Style: Dark wheat beer
Brewery: Weihenstephan
Origin: Germany
Size: 50cl
Alcohol: 5.3%
Price: 33kr
Systembolaget: 89862
Award won: Worlds best wheat beer – 2024 Word Beer Awards.
Weihenstephan claim to be the oldest brewery in the world, with some disputed documents dating the brewery to 1040 AD. Based in Freising, just north of Munich, it used to be an abbey brewery until the abbey was dissolved in 1803. The cloister then pass into the ownership of the Bavarian government, where it remains today. This has received over 12 awards just in recent years for quality, making it one of the most highly decorated wheat beers in the world. Weihenstephaner has been one of my top 5 breweries for a long time, and everything I have ever tasted from them has been top class. I am not surprised that this has won so many awards as it really is world class.
This had a light mahogany colour with a noticeable haze, medium body and thick fluffy head that stayed for a long time. The classic over ripe banana notes associated with wheat beer were instantly recognisable in the aroma along with plums, figs and brown sugar. The first thing you notice is how smooth the beer is, with a silky body rolling over the tongue. The high carbonation raises the flavour profile, making the beer fresh and inviting. The dark notes were surprisingly mellow, but there were hints of brown bread in the background. The spiced clove note raised slightly in the aftertaste and left the mouth with a sweet but pleasant aftertaste.
It is easy to see why Weihenstephan win countless awards every year. They really are one of the masters of wheat beer, and this is no exception. Delightful, fresh and easy to drink, this is the perfect example of a dark wheat beer.