Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel | Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Brewed by:
Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Germany
franziskaner-weissbier.de
Style: Dunkelweizen
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by Todd on 07-13-2001
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 1,691 | Reviews: 823
3.94/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a pretty, deep caramel amber, with a thick head.
Smell: My worst sense and this one seemed slightly astringent with a layer of sweetness a little nuttiness and alcohol.
Taste: Very mildly sweet with the malt front and center, not much banana or cloves, slight warming from the alcohol, caramel and a very clean finish almost no aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Exceptionally creamy.
Drinkability: The Hacker Pschorr and this are among the cheapest of german imports, on this level at any rate. This will be one of my new session beers. Paired great with a turkey burger and clausen pickle.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a pretty, deep caramel amber, with a thick head.
Smell: My worst sense and this one seemed slightly astringent with a layer of sweetness a little nuttiness and alcohol.
Taste: Very mildly sweet with the malt front and center, not much banana or cloves, slight warming from the alcohol, caramel and a very clean finish almost no aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Exceptionally creamy.
Drinkability: The Hacker Pschorr and this are among the cheapest of german imports, on this level at any rate. This will be one of my new session beers. Paired great with a turkey burger and clausen pickle.
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3.83/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured a deep amber with a pretty thick haze. A 1 finger frothy head topped off the pour with virtually no lacing.
Very sweet first smell of malts and coriander. Rounded out with cloves and a touch of cinnamon.
The taste strayed from the smell just a touch as a banana and clove spice balanced out with the mild malt.
Very smooth with a slight touch of carbonation.
Nothing mind blowing but could easily be my everyday session brew.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured a deep amber with a pretty thick haze. A 1 finger frothy head topped off the pour with virtually no lacing.
Very sweet first smell of malts and coriander. Rounded out with cloves and a touch of cinnamon.
The taste strayed from the smell just a touch as a banana and clove spice balanced out with the mild malt.
Very smooth with a slight touch of carbonation.
Nothing mind blowing but could easily be my everyday session brew.
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3.06/5 rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
fairly dark pour with ruby edges. Huge..I mean huge head. Off white and tight. Seems highly carbonated.
Smell is malty. Seems a bit Belgian like.
Taste is of caramel malt. Taste is yeasty and a bit estery. Wheat malts picked out of the mix.
A bit of a metallic taste in the finish.
decent mouthfeel.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
fairly dark pour with ruby edges. Huge..I mean huge head. Off white and tight. Seems highly carbonated.
Smell is malty. Seems a bit Belgian like.
Taste is of caramel malt. Taste is yeasty and a bit estery. Wheat malts picked out of the mix.
A bit of a metallic taste in the finish.
decent mouthfeel.
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4.13/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a .5L bottle into a suitable weizen glass. In case you're new to the style (and to beer in general), it is CRITICAL that hefe weizen be served quite cold and in a glass, for a number of reasons.
Appearance: Franziskaner's dark weizen pours a rich, semi-opaque brown, with a nice cream-colored head that retains well throughout drinking. As with all traditional hefe weizens, I made sure to swirl the sediment out of the bottom of the bottle and into the glass -- a must, in my opinion.
Smell: Bready, toasty, and vaguely metallic. The yeastiness really comes through in the aroma.
Taste: Somewhat milder than expected, particularly given the beer's rich color. Still, this is a fine, refreshing hefe weizen, and the malty toastiness adds some depth to the traditional wheaty flavor. Hops are undetectable.
Mouthfeel: Crisp-to-moderate carbonation combines well with the beer's flavor, although it's a bit lighter in the mouth than expected. Goes down softly and without much bite, which is fine with me.
Drinkability: Very drinkable, and pairs well with hearty food (bratwurst, cold cuts...basically, MEAT). Very low ABV means you can drink several of these in one sitting without regretting it.
Overall, this is a nice, solid dark hefe weizen. It's relatively easy to find, so pick one up and check it out!
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a .5L bottle into a suitable weizen glass. In case you're new to the style (and to beer in general), it is CRITICAL that hefe weizen be served quite cold and in a glass, for a number of reasons.
