Weihenstephan Brewing Co.
Weihenstephan, Germany
Imported by Bavaria House,
Wilmington, NC
Available: AL, AZ, CA, CN, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NY, NV, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WA, WI.
Comment: Weihenstephan is the oldest operating brewery in the world and home of the world’s best yeast bank.
Alcohol (wt.): 5.88
Alcohol (vol.): 7.39
Color: n/a
Bitterness: n/a
Original Gravity: 1075
Final Gravity: n/a
Malts used: n/a
Hops used: n/a
Brewed at a state food-science university, one place where enjoying a beer at 10 a.m. is not only allowed, but also encouraged. The color is dark garnet with ruby highlights contrasting with the yeasty foam of nano-bubbles. The nose is complex with a wonderful balance of sweet and bitter notes. In the mouth, the delicious brew is fruity and malty, with just enough hops for a nice dry finish. This is a textbook beer! College was never like this!
The color of tawny port wine. An “after-dinner” aroma and palate. The dessert has been served; now come the petit-fours, featuring treacle toffee, dark fudge and marzipan. Malty, creamy, clean, soothing, with flavors that quickly intensify, then suddenly agree to quit in a dryish finish. A surge of warming alcohol. Black coffee laced with pear Schnapps.
Ruby to brown with ruby highlights, it looks elegant in the glass, yet avoids being too refined. Not quite a throwback to when doppelbocks were less attenuated—and therefore thicker and chewier than today—but a start. Rich and complex, with dark fruits, prunes, caramel, chocolate, bread crusts, warming alcohol. Excellent balance (thank the hops) with an underlying earthy quality...and still not afraid to be a little sweet.
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.
Author of Ultimate Beer, the Simon & Schuster Guide to Beer and numerous other works on drinks, Jackson has created legions of converts to fine beer.
Editor at Realbeer.com, a professional journalist for 40 years and amateur brewer for 15, Hieronymus is the author of four beer books, including Brew Like a Monk.
