Der Weisse Bock - Mahrs-Bräu

Todd

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep rich mahagony brown beer with a thick and creamy foam head that seems like it'll last forever. This beer is unfiltered and unpasteurized ... so it's not 100% clear.

Faint spice, soft malts in the aroma and a massive cold banana bread nose.

Smooth mouthfeel with an upfront dose of malty dextrin sweetness, with some esters. A warming alcohol and its spice melds with a sweet herbal-like hop spice (tea-like), more distinct banana bread and phenols/clove. Hops aren't bitter at all, it's all spice and how it plays with the mouthfeel with this beer. Crisp, dry with a prickly carbonation feel. Notes of dry chocolate around the edges and some fruit that combines to create a faint chocolate covered cherry flavour. Finish leaves a "root beer" -like flavour on the palate.

A most interesting, complex and tasty Weisse Bock. The depth of spice character is amazing. Without a doubt one of the best -- within the sytle -- to have hit my palate in years!

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2002 08:55:31 | More by Todd

Jason

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 16.9 oz long slender Euro style brown bottle, a bottled on date on the back label. This was bottled on 01-10-00. Thin layer of brown sediment on the bottom of the bottle stay compacted while pouring. Mystical looking goat holding an over flowing beer glass and licking the foam over on the front label.

Appearance: Deep and rich brown colour with undertones of amber, slight chill haze which is a given factor to ales. Big bubbles of carbonation rush to the top and help keep a pancake like head for the duration.

Smell: Smell of freshly cooled banana bread, bit of spicy alcohol and huskiness in the nose also. Phenols are big with waves of clove and pepper. Obviously fruity with esters to boot.

Taste: Full malty body with a medium high carbonation that brings a refreshingly and slightly harsh crispness, prickly mouth feel from the carbonation that quickly goes dry. Big maltiness with cracker and vague rye flavours. Spicy upfront with both phenols and alcohol duking it out for domination, neither prevail though they seem to meld into one spiciness that holds true far into the finish. Hops are innocent bystanders and only add the element of balance the big picture of wheat bocks. Mild yeast flavour brings some earthy flavours. Dry rounded husk seems lightly toasted and lingers far and wide. Fruitiness is strong but vague in variety, only banana and tangerine can be picked out. Alcohol starts to kick in with a peppery flavour and a warmth. After taste leans towards husky with a bone dryness.

Notes: So complex and so dry, does not seem like a 7.2% abv brew being that the warmth comes late. This is certainly big enough to wash down a juicy corned beef Ruben on marble rye layered with Swiss cheese. Even better with some long aged cheddar and whole grain crackers.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2001 00:00:01 | More by Jason

jbertsch

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.1%

04-06-2013 03:38:04 | More by jbertsch

westcoastbeerlvr

California

4/5  rDev +3.1%

01-09-2013 18:36:55 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

generallee

New York

4/5  rDev +3.1%

09-07-2012 03:39:26 | More by generallee

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

07-23-2012 00:53:36 | More by rolltide8425

MikalMick

Florida

4/5  rDev +3.1%

07-08-2012 01:20:25 | More by MikalMick

Antnyd82

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

07-06-2012 06:21:05 | More by Antnyd82

MEW

New York

5/5  rDev +28.9%

05-29-2012 04:29:38 | More by MEW

Caskaway

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

04-18-2012 02:00:33 | More by Caskaway

Vylo

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.1%

03-15-2012 03:34:41 | More by Vylo

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from Hyvee in Council Bluffs, IA
"4880" is the bottled on date
Poured into a Weihenstephaner weizen glass

Pours a tall (>3cm) head of lightly burnt tan bubbles, very small in size, creating a dense meringue-like, frothy head. Gradually recedes to a persistent head throughout, surprising and impressive due to high ethanol content of the beer. Leaves no lacing on sides of glass. Body is a dark mahogany stain color, or gem-brown if you prefer. In the light, this shows off some dark ruby highlights. Semi-hazy with visibly active carbonation.

Aroma is deeply of toasted malts and butterscotch, with some banana bread in heavy syrup. Quite different from other weizenbocks I've tried, but quite enjoyable.