Appearance: Franziskaner's dark weizen pours a rich, semi-opaque brown, with a nice cream-colored head that retains well throughout drinking. As with all traditional hefe weizens, I made sure to swirl the sediment out of the bottom of the bottle and into the glass -- a must, in my opinion.
Smell: Bready, toasty, and vaguely metallic. The yeastiness really comes through in the aroma.
Taste: Somewhat milder than expected, particularly given the beer's rich color. Still, this is a fine, refreshing hefe weizen, and the malty toastiness adds some depth to the traditional wheaty flavor. Hops are undetectable.
Mouthfeel: Crisp-to-moderate carbonation combines well with the beer's flavor, although it's a bit lighter in the mouth than expected. Goes down softly and without much bite, which is fine with me.
Drinkability: Very drinkable, and pairs well with hearty food (bratwurst, cold cuts...basically, MEAT). Very low ABV means you can drink several of these in one sitting without regretting it.
Overall, this is a nice, solid dark hefe weizen. It's relatively easy to find, so pick one up and check it out!
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4.09/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
16.9 oz. bottle, picked up at BevMo Huntington Beach for $1.79.
A: Pours lighter than expected amber brown, cloudy, full hefe-style head, no real lacing, Average head retention for the style. The beer looks good, but for its style, just average I'd say.
S: Dark bread, bananas, clove, spicy pumpernickel, fairly robust.
T: Probably the closest to cookie batter I have tasted in a beer. Molasses, very sugary at first, which is countered by a bitter clove bite. Banana bread and some nutmeg close out the flavour profile.
M: Light-bodied, glad the carbonation is not over the top, but it does present problems with drinking the beer at times. I wish it was a little smoother, good as a whole.
D: Probably my favourite dunkelweizen I have had, though I haven't had much experience with this style, in my neck of the woods we usually just have the common German versions available. Liked this better than the Weihenstaphner, go buy it, it's cheap to boot, good beer by Spaten.
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look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
16.9 oz. bottle, picked up at BevMo Huntington Beach for $1.79.
A: Pours lighter than expected amber brown, cloudy, full hefe-style head, no real lacing, Average head retention for the style. The beer looks good, but for its style, just average I'd say.
S: Dark bread, bananas, clove, spicy pumpernickel, fairly robust.
T: Probably the closest to cookie batter I have tasted in a beer. Molasses, very sugary at first, which is countered by a bitter clove bite. Banana bread and some nutmeg close out the flavour profile.
M: Light-bodied, glad the carbonation is not over the top, but it does present problems with drinking the beer at times. I wish it was a little smoother, good as a whole.
D: Probably my favourite dunkelweizen I have had, though I haven't had much experience with this style, in my neck of the woods we usually just have the common German versions available. Liked this better than the Weihenstaphner, go buy it, it's cheap to boot, good beer by Spaten.
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3.92/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
500ml bottle consumed in a Franziskaner hefeweizen glass.
Appearance: full, firm head, dark chestnut
Smell: brown sugar, graham cracker, spicy
Taste/Mouthfeel: graham cracher, sugary, wheat, biscuty, banana, refreshing
This was a great beer with awesome drinkability. I did not like it as much as the Franziskaner Hells but overall it was a great dunkel. Plus, the price was right (it was a gift).
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
500ml bottle consumed in a Franziskaner hefeweizen glass.
Appearance: full, firm head, dark chestnut
Smell: brown sugar, graham cracker, spicy
Taste/Mouthfeel: graham cracher, sugary, wheat, biscuty, banana, refreshing
This was a great beer with awesome drinkability. I did not like it as much as the Franziskaner Hells but overall it was a great dunkel. Plus, the price was right (it was a gift).
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3.63/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Poured a dark cloudy golden orange color with a frothy 1 finger white head that was moderately lasting leaving only slight tell tale hints of lacing. There was a considerable amount of suspend particle matter.
S: The nose was wheaty with a touch of sweet caramel, and some yeasty attributes of bananas.
T: The flavor starts off really smooth and very light with a creamy wheat palate, dried bananas, and some hints of fruit. There was some slight hints of caramel sweetness as well as apples.
