Winter Dunkel
Whistler Brewing Company

Winter DunkelWinter Dunkel
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From:
Whistler Brewing Company
 
British Columbia, Canada
Style:
Dunkelweizen
Ranked #44
ABV:
5%
Score:
80
Ranked #25,981
Avg:
3.45 | pDev: 22.03%
Reviews:
17
Ratings:
35
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 03, 2023
Added:
Dec 09, 2011
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  4
When you try a Whistler Winter Dunkel you will notice some delicate citrus, orange aroma complimented by the chocolate. On the palate you experience a rich beer with toffee, chocolate and orange taste. The bitterness from the hops is just enough to compensate for the rich malty flavors without leaving a distinct note. All this is accompanied by the distinct bitterness from the bitter orange.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Derek:
Photo of Derek
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)

3.78/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A: Deep amber-brown with a light tan head; good retention & lace.

S: Terry's chocolate orange, with a little Christmas spicing. Interesting, but also a bit odd.

T: Very chocolaty and malty, there's a light spicing, but not a lot of wheat or weizen character. Light orange rind in the finish, modest bitterness.

M: Fairly full body for its strength, but only a slight hint of residual sweetness. With the flavouring, it may seem like a bit of a gimmick, but there's some quality malt here. Probably unfiltered too.

D/O: Overall it's well-crafted and done well... but it's not really my 'thing'.

"The Winter Dunkel recipe starts with a traditional Dunkel Weiss in mind. The base malts selected are wheat and caramel malts to give some toffee and chocolate hints to the beer. The chocolate notes are further enhanced by adding some local chocolate from the Whistler Chocolate Company into the brew. Then, to spice it up, coriander and generous amounts of sweet orange peels are added for some interesting citrus notes, along with some bitter orange to balance some of the malt sweetness. The hops selected compliment the recipe, without too much bitterness. The resulting brew has a subtle hoppiness, complimented with surprising chocolate and orange notes."
Dec 17, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.52 by waudozer from Canada (BC)

Dec 03, 2023
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Reviewed by altstadt from Canada (BC)

2.16/5  rDev -37.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Clear dark red-brown color. Poured a tall head that dropped back to a thin skiff after a couple of minutes. Too dark to see the carbonation level. Left small dots and short strings of lace.

Very strong smell of artificial flavoring that might be generously called orange. Secondary smell of melted vanilla ice cream that dropped on a hot pavement. Very light coffee/chocolate smell. Swirling the glass boosted the coffee/chocolate smell for a few seconds after which it reverted back to the original smells.

Strong vanilla biscuit malt flavor. The artificial orange flavor comes in second place. There is a more distinct chocolate flavor, rather than coffee, that fills in towards the end. Mild bitters. The aftertaste is a strong burst of the artificial orange followed by the malt.

Light tongue tingling. Turns into a coarse foam. Medium body.

The orange takes over like a creamsicle melted into the mix. Alternatively this is like a smore made with twice as much graham wafer, artificial orange flavor marshmallows (I'm sure they must exist), and just a sliver of chocolate. The label says that the flavoring is natural, so this came from an orange I do not want to ever meet.
Nov 25, 2022
 
Rated: 3.54 by Roejogan from Canada (BC)

Dec 21, 2020
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Reviewed by ChrisCage from Canada (AB)

4.34/5  rDev +25.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A- Dark amber in color with rustic orange hues against a white light. The head is creamy and dense, with about a two finger thickness, eventually settling into a rich looking film over the liquid. Carbonation is in many small columns rising slowly in the clear liquid. The lacing is modest, with only small patches of foam clinging to the inside of the glass. Decent in appearance.

S- Totally smells of Terry's Chocolate Orange! Huge milk and dark chocolates, freshly squeezed orange zest, amaretto/international creamer hazelnut aroma, muted chocolate malt....that's about it....deep dessert like chocolate orange! Yum!

T- Lighter in flavor than the aromas let on, but there is definitive dark and milk chocolate, mild hazelnut, underlying citrus (orange) rind and juiciness, gingerbread spice, black coffee, other assorted baking spice such as cinnamon, and muted malts. Delicious!

