Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

SpasticKoala

New York

3.1/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: The head was okay, with just minimal sticking. The color was a deep mahogany and dark malt.
Smell: Mostly brown bread and malt.
Taste: A little wheat spice and malt. Very clean with mild fruitiness. Fairly neutral in yeast and hops. Not much in banana or cloves, as would be expected with a dunkelweizen.
Mouthfeel: Crisp and slightly dry.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 00:43:32 | More by SpasticKoala

tviz33

New York

3.65/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle in to a pint glass

A- Pours a dingy orange color with a quarter inch, off-white head that vanishes almost immediately. No carbonation bubbles to speak of

S- I've never had a Dunkelweizen, but I can compare the smell to a very average Hefeweizen: soft fruit notes on the nose, mostly banana and raisin.

T- A pleasant surprise.. Darker fruits cover the palette to start, with a slight nip from carbonation/alcohol/sour fruits towards the end.

M- I like the feel on this one. Thicker than the previous two Sam Adams brews I just reviewed, starting creamy and smooth, and finishing with more bite.

O- This beer is up my alley, and I'd be happy to have another. It's my first of the style, and I don't assume it's a perfect representation. I plan on having more similar brews.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 03:32:13 | More by tviz33

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.93/5  rDev +12%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen has a very thick, roiling, beige head, and a somewhat hazy, brown appearance, with lots of little streaming bubbles and a decent amount of lacing left behind. The aroma is of a coriander and banana whiff, brown bread, and spice. Taste is of sweet, brown bread, light molasses, coriander, a touch of bitterness, and a water back taste. The mouthfeel is high medium, and Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen finishes clean, semi-dry, and highly drinkable. Overall, this is very good, and I recommend checking it out.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 21:31:25 | More by RonaldTheriot

Fatehunter

Oregon

2.8/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a goblet. Dirty copper color with a thin head.
It smells like it wants to be a dunkel but it just needs some more practice. Wet hay and cherry smell.
Watery taste, an attempt at the malty sweetness and a short finish.
Descent texture. Smooth and fluffy with moderate carbonation.
An okay beer, not a good dunkel.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 00:45:09 | More by Fatehunter

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz bottle into a Weiss flute. Served chilled...

A) This a light brown brew. There was about 2 fingers worth of creamy head. Good retention and above average lacing.

S) The wheat and yeast were the first notable scent. Then the expected banana and spices followed. There is some light chocolate and dark fruit on the nose too. The only minor drawback was just a little bit of an artificial aroma as this one settled.

T) Nice wheat and darker malt flavors,pleasantly bready with a little caramel. The yeast is notable along with light clove and some nutmeg. There's a banana chocolate chip muffin thing going on here. This has a lot of flavors going on, and still manages a nice clean finish.

M) Medium body + moderate carbonation. Fairly crisp, and very clean from an aftertaste standpoint. This one goes down easy.

O) A solid option in the 2012 fall variety pack. I think I would buy a six pack of this offering. Quite good... Glad to recommend...

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 03:45:30 | More by RoamingGnome

fields336

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: mahogany to dark brown. one finger fizzy light tan head which dissipates quickly leaving a slight layer of head on top. the beer is hazy and opaque with good carbonation.

S: Giving off some nice banana and clove flavors. Slight twang, metallic,caramel, bready, raisin, plum , spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg are also present. really nice

T: raisin, banana, clove and bread. tastes a lot like breakfast bread. fruitiness with a thick chewy bready malt backbone. there is some bubblegum too. there is a slight tartness from the yeast which is to style

M: thick, chewy mouthfeel, fizzy and carbonated. drinkable

O: not my favorite style, this one is a little too dark fruity and sweet for me. not bad to style though

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 01:49:11 | More by fields336

xuzl

3.53/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Dark caramel/toffee color. Thin head that dispersed rather quickly. Looks like my kind of beer.

S- Significant bubblegum smell that admittedly, I didn't pick up on until I read about others experiences. I suppose that's the clove. After that some wheat-like smell. Not really enjoying the smell once I picked up on the similarities to bubblegum. This is my first weizen, so I'm not sure if that's expected or not.