M: light, with a strong crisp carbonation but goes down pretty smooth. Leaves a slight sweet caramel lacing behind.
D: A pretty decent dunkel, though a little light. Goes down easy enough and certainly good to put down a few at a time.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Poured a dark cloudy golden orange color with a frothy 1 finger white head that was moderately lasting leaving only slight tell tale hints of lacing. There was a considerable amount of suspend particle matter.
S: The nose was wheaty with a touch of sweet caramel, and some yeasty attributes of bananas.
T: The flavor starts off really smooth and very light with a creamy wheat palate, dried bananas, and some hints of fruit. There was some slight hints of caramel sweetness as well as apples.
M: light, with a strong crisp carbonation but goes down pretty smooth. Leaves a slight sweet caramel lacing behind.
D: A pretty decent dunkel, though a little light. Goes down easy enough and certainly good to put down a few at a time.
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4.25/5 rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from 16.9 oz. bottle into a weizen glass.
Pours a cloudy dark copper with a two finger off white head.
Aromas of banana, bubble gum, spicy cloves, and caramel.
Flavors are pretty much the same as the aroma.
Light body, very nice carbonation that lets the flavors drift along the tongue.
I've had many Hefeweizens but this is actually the first dunkelweizen that I've ever had. Pretty good stuff, very similar to a regular hefe but with more caramel flavors.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from 16.9 oz. bottle into a weizen glass.
Pours a cloudy dark copper with a two finger off white head.
Aromas of banana, bubble gum, spicy cloves, and caramel.
Flavors are pretty much the same as the aroma.
Light body, very nice carbonation that lets the flavors drift along the tongue.
I've had many Hefeweizens but this is actually the first dunkelweizen that I've ever had. Pretty good stuff, very similar to a regular hefe but with more caramel flavors.
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4.3/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I do like a good dunkel, and this one looks like it might fit the bill. pours a nice cloudy deep amber, with a nice off white head that wants to fade to lace but can't quite make it. the smell isn't bad either, it's got the requisite banana and clove yeast esters, and a bit of wheat malt, not as full as some but notably there. the taste is nice, the same as the smell, but a little light and the spiciness isn't there either. good mouthfeel, nice carbonation, and if it were on tap, I'd drink a lot of it.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I do like a good dunkel, and this one looks like it might fit the bill. pours a nice cloudy deep amber, with a nice off white head that wants to fade to lace but can't quite make it. the smell isn't bad either, it's got the requisite banana and clove yeast esters, and a bit of wheat malt, not as full as some but notably there. the taste is nice, the same as the smell, but a little light and the spiciness isn't there either. good mouthfeel, nice carbonation, and if it were on tap, I'd drink a lot of it.
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3.33/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark root-beer brown. Average head, but lots of lacing. Smells of yeast, but not that strongly. Flavor actually isn't that impressive; a friend of mine took a sip and says I may have gotten a bad bottle. Still not a bad taste - slightly sweet and malty, but just not that much to work with. Good mouthfeel and very drinkable, but still disappointing for a Franziskaner. I had high expectations.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark root-beer brown. Average head, but lots of lacing. Smells of yeast, but not that strongly. Flavor actually isn't that impressive; a friend of mine took a sip and says I may have gotten a bad bottle. Still not a bad taste - slightly sweet and malty, but just not that much to work with. Good mouthfeel and very drinkable, but still disappointing for a Franziskaner. I had high expectations.
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3.6/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a .5L brown bottle
Pours a nice dark brown color. Very nice head and decent lacing. This one has some nice sediment in the bottle which takes some swirling to get loose.
Aroma is nice, typical for the style. Lots of yeast, wheat, banana and cloves. Also some very faint bubble gum smells coming through.
Taste is good. Some nice wheat flavors in there, slight banana flavor. Yeast is present too. Also has some roasted/toasted malt flavor which is more pronounced then the other flavors. Good mouthfeel, a bit dry. Overall not bad. Would recommend it.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a .5L brown bottle
Pours a nice dark brown color. Very nice head and decent lacing. This one has some nice sediment in the bottle which takes some swirling to get loose.
