Live Oak Primus Weizenbock - Live Oak Brewing Company

afluentturtle

Texas

4.2/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served on tap at Nobi Public in a Sam Adams glass

Appearance: Poured a muddy brown, with very little thin bubbly head. No lacing down the glass. I really find the color to be off putting, its almost like drinking swamp water.

Smell: Bananas, cloves, maybe some citrus, a little yeast. Very appealing to say the last.

Taste: A very nice sweetness, malts, caramelized bananas and plantains, some figs and apricot and other dark fruits.

Mouthfeel: Mild carbonation, good body, incredibly drinkable.

Overall: Didn't really know what to expect as I have never had a wizenbock. Other than the appearance this beer was very very good. Another home run by live oak if I say my self.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2013 20:41:19 | More by afluentturtle

ElCommodoro

Texas

4.95/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The degree to which this was amazing took me by surprise. The server told me it wass like a barleywine. That was clearly not true on the first sip. Having never experienced a weizenbock before, I still didn't know what it WAS, all I could tell is that it rocked my world. It was like this beer was made for me. I'm surprised so many people agree because I have such odd preferences.
The key feature of this beer was a surprisingly smooth banana flavour. Banana is often a sign of a malty beer oxidizing, but in this beer, it is a character that goes very well with the rest of the beer, while giving it a raw, primal feel, like you're drinking something that was found in a shipwreck off the coast of Gaul. It just tastes like a primitive, but simultaneously amazing variation on beer. It's also surprisingly thin for how malty it is, not in the least but sticky or cloying.
I have ordered this 3 times now at Alamo Drafthouse even though usually I always try a new "Badass beer" every time I go. I'm disappointed that I can't buy it in bottles and that's the only place I know that sells it. All I can say is, if you know a place to get this, GO. Imbibe. It's well worth it. Good luck.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2012 02:09:07 | More by ElCommodoro

elNopalero

Texas

4.05/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This pours a murky/cloudy dark brown, with low foam. A bubblegummy banana aroma that’s complemented on the palate. It’s tangy, malty, caramelly sweet with a banana flavor. Smooth and sweet with a tangy finish—and deceptive at 8+% abv. Why isn’t this used in bbq sauce? Another good one from the folks at Live Oak.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2012 16:58:18 | More by elNopalero

nickhiller

Texas

4.47/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Copper/brown and cloudy. Very nice foamy head, about a cm thick. Good lacing.

S: Banana, clove, cider, bubblegum. Fruity and toasty.

T: Tastes very Bavarian, almost like a pretzel. Tastes very similar to smell - cider, banana, etc. Roasted malts really shine.

M: Medium bodied, smooth carbonation, a tiny bit of alcohol burn, but overall dangerously easy and pleasant to drink for an 8%

O: Reminds me of a milder version of Aventinus. Tastes very authentic, delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2011 21:40:16 | More by nickhiller

JWNeeley

Texas

5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Hazy mahogany, absolutely beautiful when held up to a light.

Smell: Banana, clove and awesome

Taste: Words can't describe how good this beer is. I won't even bother trying.

Mouthfeel: Thick and rich and silky smooth.

Overall: I've been waiting all year for this beer and it absolutely lives up to expectations. Hands down the best brew available on the market until it's retired for the season. I'd give my firstborn child if Live Oak would brew this year round.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2011 00:57:26 | More by JWNeeley

jamescain

Texas

4.1/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass at Freetail.

Appearance: Light brown with an off white head about a centimeter high. The head fades to a ring around the side of the glass.

Aroma: Bananas, Clove and a hint or roasted grain and chocolate. The nose is dominated by clove and banana. No noticeable alcohol aroma.

Taste: Sweet malt and light chocolate. A little sweet for my taste, but it is balanced with a little spiciness so is not to be overwhelmingly sweet.

Mouthfeel: Thicker feeling than a hefeweizen, but not as thick anywhere near a robust porter. The residual sweetness probably accounts for the extra body. Medium carbonation with no noticeable alcohol feel or taste.

Overall: As with all Live Oak beers it is very true to the style and enjoyable. I prefer some of their other offerings to this one, but it’s still very good.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2011 16:05:10 | More by jamescain

jbphoto88

Texas

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the flying saucer. This beer is a dark shoe leather color with a surprisingly white head. The body is hazed and clouded and that white head fades quick to thin collar.

Nose is sweet and fruity with a balance of toasted cereal grains. The smell of banana and cloves mix well with the darker roasted scents. Very nice.

Tastes just like it smells. Banana and caramel grains with hints of clove and bubble gum. Darker and richer then expected and very tasty.

