of melted chocolate. Lush without being heavy, it's sheer joy in the mouth and is a further impetus to upend the glass. I'm impressed more and more by the mouthfeel with each sampling. In the final reckoning, I wouldn't change a thing.

I knew about this beer's reputation, but I didn't expect what I found today. Simply put, it's an amazingly delicious doppelbock that has to be considered among the world's best. Brauerei Weihenstephan brews some pretty remarkable stuff, but Korbinian is their supreme creation and is an absolute must try for anyone who fancies himself a lover and appreciator of world class beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2005 14:42:48 | More by BuckeyeNation

bruachan

Rhode Island

4.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

holy shit this stuff is great. had a couple of .5Ls with my bro in the Weienstephan brewery garten over a world cup game along with our meal, and goddam. this may be about to be the highest rating i've given a beer

fluffy head released one of the greatest aromas ever. malty character revealing toffee and brown sugar and chocolate

equally pleasing flavor, with a hugely rich molasses and chocolate and caramel profile. it's not very complex but so thick and maltyummy that i just don't care

booya!

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2006 16:50:05 | More by bruachan

LiamMcFee

Florida

4.7/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This one caught me by surprise, it was so good. I had read the reviews and expected an exceptional Doppelbock, but I did not expect it to be as close to Doppelbock perfection as Ayinger Celebrator is. It has a clearer color with a bit more amber light coming through. The Korbinian has a little less chocolate and pehaps a bit of caramel in its place - but it is not what I would call sweet. It is a bit nuttier than the Ayinger, as well, but has a lighter mouthfeel at the same time. The fairly potent ABV is well hidden, and for some reason this beer went down smoother and quicker than the Ayinger.

This is simply a fantastic beer, more available than the Ayinger (at least where I shop), and a little less expensive. It's not a replacement, but it's a very close second in my book.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2007 00:45:57 | More by LiamMcFee