Aroma is nice, typical for the style. Lots of yeast, wheat, banana and cloves. Also some very faint bubble gum smells coming through.
Taste is good. Some nice wheat flavors in there, slight banana flavor. Yeast is present too. Also has some roasted/toasted malt flavor which is more pronounced then the other flavors. Good mouthfeel, a bit dry. Overall not bad. Would recommend it.
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4.33/5 rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A cloudy deep copper and burnt orange hues under a large slightly off white head that slightly dissipates but sticks around strong for the whole pint. Carbonation steadily brings bubbles to support the head throughout.
Smells are Wheaty and yeast with fruity banana tones. Almost like cinnamon covered banana.
Taste is a sharp fruity in the banana like realm then gives way to lemon lime citrus notes and finishes slightly metallic and dry. Mouthfeel is powdery but light due to carbonation.
There's not alot out there representing this style, but this is a great beer in my opinion.
Pair it with ginger snaps, rainy summer afternoons, or a good conversation with a friend.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A cloudy deep copper and burnt orange hues under a large slightly off white head that slightly dissipates but sticks around strong for the whole pint. Carbonation steadily brings bubbles to support the head throughout.
Smells are Wheaty and yeast with fruity banana tones. Almost like cinnamon covered banana.
Taste is a sharp fruity in the banana like realm then gives way to lemon lime citrus notes and finishes slightly metallic and dry. Mouthfeel is powdery but light due to carbonation.
There's not alot out there representing this style, but this is a great beer in my opinion.
Pair it with ginger snaps, rainy summer afternoons, or a good conversation with a friend.
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4.35/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
A solid dunkelweizen. Poured rubyish brown, with a thick foamy head. Chunks floatin' around. Aromas , of course, of cloves, bananas, spice, sugary malt sweetness. The flavor was a bit muted, but still quite nice. Banana bread is in there. Awesome mouhfeel. Quaffable and zesty, smooth and lush. A great drinker. I could drink this everyday.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
A solid dunkelweizen. Poured rubyish brown, with a thick foamy head. Chunks floatin' around. Aromas , of course, of cloves, bananas, spice, sugary malt sweetness. The flavor was a bit muted, but still quite nice. Banana bread is in there. Awesome mouhfeel. Quaffable and zesty, smooth and lush. A great drinker. I could drink this everyday.
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4.35/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured in a hefe glass, around 50F.
Murky brown ale, frothy white head and some lacing, head eventually settles down to a nothing, I blame the not so clean glass.
Huge freaking Franziskaner aroma of banana/fruity esters and a hint of clove, bready and yeasty as well. Flavor of wheat malt, fresh banana bread and a residual balanced mild bitterness.
All around, quite delicious! I'd drink it all the time if I lived in Germany.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured in a hefe glass, around 50F.
Murky brown ale, frothy white head and some lacing, head eventually settles down to a nothing, I blame the not so clean glass.
Huge freaking Franziskaner aroma of banana/fruity esters and a hint of clove, bready and yeasty as well. Flavor of wheat malt, fresh banana bread and a residual balanced mild bitterness.
All around, quite delicious! I'd drink it all the time if I lived in Germany.
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3.68/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pint-.9-ounce bottle poured into a weizen glass yields a hazy pale brown body with golden highlights, capped with a monstrous, five-finger pale-ecru crown with fine bubbles and donkey-stubborn retention. A fat foamy ring of lacing slides down the glass.
Smell is very wheaty with a touch of banana and a little spice.
Taste is the least bit tangy, big-time rich and wheaty, with a touch of banana and clove. Somewhere lurking amidst more wallflower grainy flavors is a bashful, but friendly note of juicy orange and a lip-smacking touch of fruity yeast.
This is an exceptionally smooth beer, and is augmented by sedate carbonation. Outstanding drinkability marks a nice example of the style.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pint-.9-ounce bottle poured into a weizen glass yields a hazy pale brown body with golden highlights, capped with a monstrous, five-finger pale-ecru crown with fine bubbles and donkey-stubborn retention. A fat foamy ring of lacing slides down the glass.
