Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

PhantomVodoo

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Cloudy caramel brown in color. Light tan head.
Yeasty aroma with bits of clove and banana. Good dose of caramel malt mixed in.

Taste shows a smooth, roasty, caramel malt flavor. Hop balance and wheat give the beer some crispness. Yeast notes mixed in.

Good mouthfeel is somewhat creamy.
Good drinkability.

Overall, a good dunkel hefeweizen.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2003 04:13:35 | More by PhantomVodoo

aracauna

Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is swank beer. Not up to Aventinus standards, but damn near close (yes I realize they are different styles). Just a tad darker than Schneider Weiss -- cloudy tarnished copper. Big meringue head, the kind where bubble pop and a leave a permanent pit. The aroma, in addition to some of the typical aromas had this aroma I associate with stilton cheese. It's not a cheesiness, but that aroma that I can't really describe but think of as a smokey earthiness. Great hefe flavors, a bit milder than I prefer (I'm a Schneider Weiss aficionado) but this is made up by the darker malt flavors. A bit like caramel and bananas. Great, elegant beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2003 16:15:45 | More by aracauna

Brent

Kentucky

2.68/5  rDev -37.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I can't believe I'm giving this beer relatively low marks, since the other beers I've had from the brewery have been very good. Perhaps I expected too much. Poured a hazy ice tea brown. Not a lot of aroma. Mild banana yeast esthers jumped up at the front, but then surrendered to nondescript sweet yeast flavors. Did not detect a lot of wheat malt, which was surprising for a dark wheat.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2003 14:31:05 | More by Brent

bditty187

Nebraska

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

Murky, multi-shaded brown/dark amber with a massive, three finger’s worth of off-white head. Excellent retention. Minimal lace. Almost perfect Hefeweizen nose (spicy, yeasty, clove) then sprinkle in hints of caramel malt… what an invitation! The potency is a touch light, oh well. Very tasty palate, well balanced with pepper, clove, and spice upfront… yeastiness and apples (briefly) in the middle… the end is softly caramel, distant maltiness… the aftertaste is softly peppery and provoking carbonation that tickles your tongue… loiters on the dry side, rather clean. Medium body. Exceedingly drinkable! This is a great dark wheat ale, my high expectations were easily met… if you see the name Weihenstephaner on the label, buy it! As for this one, recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2003 18:44:11 | More by bditty187

TheDM

Indiana

2.73/5  rDev -35.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

An initially large off-white head that almost overflowed the glass with moslty fine bubbles. This wheat beer was not one of my favorite, but more or less middle of the road for me. There was no strong after taste, but the taste did linger for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2003 17:11:12 | More by TheDM

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Color is what I compare to the river water of the Mississippi on a good day. It looks like what its suppose to for a dark hefe, one ugly ass murky brown. The top was super fluffy and tall, nearly two inches of fluffy frothyness, liked whipped coffee cream, crumbles slowly to a fine small head that never leaves. Lace is everywhere, some sticks, some drips, mostly patches with some strings.
Smell is quite simple yet very nice, soft and light airy lemon, some maltness, a bit musty and a touch of banana and spice.
Taste is a nice mellow lemon flavor, easy tartness, balanced nicely with darker malts and wheat, a bit of breadish dryness, touch of banana and spice in there, smooth the entire gulp. Nice open and mellow medium body feel, mostly midway action then thins out nicely in the finish leading it to be drinkable beyond comprehension. One excellent, fine beer to drink any Ol' time, but favors the warmth of summer.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2003 06:39:51 | More by tavernjef

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

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

Wow! What a beer! It offers all of the flavors and aromas of the standard Weihenstephaner weizen with the addition of a light caramel note. It pours a cloudy, tawny brown body with a full head of creamy off-white foam. Soft banana, light clove-like spice, light brown sugar and apples appear in the nose. The body is medium and it appears initially crisp and then creamy across the palate due to its very fine and effervescent natural carbonation. Gentle spice appears first in the flavor; followed by a soft maltiness that's just slightly tangy and backed by gentle fruitiness (bananas, apples). It's very well-balanced by an underlying bitterness, and it finishes with a lingering note of nutty malt and some drying clove-like yeastiness. Refreshing but full of flavor. Exceptional!

