Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A careful pour produces a voluminous, four-finger thick, lightly cocoa tinged, tan colored head that only laves a touch of lacing on the sides of my glass. The beer is a earthy, dark plum color, but shows a lightly hazed, lightish cranberry hue when held up to the light. When held up to the light you also get a good sight of the seething mass of bubbles that are packed into this brew. Quite an appetizing aroma, it is a melange of banana, caramelized bread crust, a touch of sweet plum, crushed grain, some smooth phenolic clove notes and a light peppery spice character that is just barely noticeable underneath the surface. The Dunkel part of the malt bill adds a bit more, slightly rich, fruitiness to the aroma than one would find in a pale version. It also accentuates aromas of toasty grain and fresh baked, whole-grain bread crust.

The carbonation keeps this fairly light and definitely adds a light frothy texture to this brew. Very lightly sweet, but it does have a richness of malt character to it that pale Hefeweizens do not have. Soft fruit flavors of ripe plums seem to be a bit more noticeable up front than either of the signature banana or clove notes. Both are here though with the banana playing a subtle flavor role up front and in the middle, while the clove flavors add a spicy finish to this brew where it plays a pretty significant role. Coupled with the clove in the finish is a nice, wheat-beer tartness. As the beer warms up a bit, the clove flavors begin to stretch into the front parts of each sip. The texture of this beer really has a nice, soft, velvety character to it; it coats the mouth, but softly as this is a very quaffable brew. Melanoids and caramelized notes characterize the malt / grain character up front, while a bit of dusty grain character with just a kiss of toast graces the palate in the middle. At times a spicy, pepper-like character inserts itself onto the palate, it is quite nice and provides a sort of palate cleansing.

This is just a very nice example of a Dunkel Weizen. The caramelized, slightly toastier malt adds an interesting dimension to the traditional Hefeweizen character. This is a beer I would be quite happy to drink a few liters of.

Purchased: Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2008 23:13:01 | More by Gueuzedude

Halcyondays

California

3.65/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

16.9 oz. bottle, got to love that great looking regal German looking bottle,

A: Pours a cloudy light brown, with a full white head, lots of foam.

S: Fragrant yeast character, a lot of banana, sweet malt.

T: Light caramel hits at first and then melds into a lot of banana, with hints of molasses. Long lingering finish of clove.

M: Seems a tad on the thin side for a weizen beer, and it's hard to find the flavour at times, but it does have a rich carbonation appeal.

D: My first dunkelweizen in a while, a tasty beer, though I do prefer their regular hefe beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2008 02:46:08 | More by Halcyondays

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle, BBD: 29/11/2011.

This beer pours a dark, murky, over-saturated iced-tea brown, with two fingers of thin foamy pale beige head, which leaves but a few specks of lace around the glass as it recedes. It smells of crisp roasted wheat grain, mild banana, spicy clove, and earthy yeast. The taste is more sweet, the toasted grain taking a backseat to the banana and yeast duad. The carbonation is moderate, and a bit zingy, the body medium weight, a bit airy, but smooth overall. It finishes clean, drier than expected, with some lingering fruit and yeast.

A nicely balanced dark wheat beer - there's something to be said for Old World subtlety. However, that banana/yeast thing does grow stale sooner rather than later.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 00:57:22 | More by biboergosum

Gavage

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: pours a clear dark amber color with a 1" head. Some spotty lacing develops.

Smell: the nose picks up a light banana and clove aroma with a hint of nuttiness.

Taste: tha banana tones are strong but pleasant, while a soft yeasty breadiness is the backbone of this beer. Some clove, brown sugar, and general nuttiness round it out.

Mouthfeel: perfectly crisp start and finish. The banana, cloves, and light nuttiness lingers briefly on the tastebuds after swallowing.

Drinkabilty: simply put - fantastic. Go out and grab one of these to bring home.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2006 12:35:09 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.83/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500 ml bottle, poured into a Weihenstephan glass:

Pours a beautiful hazed caramel light brown with a thick head that slowly descends to a thick, foamy, lasting sizable head. Some lacing sticks to glass (a bit more and this would be perfect).

The smell is of banana/clove and sweet toffee. Doughy wheat in the back with a fruity/wheaty tang.

The taste is of banana/clove with sweet toffee. Maple syrup sweetness is balanced by a banana fruitiness with a touch of red apple. Some doughy wheat, but subdued, allowing for full complexities to really shine forth. Well-balanced sweetness throughout. Complex, yet light and smooth. Great carbonation level. Flavor linger.