T- Like a wheaty Boston Lager with something sweet tacked on. Maybe it's a fruity taste, but I can't quite pinpoint it. It's more of an artificial tasting sweet than anything I can name.

M- Very smooth, very easy to drink. Carbonation seems moderate at most.

O- One of the better Samuel Adams I've had. It loses points on the smell but it's very enjoyable otherwise.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 04:55:35 | More by xuzl

n2185

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a slightly hazy copper with two fingers of off-white head that recedes into a thin ring with no lacing.

S: Lots of bubblegum on the nose with notes of bananas, caramel, and hearty bread.

T: Bubblegum and banana here as well, though thankfully not as strong. There are some slight caramel malt flavors with a clean, bready finish.

M: Medium-light body with mid-high carbonation, this beer is fairly light, dry, and clean.

O: A solid beer, overall. Not the greatest or most complex, but tasty and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 20:34:48 | More by n2185

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Dark amber body with some golden highlights around the edges. Head is a beige color and looks thin and creamy.

S- Spices come on right away, but caramel malt and grains are the most noticeable. In the back are notes of citrus, wheat and earthy spices.

T- Has a strong caramel malt taste along with a very bready taste. Almost tastes like a Boston lager mixed with wheat and a hint of a doppelbock. Finishes with a wheat and citrus taste.

M- Medium bodied and medium carbonation. Has a very creamy and smooth feel.

O- Impressive offering. A lot of flavors are mingled together, but it works well.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 23:05:20 | More by stephenjmoore

BigCheese

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy amber/caramel. Some head, minimal lacing.

S: Quite yeasty/bready with some toffee malts.

T: Big wheat presence with caramel maltyness. Pretty tastey. Some bananas, toffee, cloves in flavor. Traditional tasting.

M: Got a bit of a chew, pretty decent.

O: One of the better options from sam, its nothing mind blowing but a well executed malt forward beer. Reccomended.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 18:18:04 | More by BigCheese

stckhndlr

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Has the appearance of a cloudy black tea when held up to the light. Not much in the way of head or lacing.

S- plenty of dunkel characteristics here. clove and yeasty wheat are dominant. Almost has a slight sugariness to it. But pleasant all the same.

T- Taste goes in with the smell., clove and yeast. Classic flavors but this beer has a mellowness to it. The clove flavor is not overpowering.

M- This one is smoother with less bite than some other weizens. Soft finish.

O- I am not a huge fan of some weizens because of my distaste for cloves. However, with this beer's lack of overpowering clove flavor it makes for a great beer to welcome in the fall.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 15:32:33 | More by stckhndlr

punky796

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into a Boston Lager tulip glass.

A - Like the dark wheat beer that it is. Kinda muddy brown, not a ton of carbonation, but an almost three-finger head that dissipates fairly quickly.

S - Clove is the first thing sensed, followed by yeasty wheat. When you focus on it a bit more, you'll notice the banana that the label says is in it, and that mixes well with the bread-y flavors.

T - Again, I noticed the clove first and foremost, but the banana/bread taste is noticeable more quickly than it was via smell. You wouldn't think so, but it works decently well with this kind of beer, imo.

M - Despite the probably too-cold bottle I drank, it has a pleasantly warm quality.

O - I'm a sucker for both good dunkels and wheat beer, and this one is alright. Will drink again.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 06:06:21 | More by punky796

Alextricity

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours with a nice looking creamy-ish head. The beer is a hazy, dark amber color with particles floating around. The head goes away pretty quickly, and there isn't much -- if any -- lacing to speak of.

Smell: Yeast and pineapple, but primarily? Banana. That's what I get primarily. I don't mind that at all though. What a nice smelling beer.

Taste/feel: I really only get banana with traces of malt and bubblegum at the end. I don't mind that at all though, I actually really enjoy it. The feel is seemingly about the same as any other Sam Adams... that relatively thin, watery, and moderately carbonated one. It suits this beer well.