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2003 15:45:21 | More by NeroFiddled

DESTRO

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

i love the hefe-weissebier, figured this would be good too. pours a beautiul dark amber color with a nice medium white head. reduces a bit, but a nice small head stays and laces the glass nicely throughout the drinking session. smells of wheat, clove and a bit of spice, and pretty much tastes the same. not quite as "wheaty" as the normal hefe, but is a little heavier and fruitier tasting, reminds be of a mix between the hefe and the korbinian? i dont know. finishes a bit dry and the mouthfeel is great. good carbonation that just feels great on the toungue. this stuff is great.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2003 22:26:04 | More by DESTRO

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

It's muddy brown and lighter brown on the edges. The head is huge and laces well. The aroma is a direct early look into the flavors; of which include banana, chocolate, yeast, lemon, clove, spice, toasted malt.....very awesome and refreshing brew with crisp carbonation. It's kind of like a mellow chocolate covered banana with lemon zest to boot. Awesome stuff.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2003 21:21:26 | More by AudioGilz

BierReise

Florida

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

German wheat beer is probably my favorite style if I absolutely had to choose one and Weihenstephaner is one of the great breweries of germany. That said, I find this dark wheat to be exceptional in flavor and quality. Beautiful dark brown with standard huge wheat head of froth. Smell is sweet and malty with a definite yeast presence. Full of wheat flavor that is sweet and malty. Full bodied and ultra smooth on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2003 16:21:31 | More by BierReise

oberon

North Carolina

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

I have been looking for a good beer in this style striking out a few times but I hit the jackpot with this one.Poured a rich brown/copper color with big blooming head.Smelled of caramel and toffee with come faint smokiness to it as well.Pretty nutty flavor with some fresh tartness in there,pretty complex and rewarding.Should have known this was the brewer who would get this beer right.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2003 09:43:33 | More by oberon

jeffboo

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Ah, summer's around the corner and the hefe weizens will be pouring on out of the breweries. Here's a bottle of one of the best, this one's a slightly tan color ( not as dark as most dunkelweizens) with the traditional big hefe foam. The aroma is huge! Lots of clove,banana cream, a hint of chocolate and spices. The flavor is malty and sweet with bubblegum,clove,more banana cream with a little yeast tangyyness on the tongue. It is lighter body with lots of carbonation at first with a creaminess as it settles. I like the flavor but the darker grains don't show themselves well in this one like others of this ilk. It is a very refreshing beer that's getting my groove on for the warmer months ahead.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2003 18:40:26 | More by jeffboo

darklager

Ohio

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

This beer pours a rich, creamy, bronze color with a rather large white head. During the pour, yeast is seen diving from the bottle and splashing gleefully into the glass, which makes me pause and reminisce about my last batch of homebrew which unfortunately is no longer with us. The aroma is a fruity caramel scent which is quite pleasing to the nasal passages. The taste is pretty sweet with almost a caramel taste to it. While it wasn't exactly love at first taste with this beer, by the time the bottle was finished, we had warmed to each other quite nicely. Now I'm looking forward to seeing her again.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2003 08:59:22 | More by darklager

marburg

Michigan

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

Pours the brown color of a deep, brown wood stain with a surprisingly white, rocky head. The taste is a standout on this beer. Reminds me of some sort of citrus-inspired yule log -- that is, lemon and caramel-chocolate intermingle. A perfect play of the wheat with a sweeter, fruity malt flavor. Just a great-tasting brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2003 18:45:24 | More by marburg

Scooter77

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy brown/copper color with a huge rocky head. Head retention is great, it lasts until the last drop. The aroma is full of malted goodness mixed with a hint of cocoa and toffee. The taste is an exceptional medley of malt, hops, vanilla, and bananas. This is a great medium bodied beer from the folks at Weihenstephaner.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2003 06:35:21 | More by Scooter77

WMBierguy

Maryland

5/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

My favorite style beer from my favorite brewery. Great flavor, great color.A slightly stronger taste than an average Weiss beer, and the typically rich Wiehenstephaner quality.Anyone who likes Weiss beers would love this beer, and I suggest that they try it as soon as they can get their hands on this semi hard to find beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2003 22:10:20 | More by WMBierguy

cokes

Wisconsin

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

Muddied amber-brown with an ample beige top.
Apple pie, clove, and pepper on the nose.
Taste begins with the chalky yeast joining with the husky wheat flavors. Turns into the apple pie essence as promised by the nose. Loads of pepper, and quantatively smaller hues of clove. Touches of chocolate-coated banana follow to round things out. Lingering impressions of lemon.
Firm, yet soft medium body. And a dunkel drinkability that has not been surpassed in my experience.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2003 13:56:13 | More by cokes