It is appropriately light to medium bodied. Crisp and smooth.

A classic dunkel weizen that is absolutely delicious. This clearly outshines so many others. Unique, yet well within the style. Another great brew from this awesome brewery!

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2007 20:24:10 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a .5L at Abe's. Poured a light, hazy brown with a tall off-white head. I found this to be an aromatic and surprisingly smooth dunkel, but didn't think the flavor lived up to the reviews. I only got simple, dark bread malt and creamy (very slight banana) yeast character. Not exactly as deep as the Hefe, but a fine beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2008 05:52:03 | More by tempest

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I am drinking a 16.9 oz bottle poured into an oversized Widmer Bros. hefe weizen glass. The ale is slightly chilled.

Appearance: Hazy, dark amber color. The ale has some sediment (as it is unfiltered). It poured with decent head, but when the head dissapated, all carbonation seemed to go with it.

Smell: A yeasty aroma wafts from the glass, along with banana and clove scents. Very pleasing to smell.

Taste: The esters used provide a great tasting banana flavor (it is there and very minute, so search for it and you'll find it). Again, the carbonation is fairly low (which surprised me), leaving somewhat of a flat taste in the mouth. The taste is very light and refreshing and complimented by some caramelly flavors, as per the dunkel in the name.

Mouthfeel: The darker malts create a nice feeling on the palate, allowing some chocolate/caramel hints to interact with the banana undertones. It is a little undercarbonated, and that is the only thing preventing a 5.0.

Drinkability: I have not had a good weizen in ages. Having this reminded me of why they are fantastic. Light, refreshing and airy and relatively low in alcohol, this is one good beer (and style, too). I highly recommend this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2006 21:57:26 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Chestnut brown ruby effervescent offwhite chunky head leaves huge collar of lacing nice appearance big yeasty dregs pour out of my bottle it's nice. Aroma: I'm getting an array of fruit tones, green apples, raisins, and soft banana tones with a slight citrus hint to it all leaves me with spices and clove with some Hallertau in the finish giving it an herbal quality. Taste: Soft chocolate hints blended with banana clove yeast notes and other spices once again the plethora of fruit shines light upon my palate nice. Mouthfeel: Spritzy and bubbly but not overcarbonated medium to light in body this is a magnificant dunkel hefe. Drinkability: Unparalled for the style simply put just enjoy it's worth it.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2003 07:41:34 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clouded gold brown with no head. Nose is slightly sweet in a banana kind of way. That is basically the prevalent fragrance that hits you the whole time. Bananas. Big fields of them. Flavor is smooth and a bit mild, but even. There is that hefe typical character there with a strong banana skin profile to it, just like the nose. Feel is smooth on the mouth. Definitely drinkable. A really good brew that is worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2007 01:30:12 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.15/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a dark maple brown color with a thick foamy tan head big and cloudy too. Nose is chocolate, brown sugar, clove, wheat and banana. Taste is smooth tasting beer with hints of maple, chocolate maltiness, banana and a touch of clove spiciness. Really good Dunkel overall.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2009 13:22:45 | More by barleywinefiend

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a weizen glass)

A- This beer has a big rocky tan head that is fizzing away with a strong carbonation. The body is a nice warm brown with a slight hazy to it.

S- The smell is soft phenols with a faint clove hint and some very faint banana hints. The smell of bubblegum is faint but a little stronger than the cloves and banana. Some notes of raw grain and bread are in there aswell.

T- A slight tartness in the initial taste. Some bubblegum flavors are not as strong as the raw grain and whole wheat bread flavors. The finish is a little carbonic with a slight sweetness.

M-medium mouthfeel with some fizz from the carbonation

D- It is missing a lot of the depth of fruits and yeast characters that I like in German wheat beers. It would be nice to have a little maltyness and maybe some other characters to tone down or balance the bubblegum notes.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2005 20:13:32 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

4.03/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy light brown color, nice carbonation, nice creamy 2 finger head, tons of lacing afterwards. The nose is of malts, yeast, bananna, cloves, slightly grassy, and slight caramel. The taste follows the nose malty/grassy, nice taste of cloves/bananna, nice crisp finish. Medium body. Very drinkable, very freshing brew, highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2006 21:36:11 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.38/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a three-finger white head that vanishes quickly leaving no lace. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Hazy light amber color, no yeast settling out. Nose is mostly yeast and some malt. Flavor is dominated by the yeast, some wheat, sweet yeasty finish. Not nearly as good as when I had it 7 years ago. $3.25 for a 500ml bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 22:17:16 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 12 oz sleek euro brown bottle with the boasting words “Oldest Brewery in the World” on the label, freshness date is on the back label.