Smell is very wheaty with a touch of banana and a little spice.
Taste is the least bit tangy, big-time rich and wheaty, with a touch of banana and clove. Somewhere lurking amidst more wallflower grainy flavors is a bashful, but friendly note of juicy orange and a lip-smacking touch of fruity yeast.
This is an exceptionally smooth beer, and is augmented by sedate carbonation. Outstanding drinkability marks a nice example of the style.
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3.58/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy brown with a big, off-white head. Smells of cloves and banannas. Taste is bready, sweet, with a slight sour twang. Mouthfeel is kind of thin, carbonation medium. Quite drinkable, somewhat low in alcohol, and would make a good session beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy brown with a big, off-white head. Smells of cloves and banannas. Taste is bready, sweet, with a slight sour twang. Mouthfeel is kind of thin, carbonation medium. Quite drinkable, somewhat low in alcohol, and would make a good session beer.
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4.22/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bought from Bottleworks in Seattle, WA - bottle, 9FL. OZ.
I didn't realize this was a dunkel till I looked it up here, then confirmed it again from the bottle label. This is my first dunkel hefe-weisse.
A: great cloudy orange color, murky brown. thin 1/2+ finger head that doesn't stick around for the party, minimal to no lacing. very carbonated - lots of little bubbles. cool bottle label :)
S: deep floral and spice bouquet, strong fruity banana esters. smells like a really bready banana loaf. unusual sourness also.
T: carbonated and prickly, but a nice mix of sweetness and hoppyness. lots of spicing, cinnamon prevalent as well as clove. nice esters, banana...what else? god this tastes good!
M: medium bodied. somewhat creamy. fizzy yet crisp.
D: very tasty, low to medium ABV, great balance of esters and spice, carbonation excellent. very re drinkable.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Bought from Bottleworks in Seattle, WA - bottle, 9FL. OZ.
I didn't realize this was a dunkel till I looked it up here, then confirmed it again from the bottle label. This is my first dunkel hefe-weisse.
A: great cloudy orange color, murky brown. thin 1/2+ finger head that doesn't stick around for the party, minimal to no lacing. very carbonated - lots of little bubbles. cool bottle label :)
S: deep floral and spice bouquet, strong fruity banana esters. smells like a really bready banana loaf. unusual sourness also.
T: carbonated and prickly, but a nice mix of sweetness and hoppyness. lots of spicing, cinnamon prevalent as well as clove. nice esters, banana...what else? god this tastes good!
M: medium bodied. somewhat creamy. fizzy yet crisp.
D: very tasty, low to medium ABV, great balance of esters and spice, carbonation excellent. very re drinkable.
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3.76/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a single into a Imperial pint glass.
A: Pours dark brown, hazy, with a nice uneven foamy head. No real lacing to note.
S: Wheaty malt with a sort of intricate fruity smell.
T&M: Dark looking and light bodied with a complex malty, but clean, flavor profile. The wheat is prominent with an interesting yeasty fruitiness that assists with the impression of light tastes. The carbonation is fine and abundant. The finish is relatively malty but dry going just a touch watery as the linger begins.
D: Refreshing and light and easy to drink. The interesting yeast flavors had me curious for more which let this one do down pretty quickly as well. Interesting and cool. I liked it.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a single into a Imperial pint glass.
A: Pours dark brown, hazy, with a nice uneven foamy head. No real lacing to note.
S: Wheaty malt with a sort of intricate fruity smell.
T&M: Dark looking and light bodied with a complex malty, but clean, flavor profile. The wheat is prominent with an interesting yeasty fruitiness that assists with the impression of light tastes. The carbonation is fine and abundant. The finish is relatively malty but dry going just a touch watery as the linger begins.
D: Refreshing and light and easy to drink. The interesting yeast flavors had me curious for more which let this one do down pretty quickly as well. Interesting and cool. I liked it.
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3.88/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance. Pale apple cider like appearance. Decent head retention.
Smell: Sweet wheat notes.
