Ascent 54 Dunkel Weisse

Brewed by Anheuser-Busch InBev
Style: Dunkelweizen
St. Louis, Missouri USA

from a 12 oz bottle. A perfectly good dark wheat beer, but no Germain Dunkelweizen. Only hints of the German style esters, but still a very drinkable and tasty beer.

Draught. Pours clear tawny with a small, frothy, light brown head, lasting with fair lacing. Aroma is average malt (cookie, cereal), average hops (flowers, herbs), average yeast (dough) with notes of cherry and cola. Medium bodied, sticky texture, average carbonation, and an astringent finish. Average duration, light sweetness, moderate acidity and bitterness. Overall, a decent offering from AB.

Had this at the German beer fest. I will be the first to admit that AB can make a good micro (Demons Hop Yard IPA), but this sucks. Tastes like this beer was mixed in a vat of rotting wood and brewed in historically bad "ascent 54" style.

Recieved this plain label sample bottle from a friend at AB. Was warned it was a bit past the 110 day B.O.D. Pours mahogany, hazy brown, usual head, not much lacing. Smells of clove, and caramel. Nice. Tastes of bananna, clove, caramel, a hint of chocolate, and touch of citrus...lemon, maybe? Can’t wait to try one of these that is fresh, if a beer past it’s recommended shelf life is this good, well.. In the past week, I have been treated to this, and the new 2007 version of the Brewmasters Private Reserve, (which is a very nice dopplebock), and the 2007 versions of Mich Celebrate. It really reaffirms my belief that a macro can turn out a fantastic beer for someone other than the BMC masses. Now, how about making this available to everyone?!

Draft at Brew at the Zoo benefit in Denver. Poured a murky orange color. Head was thick and off white with good retention and lacing. Good looking beer. There was lots of banana and clove in the nose with a hint of malty caramel. Flavor was similar and there was a light grainy finish and a bit of acidity. This is one of the better beers I’ve had made by AB.

Sampled at the 5th Annual Wildland Firefighters Benefit & Festival. Beer is medium golden-amber brown with an average-sized, off-white, frothy, slowly diminishing head. Nice lacing.<P> The aroma is malty with moderate notes of very toasted grain, light notes of caramel and toasted bread crumb; Hoppy with a light floral note; Yeasty with a trace of basement; Miscellaneous notes of light-to-moderate banana and clove, light note of vanilla.<P> The flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic with an average-length, trace acidic, lightly sweet finish. Banana/clove retros.<P> The body is light, the texture is watery and the carbonation is fizzy.

Draught. Head is mostly lasting. Body is hazy medium brown. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (toasted grain, caramel), with notes of banana and clove. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly to moderately acidic. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly bitter, slightly husky. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. No, it’s nothing spectacular, but other than being straightforward and unexciting (for the style, mind you...we all know it’s one of the least satisfying German styles, but I guess it’s admirable that they made something in a style that has fairly few examples), it’s a decent enough rendition. A bit grainy in the finish, yeah, but good enough overall.