Pizza Port None the Weisser

Well, it’s been over 3 years since my last rating on Ratebeer. The drinking didn’t stop - but I did get a tad burned out on typing in my thoughts... so what brought about this return to ratebeer??? Pizza port! Of the pizza port beers we tried - this was definitely the most impressive to me. Really great flavor, hints of banana and a nice thick texture.

Sitting at O’Briens in San Diego...had a little sample of this and then ordered a pint. I’ll admit liking Weizen Bocks, and this one stands out. Smooth, big but not too crazy...very well balanced. Rich, dark, chocolate malt, some funky rich dark fruits, almost a sourness... sourdough, sweet, really tasty fresh on tap! Yumm!!

On-tap at PP C’Bad. Pours dark brown with a pretty thin, off-white head. Smells brown sugar sweet, maple sugar and German yeastiness. Tastes dark and sugary, molasses and maybe some dark fruit. Medium body, smooth carbonation. A very tasty beer and worth a try for sure.

Sample at the brewpub. Pours a dark brown color with a minimal beige head that disappears fairly fast. Nil lacing on the glass. Aroma of dark fruits and earthy malt, with a touch of coffee. Medium-bodied with a fruity character of bananas and plum, and flavors of yeast, malt and spices. The finish is clean and fruity with a lingering spiced aftertaste. One of the better Weizen Bocks I have tried lately.

Draught pint at PP Carlsbad on 3/25/07
Raspberry-caramel colored beer with strong beige-amber hues and a small, moderately dense, beige-flecked ivory head that is well retained and laces moderately. Clarity is high, with a light haze to it and tiny carbonation barely visible.
Sweet, extra creamy malt pours forth with buttertoffee, taffee, vanilla cream and just a bit of malted milk. Fruits galore, with a good helping of melanoidins adding a sweet and sour tint to the nose that helps balance the nourishing maltiness. Raspberries, cherries, strawberries slowly yield to light phenols on the end, promising only a bit of clove for balance/zest. The wheat definitely does not dull the aroma (or the flavor) as it sometimes does with wheat beers using lots of wheat. It never even hints at being astringent or too nutty/wheaty, but is perfectly worked in to the malted barley sweetness and just adds that extra smoothness and softness. Alcohol very well concealed.
Cherry-vanilla-like sweetness integrates the more dry aspect of the wheat, with a rich base malt sugariness. It’s smoothed out wonderfully and seems fluffy on the tongue, with help from the very tight carbonation. Hints of citrus give way to a long, medium-dry toffee note that is very chewy as well. Sweet cream notes continue and a bit of light roast, mixed with light phenolics, is divulged on the finish. Just a touch of dry, liquorous-like alcohol, incorporating banana bread-like notes, lingers, as well as a pleasing, light acidity from some strawberry/cherry-like notes. Phenomenally soft texture, extremely well-malted. Kind of like drinking a milkshake. Yummy.