Mitchster

Michigan

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

Clear brew (until the yeast is poured in), medium-amber in color forming a peaking, meringue-like off-white head atop medium-large bubbles with strong carbonation, and very active spiral streamers. The head remains at least 1/2" thick until the bottom of the glass. Lacing is good. Aroma is rich with phenolic bananas and clove, peppery alcohol, and lightly husky amber malts. Mouthfeel is bright, yet remarkably smooth in finish despite the high carbonation, with a light body. Taste starts out with spritzy bananas and wheat malt, some very subtle soft hops, fading into a slight metallic note, and ending in a wet, lightly astringent, lightly grainy amber malt profile with just enough hop bitterness to balance it. Very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2003 16:28:39 | More by Mitchster

Stubbie1

Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours like most good dunkel weissbier, dark in color with fine beads of carbonation. A towering off white head is at the top of this beer. Aroma is of most beer of this type, cloves, banana, citrus and yeast. Taste is a bit malted but the natural flavors emerge. A bit dry in the finish but very drinkable. A good beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2003 18:18:58 | More by Stubbie1

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.6/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

An impressively foamy, bilious head tops a beer with a dark brown, almost pruney, or figgy hue. Aroma is lively and satisfying: citrus, notes of vanilla, banana, cloves, rich, deep, dark. Reminds me of Belgian abbey dubbels, a favorite. Taste is sharp, dry, with a hasty finish, that leaves you yearning for more. A very sociable beer: not too difficult to drink, and not in the least forgettable. Slight bitterness, medium body, and as for flavor, I feel like it's close to a lighter version of a barleywine, crazy as that sounds.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2003 19:10:15 | More by feloniousmonk

MJR

Missouri

4.9/5  rDev +15%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Pours a beautiful medium chocolate color with edges that are a shade lighter. Cloudy as all hell, with lots of bubbles racing to the top of my glass. It's head starts out massive and shrinks down to a steady 1-inch cap.

Smell: Fairly spicy with suggestions of apple, banana, clove, tart wheat, lemon, and bubblegum.

Taste: Dark wheat beer perfection with a glorious balance of the fruitiness from the banana and apple flavors, the soft spiciness, and the tart freshness from the wheat. All of the flavors intermingle well with each other, without overpowering and taking over control of the palate. This is the blueprint for what a Dunkel Hefeweissbier should taste like. Unmatched...

Mouthfeel: At first, the yeast in the body fools you into thinking it's thicker than it really is. But as it warms in your mouth, it shows it's true colors: a thin-to-medium body with a crisp and tart, yet soft and round mouthfeel that just begs for another sip. Then another...

Drinkability: As high as they come. I could easily drain glass after glass of this nectar in the summer...oh, who am I kidding?! This beer is amazing in any season.

Absolutely world-class. If you're curious what wheat beers are 'really' supposed to taste like, this and it's lighter brother are German Wheat Bier 101. Take a seat, 'cause class is in session!

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2003 20:08:23 | More by MJR

jackndan

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hefie dark: Not really one of my favorite styles, but this remains a very fine beer. It pours a cloudy brown, with a huge head that is as tall as it is smooth. This beer has sort of a lemony aroma. The taste is very nice, a very malty hefe style, with the traditional yeast flavors being muted and very much in the background. A good version of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2003 16:54:41 | More by jackndan

mikes2923

Illinois

4.9/5  rDev +15%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This brew (along with everything from this brewery) is just another example of what excellent beer is all about. Nice chocolatey-looking color as you would expect from a dark weiss beer and the taste is nothing short of outstanding. Very smooth, not at all harsh or "too strong" even for those not accustomed to this type of beer. Generally, I prefer Hefe-weizens to their darker cousins but this is an outstanding exception as this ranks as one of my all time favorites.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2003 11:01:49 | More by mikes2923

DerKaiser

California

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

This is a quintessential Bavarian weissbier from Weihenstephaner. And as such, it is superb in every respect.

The beer is a dusky brown with a thick, creamy head. The proper clove and phenolic banana smells and flavors are well represented throughout. These are balanced nicely with roasted notes and a crisp carbonation level, which helps dry out the finish.

This is truly a wonderful example of this style and but one of a number of great products from this brewery outside of Freising.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2003 16:48:08 | More by DerKaiser

RBorsato

Virginia

4.97/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Murky light brown with a nice tan head and decent lace but not really active carbonation until swirled. Spicy banana-clove aroma and flavor from the yeast. Restrained caramel flavors in the finish. Light bodied and airy.

A true dark hefeweizen and exactly what you would expect !

[16 oz for $2.59]

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2002 13:13:20 | More by RBorsato