M/O- This is actually quite light in body, and the carbonation is crisp on the palate. The alcohol is easily hidden in the creamy dessert like nature and overall this is highly drinkable.....would make a superb session ale! Paired with an Terrys Chocolate Orange, you couldn't go wrong with this one!
Apr 04, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Mousel from Canada (ON)

Dec 22, 2019
Photo of Kentster
Reviewed by Kentster from Canada (AB)

3.56/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance : Poured into tulip glass. Deep amber brown colour. Decent head.
Smell : Great aromas of chocolate orange. I don't smell anything else.
Taste : This beer tastes light and mellow. Some tasty malt character with a little chocolate. Overall underwhelming taste considering the blast of flavourful aromas.
Overall : Festive and seasonal beer that smells amazing. This beer is easy to drink and quite enjoyable on a cold day.
Dec 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.95 by FadetoBock from Canada (AB)

Jan 06, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by BCborn from Canada (BC)

Apr 30, 2017
 
Rated: 3.69 by Svingjo from Canada (BC)

Jan 31, 2016
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Reviewed by Bunman3 from Canada (AB)

3.65/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Wowzers - the previous reviews were spot on regarding the Terry's Chocolate Orange. It's all I can do to avoid smashing the bottle on the wall... The overall characteristics that make beer are masked by the strong orange and chocolate smells and flavours. I don't mind flavoured beer that remembers it is a beer. This is OK, but the roasty warm flavours I love in a Dunkel are masked here.
Jan 12, 2016
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

3.66/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Terry Chocolate Orange, err, I mean Whistler Winter Dunkel is clear and has a chestnut body, amber trim and dark-ish, roasty overtones. Carbonation is minimal but there's just enough foamy lather to wrap the beer in a little soapy bow (not the glass though).

If you were blindfolded and a friend held Winter Dunkel and a Terry's Chocolate Orange under your nose, you couldn't tell which is which. (I haven't tried this experiment but I'm curious to.) The super-candied, crunchy orange rind coated in sweet, vanilla-drenched milk chocolate flavour is identical.

This is no more a Bavarian Dunkelweizen than Armour's hot dogs are Weisswurst. Present this beer to a German - even at Christmas - and they'll likely spit it out. Or at least they wouldn't recognize it for what it says it is. There's few bubbles and no yeasty esters or spice. Why even call it a Dunkelweizen?

...especially when coriander was used, making it by definition a Belgian Witbier. The use of locally-procured organic chocolate - a very delicious and seemingly high quality source, it should be noted - gives this the air of a porter or stout. Mind you, it does suit the lighter body afforded by the wheat.

Whistler has succeeded at perfectly emulating an all-time Christmas treat: the Terry's Chocolate Orange. Kudos to them for that dubious honor. Don't get me wrong, I've been tempted myself to brew a chocolate-orange stout for the holidays. I love the flavour. I just wish this one wasn't so superficial.
Dec 25, 2015
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Reviewed by wordemupg from Canada (AB)

3.74/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
650ml bomber poured into tulip 22/15/15

A maroon glow when held to the light with just a thin film that leaves no lace

S Terry's Chocolate Orange alright, candied orange, milk chocolate, maybe a little hazelnut, smells artificial but good

T more fruit, not all orange but hard to pace, chocolates a little darker then the nose

M silky and a little light bodied, could use a few extra bubbles but far from flat

O fairly one dimensional but if you like Terry's Chocolate Orange this ones for you

Not bad for a glass but I couldn't see myself drinking this all night, worth a try though
Dec 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.96 by Tivlavrie from Canada (AB)

May 18, 2015
 
Rated: 3.74 by Moose90 from Washington

Mar 21, 2015
 
Rated: 2.98 by schopenhauerale from Arizona

Feb 11, 2015
Photo of LampertLand
Reviewed by LampertLand from Canada (BC)

3.83/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Whistler Brewing 'Winter Dunkel' @ 5.0% , served from a 650 ml bottle purchased for $5.75
A-pour is amber from the bottle to a dark amber in the glass with a small beige head leaving a streaky lace along the weizen glass
S-terry's chocolate orange
T-similar to the smell , terry's chocolate orange
MF-decent carbonation , medium body
Ov-ok beer ,
prost LampertLand
Jan 11, 2015
 
Rated: 3.46 by Mack from Canada (QC)

Dec 27, 2014
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Reviewed by Eric_Standard from Canada (BC)

3.23/5  rDev -6.4%
Tastes very much like a Terry's chocolate orange, only not so sweet. Strong aromas and flavours of both chocolate and orange. Not bad, but I think I prefer my dunkelweizen unflavoured - it covers up all those lovely phenolic flavours, which is what I look forward to when I drink a weizen.
Dec 15, 2014
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.73/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Handsome red amber brew with an enthusiastic head in the Pilsner glass. Sudsy and lush in the mouth. Interesting aroma of cake and cocoa.

It does taste exactly like orange and chocolate, just a little drier. The malt flavor is full but the body is light. Tangy with citrus and mellow with the chocolate. Indescribable might be the word for this stuff. But it's thoroughly drinkable once you get used to the idea.

Wild and crazy. From the 650 ml botle purchased at the BC Liquor Store in Ladner.
Dec 14, 2014
Winter Dunkel from Whistler Brewing Company
Beer rating: 80 out of 100 with 35 ratings