Taste begins with rich, syrupy barley maltiness, which gradually transitions to a deep caramelized sugar and toasted malt base that lingers throughout. Very mild, in the background, are roasted flavors, contributing a bit of twang alongside the wheat. Bit of spiciness on back of tongue, indicating subtle hop usage or ethanol. Lingering finish of very mild bitterness and more subtle caramelized sugar flavors. Overall very nice, but would have enjoyed some more banana esters and, possibly, spices.

Medium-bodied with a moderate to moderate-high level of carbonation. In the beer, this doesn't come across as aggressive due to the heft of the body. Instead, the resulting mouthfeel is foamy, creamy, and somewhat pillowy. Finish is dry

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 17:04:43 | More by falloutsnow

akttr

Michigan

3/5  rDev -22.7%

03-03-2012 04:59:57 | More by akttr

jfcaa193

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.1%

02-19-2012 01:04:41 | More by jfcaa193

Kahlerbock

Kansas

3/5  rDev -22.7%

01-17-2012 21:53:03 | More by Kahlerbock

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +28.9%

12-01-2011 20:15:53 | More by Rochefort10nh

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown with a tan foam head. Light spotty lacing.

Toasted malt. Fermented scents, like a dark bready dough base, or some tart fruit. Some spice.

You get good dark toasty wheat, some spice and light fruit, somewhat cherry-like, light malty bitterness, long toasted grain finish, maybe even a bit nutty. Alcohol? Not even a hint. Nothing overdone, perfectly balanced.

This has some body, but has some carbonation too. As your palate clears, this dries out to a slight pucker. Nice structure.

Great brew. Domestic brewers go extreme with this style. This is completely balanced. Really enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 20:18:28 | More by OtherShoe2

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out darker than I thought it would. The color was a murky brown with a pretty nice looking bubbly head on it. The smell of the beer was of strong malts and some wheat in the background. The taste of the beer had a slight acidic bitterness to it up front, possibly from the dark malts used. The aftertaste though was a smooth wheat flavor that I found to be quite refreshing. The mouthfeel was medium bodied and overall I found this beer to be pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 17:48:59 | More by Knapp85

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a lightly hazed a murky dark brown, good cream/kahki head and retention. Scent is quite a welcoming blend of fresh crusty dark multi-grain bread, roasted nuts, hint of tootsie roll like chocolate, notes of blackened banana, light berry fruityness mingles with grassy and grainy hops. Begins with quite a taste of tartness that was unexpected from scent, behind the tartness, one can pick up the wonderful components of scent, but slightly washed out in the finnish by an odd medicinal sassafras/root beer barrel candy note. As i sip, the taste becomes more cohesive and works quite nicely - i thought it was going to be undrinkable at first. Medium bodied, light grainyness on the palate, slightly dry. I thought i was going to love this beer, then i thought i was going to hate it, and then in the end i ended up mostly liking it. Oddly enough, wish i had another glass at home so i could sit and think about it some more.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2011 15:02:11 | More by rfgetz

woosterbill

Connecticut

2.55/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Half-pint on tap at the Euston Tap.

A: Murky dark brown/prune colored body with a thin off-white head that quickly settles into a ring. Uninspiring.

S: Sweet + sour sauce. Over the top wheaty funk gives it raw husky tartness, accompanied by treacly sweetness. Some overripe banana lurks in the background. As it warms, soy sauce and apple cider notes emerge. Weird and off-putting, plain and simple.

T: Off-putting wheat sourness up front, followed by candy sweetness and a bit of booze. Meh.

M: Medium body that dissolves into rich, creamy effervescence. Pleasant.

