JosephsBrau Dunkelweizen

Brewed by Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
Style: Dunkelweizen
Palo Alto, California USA

Date: 07/03/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Ale Atlanta

Appearance: muddy brown, fine beige head,
Aroma: huge sweet banana aroma with a touch of spicy clove,
Flavor: rich malt flavor, good mix of chocolate and banana, light balancing bitterness,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.3/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **+/4

Bottle picked up at the Orland Park, IL, Trader Joe’s - This poured a cloudy light brown body capped by a large yellowish beige head. That rapidly devolved into one finger (albeit my skinny pinky) in height that lasted throughout the drink. The aroma was of very ripe bananas, a touch of bubblegum, and a suggestion of clove. This seem a bit spritzy for style, but delivered solid flavors of banana, caramel, and clove. Not bad.

Cloudy to murky tan color with a diminishing dark beige head. Sweet wheat and heavy banana bread scent. HInts of cloves, but rather light. Not a clean yeast nose. Wheat dough flavors. Some banana and cloves also in the flavors. FInish has some metal, toasted malt, caramel and some more over-ripe banana. Really long linger with toasted wheat. A bit rough in places and a bit to sweet, but a decent wheat brew.

Poured cloudy brown color with an average frothy off-white head that was lasting and produced good lacing. Moderate toasted caramel malt aroma. Medium body with a smooth sticky texture and soft carbonation. Moderate malty sweet flavor with with a moderate sweet finish of average duration.

Bottle from Trader Joes. Aroma of caramel, bread, and perhaps banana. Hazy ripe apricot flesh color (if held in front of strong light) with a beige head that lasted awhile. Rather thin bodied with fizzy/creamy carbonation. Definitely starts with clove and bread, and some banana comes along in a bit. The impact is somewhat spicey. The finish is fairly dry and lightly bitter in a herb/spice way. Tasty and good value.

Last beer sampled at BDR’s tasting and shared by JK. From a 12-oz bottle, pours a hazy brownish amber brew with a thin off-white head that quickly dissipates to an off-white ring. Aroma of caramel malt, some yeast/banana esters, cloves, and a touch of citrus zest. Taste is medium bodied, some light carbonation with flavors of dark multi-grain malt, some banana esters, clove and a touch of lemon zest. Finish is semi-sweet, with a mild banana aftertaste that quickly disappears.

Sampled on 11/11/08. This dunkelweizen pours a slightly hazy amber brown color from a 12oz bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is caramel, bready, cookie and sweet, with a touch of banana and clove. A medium to light bodied dunkel. The malts are bready and sweet. The hops are earthy. Decent carbonation. Nice balance. Touch of banana and clove flavors at the finish. A decent dunkel, definitely drinkable, but deficient in depth and density. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

Bottle. Cloudy copper. No head only a small ring of white foam around the edge of the glass. Nose is spicy with banana, sweet malts and light caramel. Almost candyish in spots. taste is wheat, banana, soft bubblegum, caramel and spice. Hints of lemony tartness here as well. Body is bubbly and light-medium. rather refreshing. Almost thirst quenching. Ends with more banana, wheat, candy notes, soft fruit and caramel. Light yeast notes here as well. Not bad at all!