Taste: Initial taste of fruity wheat. Big banana flavors. A bit of spice in there as well. I love this dark wheat style. One of my favorites of this style so far.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, rich, fullbodied dunkel.
Drinkability" Rather drinkable. Would have again. Franzi is always fancy.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance. Pale apple cider like appearance. Decent head retention.
Smell: Sweet wheat notes.
Taste: Initial taste of fruity wheat. Big banana flavors. A bit of spice in there as well. I love this dark wheat style. One of my favorites of this style so far.
Mouthfeel: Creamy, rich, fullbodied dunkel.
Drinkability" Rather drinkable. Would have again. Franzi is always fancy.
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4.42/5 rDev +15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A very murky brown with a thin laceless head.
Smell is great with the most prevalent being banana, spices, and bread. I also smell clove and a bit of something sour. Taste is like banana bread. All of the other smells are in there too. Mouthfeel is very good finish is smooth with lively carbonation.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A very murky brown with a thin laceless head.
Smell is great with the most prevalent being banana, spices, and bread. I also smell clove and a bit of something sour. Taste is like banana bread. All of the other smells are in there too. Mouthfeel is very good finish is smooth with lively carbonation.
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3.7/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I was a little hesitant to try this one because I really didn't care much for Franziskaner's Hefe-Weisse. However, I actually enjoyed this brew a lot better - although I drank this one on tap so it's not an entirely fair comparison. Anyways, in the glass this brew resembles a black and tan, with a dark caramel color. The smell is reminiscent of apples and maple syrup. The carbonation and mouthfeel is excellent with a dry (but not too dry) slightly medicinal finish. An apple fruitiness dominates the flavor with hints of bubblegum sweetness. Although I found this sweetness to be more balanced than the Hefe-Weiss. Towards the end of a sip there is a tiny bit of bitterness and hoppy sting. This is not my favorite Hefe Weisse, but it's a pretty good beer on tap.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I was a little hesitant to try this one because I really didn't care much for Franziskaner's Hefe-Weisse. However, I actually enjoyed this brew a lot better - although I drank this one on tap so it's not an entirely fair comparison. Anyways, in the glass this brew resembles a black and tan, with a dark caramel color. The smell is reminiscent of apples and maple syrup. The carbonation and mouthfeel is excellent with a dry (but not too dry) slightly medicinal finish. An apple fruitiness dominates the flavor with hints of bubblegum sweetness. Although I found this sweetness to be more balanced than the Hefe-Weiss. Towards the end of a sip there is a tiny bit of bitterness and hoppy sting. This is not my favorite Hefe Weisse, but it's a pretty good beer on tap.
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3.06/5 rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
500ml bottle that has a gold foil over the cap and has a dark ruby red label of a happy monk drinking a mug of beer. If you look closly, you can find a bottle code in the lower left hand corner. The back label just has all the usual U.S information. Served in a Weizen glass.
What came out of the bottle was a murky mahagony brown with a small amount of orange highlights. This one had the usual 2 inch creamy head of white foam. Slow retention that left behind a small amount of white spots and a streak or two of white lace. This Weizen didn't have any bananas in the aroma, but it sure loved the lightly toasted malts and butter popcorn. It smelled so much like popcorn, I almost took this beer to the movies. The taste was light and wheaty with roasted wheat, a hint of lemon, subtle cloves, yeast, and some juicy fruits here and there. I thought there could have been more flavors in the beer, but I guess not. The mouthfeel was light like a Weizen should be, but this one had a faint aftertaste of malted wheat and yeast. It's just a standard German Dunkel Weizen. I honestly thought it could have been better than this. I might give it another whirl in the future.
1,172 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
500ml bottle that has a gold foil over the cap and has a dark ruby red label of a happy monk drinking a mug of beer. If you look closly, you can find a bottle code in the lower left hand corner. The back label just has all the usual U.S information. Served in a Weizen glass.