Appearance: Deep tarnish copper with a red hue, some haze from the addition of the yeast into the glass. After a proper pouring a thick meringue like head forms and stay for the duration.

Smell: Malty nose, light brown malt or toasted. Suggestions of green apple, yeast and pie spice also in the aroma.

Taste: Moderate body that is well structured and able to hold the soft malty palate, very crisp carbonation that is at a perfect level. As soon as the carbonation hits there is a spicy snap of clove and a twang from the fermented wheat. Nice even malt flavour with a bit of toasted and dry malt character. Neutral though a bit nutty yeast on the tongue. Minimal bitterness from the hops, barely noticeable. Vague fruitiness of over dried raisins and plantains though esters are controlled. All in all the finish is quite clean and is comparatively a dry beer.

Notes: By far one of the greatest dark wheat beers available in the US market to date, very soft on the palate … no harshness at all. Malt flavour is near perfection with all the other flavours kept as a backdrop to let the malt be dominant.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2002 10:33:52 | More by Jason

mdfb79

New York

4.43/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From 12/08/10 notes. Had on tap at The Saloon in Washington, DC. Served into a 0.5L Georgetown Saloon weizen glass.

a - Pours a darkish brown color with 2 fingers of fluffy off white head and moderate carbonation evident. Head lasts for several minutes and leaves light lacing on the glass.
Looks great.

s - Smells of bananas, cloves, spices, wheat, and toasted malts. Bananas jump right out at you.

t - Tastes of bananas, toasted malts, wheat, bready malts, very light spices, and sweet caramel malts. Tastes amazing, pretty perfect for the style.

m - Medium body and high carbonation that stings the tongue. A little less carbonated and the mouthfeel would be great.

d - A very good beer hurt by it's high carbonation. This was probably the best tasting dunkelweizen I've had and it looked great as well. Would certainly have again but I think if it was less carbonated it could be even better.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2010 19:11:09 | More by mdfb79

Billolick

New York

4.43/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Yeah baby, this is one of my all time favorite styles and Weihenstephaner, turns out a very fine version! Plummy brown with a long lasting light tan head, the lacing is slippery and doesnt last long. The nose here is softly spicy and I also get some ripe fruit notes. this stuff is velvet on the tongue and bursting with fruity, yeasty, clove and banana goodness. Finishes with a drying winey, slight sourness. elegent, complex and all around fine stuff.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2005 02:28:05 | More by Billolick

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appears a murky brown with a huge 3 finger white head with scattered lacing.
Smell is of the trademark Weihenstephaner yeast that makes this an unmistakeable classic. Bananas, fresh bread, caramel, and perhaps a hint of anise.
Taste is of sugary bread, caramel candy, and light bananas. The finest of all dunel weizens. I wish I had this on draft right now...that is the true Capo di tutti capi in the world of Dunkel Weizens.
Mouthfeel is smooth, light bodied, and sugary. Nice.
Drinkability is very nice and enjoyable. One of the nicest German brews available.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2005 16:22:28 | More by weeare138

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was also shared with biegaman on the patio, it was a great day for beer drinking.

Pours a cloudy brown with orange edges, thick off white head forms, eggshell colour, leaves a few lace spots, settles to a thin ring. Smell is sweet and malty, caramel, chocolate, light vanilla and banana, touch of yeast and spice. Taste is similar, nice caramel and bready malts, banana, touch of citrus, spices, chocolate, yeasty finish. Mouthfeel is light bodied with medium to high carbonation. Another solid beer from Weihenstephaner, a nice dunkelweiss! Thanks Jan.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2007 17:47:59 | More by Viggo

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The normal brown 500ml bottle, best before 16th jan 2009, reviewed on a wet and windy English Sunday afternoon in March 2008.

Poued into a Franziskaner Weissbier glass.

Muddy, dirty mid-brown colour and cloudy of course. Light, grubby biege foaming head, which is huge by the way.

The aroma is of toasted bread and burnt vanilla smells in a heady mix which also has hops and yeast esters trying to vie for attention.

The taste is all vanilla and baked bananas. Not as sweet as my discription may imply. This has hidden flavours too, you have to search for them.
Apples and Pears, non-sour citrus fruits as well.