Mouthfeel is sharp with a fine carbonation and a medium body. Slightly coating with each sip and a warm clove spice and toast aftertaste. A very fresh brew with a robust flavor and nice layered complexity. A great version of a weizenbock and well worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2011 22:25:19 | More by jbphoto88

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had an 8oz glass at dinner at Lambert's in Austin. I swear it's very hard to tell this apart from Aventinus, the only obvious difference is there's an odd slightly watery element to the mouthfeel. Otherwise there's a rich blend of sweet, smooth wheat bread with caramel and dried fruits that make for an excellent after-dinner beer. Try this out, there are certainly few American-made weizenbocks that can match this.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2011 04:56:55 | More by tempest

stephens101

Oklahoma

3.85/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at my favorite Austin beer haunt the Draughthouse. All nice and properly filled the to the rim with a murky brown brew topped by a tan head. Sweet and malty to the nose, and that's about all I gather in that regard. Tastes big and sweet up front with a nice batch of grapes, bananas, some nutmeg, some cardomom and a far off woodiness. Medium bodied and lightly carbonated. Big and sweet but not cloying with just enough notes of balance to keep you singing a sweet tune in the live music capital of the world.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2011 00:29:41 | More by stephens101

DoktorZee

Alberta (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap in a goblet.

A - moderate tan head that resolves after a few min into a fraction of the size with lots of lacing

S - super wheat odor with some chocolate malt undertone

T - amazing banana blast with a hint caramel malt background

M - very light without much oiliness or carbonation

D - really drinkable - goes down very easy!

Great beer, especially if you like bananas.

Serving type: on-tap

02-18-2011 00:52:12 | More by DoktorZee

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Flying Saucer

Pours ½ finger of beige head. Color is a murky caramel brown.

Aroma: Wheat, bananas, cloves, light bubblegum, caramel, and chocolate. Fairly sweet. Nice.

Taste: Wheat, bananas, nuts, cloves, cocoa powder. Sweet and roasted. It also has some more bubblegum flavors. Awesome beer.

Mouthfeel: Roasted and sweet. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends clean and roasted.

Overall, this was one of the best of my trip. This is a great bock and very drinkable. I wanted to get more of this beer. I really enjoyed this one. Glad I had a chance to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2010 16:26:34 | More by mothman

glid02

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Flying Saucer in San Antonio, TX.

Pours a hazy brown color with slightly purple highlights and a one-finger light tan head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of spicy wheat with good amounts of brown-sugar coated fruits - mostly raisins and dates but also with good amounts of banana.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Deep wheat flavors kick things off and are joined quickly by good amounts of brown sugar and nutmeg. Midway through the sip banana flavors enter into things, backed by almost equal amounts of raisins, plums, and dates. The fruit flavors carry through to a crisp ending.

Mouthfeel is very good. It's got a smooth thickness with grainy carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I didn't have a problem finishing my glass and could have another.

Overall I have to admit I though this beer was a dubbel from the first few sips however as it warms the banana asserts itself a bit more. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2010 02:28:27 | More by glid02

beersheppard

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Just finished the last keg. Yeah, it hung around awhile. People don't appreciate good beer. Hope they bring it back next year...

Appearance: dark brown with some amber in the light, medium lacing with tan head.

Smell: cloves, banana

Taste: big on banana sweetness, seasoned with clove favor, balanced with high ABC, brown sugar, some tartnesS.

Mouthfeel: wheaty, creamy, good, tingle

Drinkability: I thought this was a great seasonal. How often do you see weizenbocks around? If they were all like this, the answer should be all the time. A beer lovers beer. Thanks, LO.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2010 04:57:13 | More by beersheppard

casadebia

Texas

4.55/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark brown with tiny amber tint. Two fingers of head that lasted a decent time. Medium lacing.

S - Smells of banana and clove throughout. Overall smell of bubble gum comes through.

T - Starts with a clove taste that smooths out into a banana taste. Finishes with a clove pinch. Has a bubble gum taste to it.

M - Medium body with some decent carbonation on finish. A tiny bit of oily feel in middle.

D - At 8% this beer does not have an overpowering alcohol warming to it but it does posses some. Not for every night but a well balanced beer that would be perfect in winter.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2010 18:20:37 | More by casadebia

hiikeeba

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - pours up acloudy brown with little to no head

S - light banana aroma. Delicious!

T - sweet malts with that nice melanoidin flavor a finishes with a great banana flavor

M - full bodied with medium carbonation

D - nice easy drinking beer. Wish I could find this at home

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2010 17:18:40 | More by hiikeeba

brentk56

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives with a murky burnt caramel color and a modest head that, while quickly becoming a ringlet, leaves a few strands behind

Smell: Bananas, clove, brown sugar, raisins and bruised apple

Taste: Brown sugar soaked overripe bananas, up front, with bruised apple and clove elements, as well; after the swallow, the sweetness picks it up a notch, though there is a subtle green apple tartness underneath that lingers in the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with prickly carbonation

Drinkability: Another impressive release from the Live Oak folks; really like the subtle elements in this one

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2010 01:25:25 | More by brentk56

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Uncle Billy's during a recent trip to Austin.

The beer pours dark brown with a cream colored head. The aroma is strong bananas and wheat. The flavor is bananas, wheat and cloves. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Nothing too complicated or fancy, just a very well executed weizenbock that has no flaws. One of the best beers of this style I have tried.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2010 20:52:41 | More by Mora2000

armock

New York

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured a dark brown color with a tan head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of bananas and clove in the nose

T - Has a slightly sweet malt with banana and clove flavor

M - This beer has a fuller body with medium carbonation to it

D - I enjoyed this beer a lot it has a very good taste making it so I could drink more of these than I should worth getting to try if you see it on tap

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2010 20:03:13 | More by armock

jwillcourt

Texas

3.65/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served on tap into a tulip glass.