O: I don't know if this was a spoiled keg or just a terrible beer, but either way it was a struggle to make it through even a half pint. I'll give it a bit of credit for being full-flavored, but that flavor was pretty darn messy. Just stick with Aventinus or Vitus.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

06-19-2011 13:48:50 | More by woosterbill

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Very dark brown in color, tan foam, and a slight reddish hue. The beer is appealing. The smell is nice...chocolate, vanilla, and raisin-bread. Nice stuff. Following the first few sips, a lot of spicy phenols come out. The beer is semi-sweet and has a pleasant alcohol warming. A bit yeasty...chocolate and vanilla in the flavor. Medium-full in body, with notable carbonation. This is a satisfying beer, although it could be a bit more intense in its characteristics.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 01:24:26 | More by Suds

Sachsenfreude

Germany

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

appearance; dull and dark, cloudy brown. Light tan head that quickly dissipates but a collar remains around the edges. Very sparce lacing. Overall quite flat in appearance but this is understandable due to the higher abv.

smell; deep, wet, roasted malts. Hints of cocoa and mild spicy hops almost absent. Not much alcohol but just a bit brings out a soft dark fruit sweetness. Yeasty bread sweetness comes around from time to time.

taste; watered down dark rum and raisins and molasses but as the sweetness tries to take control, roasted malts bring an aged bitter and toasty flavor out. Bitterness tries to take control but the sweets hold it back, making a dark chocolate and almond finish. Really a nice balance, perhaps the roasted malt flavors could be slightly stronger but no complaints here.

mouthfeel; thick and a bit creamy. Smooth and slightly tart in the finish, leaving a warm sticky film behind.

overall; not overly extreem; a solid a example of the style. The toasty flavors of malt are quite advance and distinguish the beer. Would certainly reccommend.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 00:29:47 | More by Sachsenfreude

largadeer

California

4.08/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draft at Gourmet Haus Staudt.

Burgundy colored with a moderate haze. The head is light tan, ultra-dense and lasting - almost looks like this was poured on nitro.

The nose reminds me of sweet plums and concord grapes. A nice tangy wheat character is present beneath the esters. As it warms, I can pick out the banana bread sweetness that's characteristic of the style.

Much like the nose, there's a big plum and grape flavor present right alongside the more expected flavors of banana, cocoa and caramelized malt. There's a mild phenolic spiciness that brings to mind star anise and clove. It's a semi-dry beer, especially so in the finish where the phenols seem to take over more and dry out the palate, lingering alongside notes of plum and baked banana. 8.5% alcohol is nowhere to be found, for better or worse.

Another fine beer from Mahr's. This brewery can seemingly do no wrong.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2011 03:02:04 | More by largadeer

buyaa

New York

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Unfiltered, dark coloring like slightly used motor oil. Not black but a brown. Dark tan head that disappeared fairly quickly in my glass.

S: Malty and sweet raisin bread. some hits of alcohol

T: Here is where this beer makes it's case. A wonderful beer, a heavy malt backbone but with many other flavors adding to the complexity, but not overly sweet or alcoholic. A yeasty somewhat dry finish, but nothing that overpowers

M: You can feel the thickness of the sediment as your roll it around in your mouth. It looses some of its carbonation bite as you get to the bottom of the glass.

D: Very easy to drink for an 8.5, but I would only want to enjoy this one at a time.

O: Do yourself a favor, buy this beer and enjoy it!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 02:10:43 | More by buyaa

Bobby12many

Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev -18%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark, almost completely opaque ruddy amber colored with an underwhelming head that fleets quickly. No Lacing to be found, only a small veil of micro beads that float atop the surface. Light sediment is suspended throughout.

S - Sweet caramel, figs, and raisins. Also a hint of the wheat backbone in the end, slight nuance of yeast

T - Quite sweet up front with caramel malt taking most of the spotlight. The finish has a tinge of clove and a light spiciness that offsets the sweetness somewhat. Not nearly as complex and rich as I was hoping.

M - Mouthfeel is a bit thin and could use a bit more carbonation. This really lacks the big bodied punch I expect from a good Weizenbock.

D - I found this Weizenbock to be quite one dimensional, and a bit too sweet for my palette. It does a good job of hiding its ABV, albeit without much complexity. I will easily finish the bottle, but doubt I will ever pick this one up again. A decent beer, but one of the least interesting Weizenbocks I have had the chance to try.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2011 01:37:56 | More by Bobby12many