This is my first ever dunkelweizen, and I have to say, it tastes super fruity with all the banana -- maybe that's not what this style's supposed to be about, but I really do enjoy it. This is the kind of beer your girlfriend or wife would enjoy... it really is that fruity tasting to me. While it is a lot of banana, it's not overpowering, and that's why I like it as much as I do. As usual, another solid beer made by Sam Adams. Actually, one of my favorites from them.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 00:27:57 | More by Alextricity

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

3.13/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a tall pilsner glass, color is amber with great translucent tones at the edges, head presents thick but is pretty thin in density for a wheat brew, it dissipate to a thin top

Smell is some light, thin banana and clove from the yeast, some light toasted notes and hints of chocolate with wheat/biscuity flavors rounding it out. It seems a touch thin

Taste is more malty sweet than anything, some banana, clove and light phenolics come through in bits and pieces; wheat presence is there but i get more malt sweetness.

Mouthfeel is more sweet in presence than thick from the wheat or strong flavors from the yeast, and finishes thin.

Overall, a thin interpretation of the style to me, to sweet in flavor and scent - would like to see more yeast flavor presence and wheat notes.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 23:18:40 | More by mvanaskie13

barnzy78

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, pours a cloudy amber color with a foamy, cream colored head that holds good retention but doesn't leave much for lacing. Aromas are yeasty, caramely, banana, spice, clove, with a somewhat odd woody smell. Tastes are better however, with banana, yeast, clove, caramel, and a nice spiciness reminiscent of an Oktoberfest style beer. Mouth-feel is the star here - creamy and smooth, full bodied. Overall, this was better than I remember, and better than expected, but still falls short in comparison to others of this style.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 03:20:08 | More by barnzy78

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Looks like a Dunkelweizen. Very murky brown. Tan head is consistent. Nice lacing sheets too. Sam makes good lookers.

S-Banana bread, banana yogurt, banana Laffy Taffy…You get the idea. Yeasty and very light on spice. Toasted wheat bread.

T-Banana bread, banana yogurt, banana Laffy Taffy (sounds familiar). Slightly burnt wheat bread and yeast are hidden under the banana parade. Not too much spice, and I enjoy that. Flavors are layered in a semi-awkward manner. But I like what they're doing here.

M-Very creamy with carbonation that makes your teeth feel like they are wearing socks. Fuzzy. Would love this next to some banana bread.

O/D-This Sam Adams variety is pretty solid. Another tasty keeper. Need to go out and try a few more Dunkels now.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 02:36:12 | More by VelvetExtract

mckenziac

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

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Paulaner weizen glass. Taken from Sam Adams's "Harvest Collection" seasonal variety pack.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, light brown color with some golden-yellow hues. Has a small, frothy head that fizzes down to a one-finger cap.

Smell: Smells of roasted malts, with some of those good, German yeast aromas. Hints of banana, cloves, and other spices.

Taste: Starts roasty and sweet. Finishes sweet and yeasty with spicy and banana-y subtleties.

Mouthfeel: Moderately carbonated with a medium, slightly chewy body. Pretty much what I would expect from the style.

Overall: A better-than-average mass market wheat beer. I'm always impressed that Sam Adams makes such a wide variety of styles that are more or less faithful interpretations of the style. This one falls squarely in that category and is definitely something I'll be having again.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 23:49:55 | More by mckenziac

JEdmund

Kansas

3.58/5  rDev +2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Caramel brown with an underlying orange glow; hazy but clearer than I would have expected; smallish head that settles out fast.

Smells pretty nice though not as assertive as some true German dunkels. Appropriate notes of banana, clove, and sweet caramel malt.

Good mouthfeel—full without being filling. Could use just a tough more carbonation.

Solid flavor with a really great crisp and tart finish. Slightly sweet malts, light chocolate, banana, spices, and dough comprise the flavors here. There’s even a bit of a lemon-like flavor in the finish.

Complex, delicious, and very drinkable—everything a good dunkel should be! Sam Adams did a nice job with this.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 00:10:17 | More by JEdmund

aubuc1

Florida

3.43/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy mellow brown with a nice thick light tan head. Looks good.