Not as thick as I anticipated, but not watery either. The flavours stay in the mouth and don't fade to anything nasty, like some beers can.

All in all a fine beer, not the best Dunkell Hefeweissbier I've ever had, but well up there with the better ones.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2008 16:41:38 | More by BlackHaddock

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.63/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The color of this beer is a nice blend of scarlet red, amber and orange. A little murky. Nice creamy two finger off-white head tops it off. Aroma seems to indicate a fairly high phenolic content. There are also some spicy, peppery tones present on the nose. The mouthfeel is on the high end of the spectrum in regards to carbonation. Body is medium to full. I get some banana esters on the tongue as well as mild (to my surprise) phenolic content and peppery spice accents. Some slight roasted overatures are noted also. Not bad. Pretty decent dunkel weizen here.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2002 21:16:50 | More by Bighuge

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: 750ml bottle at Eulogy, Philly, PA

Poured a murky brownish-amber with a fluffy eggshell head that receded quite a bit but rejuvenated every time I poured more from the bottle. Aroma of sweet malts, banana esters, clove, and yeast. Taste of caramel, toasted pumpernickel, banana and cloves, spicy yeast, and a hint of honeydew. Medium-bodied, generously carbonated, and quite drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 22:14:00 | More by Rifugium

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a dark maple brown color with a thick foamy tan head that settles into a lasting lacing. Aroma of chocolate, brown sugar, clove and banana. Very smooth tasting beer with hints of maple, hazelnut, chocolate maltiness, banana and a touch of clove spiciness.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 06:01:03 | More by corby112

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.15/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Always having been a huge fan of Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, it shocked me to realise I'd never reviewed their dunkel. Well, that's something that needs rectifying... Served in my half-litre Franziskaner weizen glass.

Pours a lovely deep and cloudy orange-brown colour, which glistens and shines in the light. A beautiful colour for a dunkelweizen. Head is a thick and boisterous froth of yellow-tinged white, that foams and crackles its way down to half a centimetre of film by the end, and leaves a bit of separated lacing. Carbonation is strong and boisterous, although looks like there's enough body to give it some trouble. It's a truly magnificent looking dunkelweizen.

Nose is redolent with delicious weizen characters, giving the classic banana and spice aromas. But it's also broadened with sweet caramel, brown sugar and banana bread, that give this wonderfully refined character and deepen the experience. Spice comes through with prickly clove and biting fresh pepper and ozone. Great nose. Just wonderful.

Taste is also good, although it's mellower than it might have been. The spiciness on the nose disappears here, although the languid, sweet toffee characters come through more prominently. Hint of banana through the centre, and there's a long, lingering back palate that gives off an odd freshness like lightly chlorinated water. Feel is light and fluid - whatever body the malty caramel may have suggested is a little absent.

A lovely beer, and an excellent dunkelweizen. As good as it is, I still feel that while the Weihenstephaner Hefe makes me think it's the peerless pinnacle of the art, this dunkel makes me think there may be another better one out there.

But maybe only one.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 06:40:57 | More by lacqueredmouse

DoubleJ

California

4.4/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Here it is, the final stage of the Weihenstephaner Invitational, its dark hefeweizen. Let the pouring begin:

Cinnamon brown in color with hues of red and orange in the body with a nice head. The nose gets notes of yeast and spiced cider. Now for the tasting: starts off with a mild tang, which is then pushed over for a cinnamon cider flavor with apple. The yeast then pulls out its phenolic flavors, and then hints of brown sugar and raisins. A little bolder than the hefeweizen. Drinks well.

And now, the moment of truth, the winner of the Weihstephaner Invitational. And the winning style...

The Original!

Four fantastic beers, but just one winner. What a shame, because all these beers deserved a nomination. The Wei Invite has been wrapped up, so check back to see what you missed. Good night everyone!

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2007 21:02:30 | More by DoubleJ

glid02

Georgia

4.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from Green's on Ponce in Atlanta.

Pours a hazy brown color with a two-finger bright white head. The head recedes into a thin pancake on top leaving thick lacing.

Smells of brown bananas and cloves with a bit of toasted malt lingering in the background.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Soft banana flavors and clove up front are backed by solid amounts of robust toasted malt. The ending is sweet.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a creamy thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing the bottle and could have a few of these on a warm day.

Overall this is a tasty dunkel and once again Weihenstephaner does their job well. Worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2009 03:06:41 | More by glid02