A - Muddy, dark brown. No head or lacing. Swift swirl of the glass causes a small head to appear, consisting of large-sized bubbles, that disappears in seconds.

S - Strong banana smell. Undertones of molasses. Little spice, most notably cloves.

T - Strong banana and bubblegum flavors. There is also a sweet chocolate malt taste. Slightly sour taste in the finish, and a slight hoppy aftertaste. Overall, however, it is banana and bubblegum.

M - Feels thin to medium. It has fizzy carbonation that froths up quickly in the mouth. Feels sweet and sticky on the lips. I feel no trace of 8% ABV.

D - The one glass is surprisingly filling. The flavor is strong. Even though it is a pleasant flavor, one glass is enough for me. It hides the alcohol well.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2010 18:07:43 | More by jwillcourt

fjordhook

Texas

4.63/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap the other night at the Flying Saucer in Ft Worth. It was a real dark beer, dark brownish in color. I really enjoyed the smells it gave off especially for a dark beer, very fruity smell that was mostly banana. It tasted great too, it was very hoppy that was mixed with fruits and wasn't filling like a dark beer normally is. I thought it was an exceptional beer that was very drinkable. I even had a second. My girlfriend also loved this beer and she isn't a fan of beer at all!

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2010 01:46:40 | More by fjordhook

natelocc787

California

3.9/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Several of these scores could have went up actually. Nice ruby purplish color to the body with a very creamy beige head. Lots of bananas, clove and wheat grain in the nose. The flavors come together nicely in this one, score could have been higher but the yeast bite was a little sharp. Great wheat bock, nice and fruity and dark with banana, clove, coriander, cherry juice and candies plums. Mouthfeel is superb as I am finding a pattern here with Live Oaks offerings. Very creamy without being frothy, satisfying, well carbonated but with little bubbles. Very drinkable and refreshing for such a dark beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2009 01:36:22 | More by natelocc787

psujmatt

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

On draft at Flying Saucer.

A -- Looks very cloudy and a strange brown color. Had almost no head, though they may have poured it off.

S -- Fruit, almost like bananas and molasses, with a touch of raspberry or something else a little sharp.

T -- Light fruits, sweet with a tiny twang, topped with spices, especially clove. Reminded me a bit of mixing together Juicy Fruit gum with clove. That may not sound great but it tasted great!

M -- nothing out of the ordinary here.

D -- Very easy to drink. It was my first beer of the night and it went down very easily, leaving me wanting more immediately.

Very festive and was great both outside in the cold and inside in the heat.

Note: After having the beer a second time I decided that the look isn't that bad. I just wasn't used to it all, having been unfamiliar with the style. It originally looked like a dirty hefe to me, which was unappealing.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2009 19:26:45 | More by psujmatt

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.93/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass at the Flying Saucer. It's a very hazy, bordering on opaque, brown color with just a thin layer of light tan foam.

Nose is banana laden with a healthy dose of chocolate and cloves.

Lots of chocolate in the flavor with a prevalent wheat tang. Bananas and cloves are still there, but might be a little less prevalent than some of the German versions. It's also a tad thinner and not as creamy as some of the best weizenbocks. Maybe it is not quite fair to expect such greatness from Live Oak as their hefeweizen, but this one is not quite up to that standard. I like it enough and I would definitely buy it again, especially considering the lack of good draft weizenbocks around. Is this the first regularly produced Texas WB? If so, it's a good start.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2009 04:01:57 | More by twiggamortis420

mjl21

California

4.08/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Ginger Man in Fort Worth. Poured into a pint glass. No abv info is given.

A-Pours a murky dark brown with a really nice one and a half finger off white head that stays around.

S-Very similiar to their hefeweizen with lots of clove, banana, and coriander. Sweet malt is very detectable and I picked up on some apple notes.

T-Sweet malt is the predominant flavor. Clove and banana definitely are present. This one has a nice level of bitterness at the end.

M-Thick, chewy, and sticky. This one tastes like a big beer.

D-The abv is well hidden but the sweetness limits this one. This is a prefect nightcap beer.

Another winner from Live Oak. Would love to see this one in bottles.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2009 21:02:59 | More by mjl21

joshuadlight

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Addison Flying Saucer.

Deep dark brown, minimal head, but its a clinger, nice lacing all the way down the pint glass. Roasty wheat and peppery smoke throughout the nose and very strong in the mouth. To me, its not the most pleasant taste, but I do think it fits the Weizenbock style. Goes down relatively smooth, and hides the 8% pretty well. I didn't try to drink more than one as I didn't particularly dig it. But, it is what it is, and I would encourage you to try it if you find yourself in Texas, especially if you are a Weizenbock fan. This doesn't taste all that far off Aventinus.

Serving type: on-tap

03-19-2009 14:54:18 | More by joshuadlight