Smell is wheat bread, sweet, ripe banana, and some esthery yeast.

Taste is pretty sweet. Much like smell, but not as balanced by bread.

Mouthfeel is very thin.

Overall it is a decent beer- not bad for a mixed pack, but certainly not one to seek out. Was better looking and smelling than tasting.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 17:46:20 | More by aubuc1

Apellonious

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From the fall mix pack 12- 12 oz

A - A dark, cloudy brownish orange with amber highlights. Pours to a thin half finger head that dissipates to a thin lace quickly.

S - Spices (coriander, nutmeg?), dough, cloves and banana.

T- More of the same, with the clove/banana action taking center stage. Banana action. A term that could be misinterpreted. There is a sweetness, like apple cider like, that becomes more apparent as the beer gets warmer.

M - A touch thin, a bit on the watery side. The carbonation is mild up front, prickly on the finish.

O - Solid beer, could use some more heft, but the wateriness could be by design. This style has always been one I am interested in picking up, albeit occasionally when I am looking for something different, not as a fridge foundation piece.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 01:50:00 | More by Apellonious

BucannonXC5

California

3.75/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12-oz. bottle into a pint glass at my house on Sept. 2, 2012 (purchased at Mission Valley (San Diego, Calif.) Vons on Sept. 2, 2012 as part of a Harvest 12-pack for $12.98).
About 2-3 fingers of head. Poured a hazy amber, mahogany with khaki, tan lacing. Average retention on the top, below average on the sides.

Smelled a variety of flavors, but they worked nicely. Got cinnamon, nutmeg, banana, cloves, tropical fruit and caramel. Later read the bottle and most of the above flavors were mentioned.

Taste wasn’t as good as the nose, but similar. Banana, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon.

Medium body. Slick texture. Above average carbonation. Felt like a winter warmer. Longer finish.

Liked this beer, but couldn’t pull the trigger on higher ratings. I’d probably try it again though.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 05:26:01 | More by BucannonXC5

LXIXME

New Mexico

3.23/5  rDev -8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Big light brown head quickly dies without leaving much lacing at all above a clear dark reddish honey colored beer.

Banana, light cloves, some wheat grain on a roasted caramel malt aroma.

Light caramel malt and quite a bit of banana with hints of the cloves coming through in the taste of this dunkelweizen.

A light dry aftertaste with a little bit of the banana and caramel hanging around on this medium bodied affair.

This is basically just a plain dunkel that isn't to fancy but doesn't suck at the same time. I guess if you wanna try the harvest variety pack you'll do alright getting two of these but I would suggest if you want to drink more of this style look to the European versions, you'll be more satisfied.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 22:53:35 | More by LXIXME

Vixie

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice looking copper color with a small tan head that dissipates quickly.

Smells, nice, I can detect caramel, toffee, fruit, and clove.

Starts out sweet, maybe with a hint of caramel. There are fruit notes in there, and banana and clove.

Maybe a touch thin for the style.

Not a bad beer, but not a real outstanding one either. I wish the flavors were just a bit more up front, but they are nice, and come forward a bit more when warmer. A nice beer for late summer.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 01:13:35 | More by Vixie

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: dirty orange/tan body, trace head, no lacing

S: mild banana, yeast, hint of clove, nut

T: hint of ripe fruit, bready/yeast malt, mild roasted/semi-dry finish

M: med/light body, too much carbonation/semi-dry mouth

O: Glad Samuel Adams took this on, but needs more
creamy body and bump up the ABV to 6 would do well.
Nice intro Dunkle for newbie.

OK, NOT MUST HAVE!

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 16:31:25 | More by BeerLover99

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've been slammin' Sam all week since I purchased his season sampler. I see a few others are on the same trail in reviewing brewskies.

This is a nice beer that is more like a german lager or a wheat bear. There is a nice hint of vanilla or banana sweetness that is offset by a nice citrusy lemon peel or grass that allows a nice refreshing and dry finish. Excellent balance. Good taste. Easy and refreshing to drink. Thumbs up.

Goes well with Pauline Oliveros electronic drone music.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 20:01:47 | More by frankiepop