What came out of the bottle was a murky mahagony brown with a small amount of orange highlights. This one had the usual 2 inch creamy head of white foam. Slow retention that left behind a small amount of white spots and a streak or two of white lace. This Weizen didn't have any bananas in the aroma, but it sure loved the lightly toasted malts and butter popcorn. It smelled so much like popcorn, I almost took this beer to the movies. The taste was light and wheaty with roasted wheat, a hint of lemon, subtle cloves, yeast, and some juicy fruits here and there. I thought there could have been more flavors in the beer, but I guess not. The mouthfeel was light like a Weizen should be, but this one had a faint aftertaste of malted wheat and yeast. It's just a standard German Dunkel Weizen. I honestly thought it could have been better than this. I might give it another whirl in the future.
1,172 characters
3.5/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Cloudy and dark caramel brown with a full finger of lasting pillowy head.
A balance of banana, bubblegum and roast in the aroma. Right n par, everything is there.
Lots of fruit and bubblegum flavor from the yeast, even a bit over the top. You really have to search for the darker flavors in this one.
Mouthfeel is spot-on, highly carbonated, just a little drying.
Pretty good example, but the yeast needs to step back a little to distinguish the dunkel side of this beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Cloudy and dark caramel brown with a full finger of lasting pillowy head.
A balance of banana, bubblegum and roast in the aroma. Right n par, everything is there.
Lots of fruit and bubblegum flavor from the yeast, even a bit over the top. You really have to search for the darker flavors in this one.
Mouthfeel is spot-on, highly carbonated, just a little drying.
Pretty good example, but the yeast needs to step back a little to distinguish the dunkel side of this beer.
475 characters
3.87/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured this into my hefe glass and received a cloudy body that was a mix of leather brown and apple cider. Left two-finger head that receeded quickly and left no lacings. A nice roasted/dry malt smell came through, accentuated by some tart fruit such as orange, cherries and also some clove. Spices are the first thing that struck me, then a warming sensation as the malty goodness came through. A slightly dry finish as the citric fruits are tucked on the backend; this a medium-bodied beer that is smooth and a tad creamy. There is some caramel in there too, but it does not make the beer that syrupy. Not the best dunkel, but I did enjoy it.
644 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured this into my hefe glass and received a cloudy body that was a mix of leather brown and apple cider. Left two-finger head that receeded quickly and left no lacings. A nice roasted/dry malt smell came through, accentuated by some tart fruit such as orange, cherries and also some clove. Spices are the first thing that struck me, then a warming sensation as the malty goodness came through. A slightly dry finish as the citric fruits are tucked on the backend; this a medium-bodied beer that is smooth and a tad creamy. There is some caramel in there too, but it does not make the beer that syrupy. Not the best dunkel, but I did enjoy it.
644 characters
3.68/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 16.9 oz bottle into weizen glass.
A - Brown, somewhat hazy, with two finger head that receded to almost nothing. No lacing.
S - Generic hefe aromas of banana, but without the usual citrus undertones. Bread-like.
T - Again like a standard hefe with the bananas and touch of clove, but no citrus. Instead, some caramel malt making for a fairly sweet brew. Bread and mild nut flavors come through, though subdued.
M - Slick with little carbonation.
D - Easy to drink with no bitterness and minimal carbonation. A nice flavor, but too homogenized.
Mostly what I thought while sipping this dunkel were it's similarities to Franziskaner's Hefe-Weisse. It's fairly identical, though the lemony aspects are absent and instead a caramel-like flavor comes through. It compliments the banana quite well, though everything is muddled and ultimately the flavor is a little weak.
883 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 16.9 oz bottle into weizen glass.
A - Brown, somewhat hazy, with two finger head that receded to almost nothing. No lacing.
S - Generic hefe aromas of banana, but without the usual citrus undertones. Bread-like.
T - Again like a standard hefe with the bananas and touch of clove, but no citrus. Instead, some caramel malt making for a fairly sweet brew. Bread and mild nut flavors come through, though subdued.
M - Slick with little carbonation.
D - Easy to drink with no bitterness and minimal carbonation. A nice flavor, but too homogenized.
Mostly what I thought while sipping this dunkel were it's similarities to Franziskaner's Hefe-Weisse. It's fairly identical, though the lemony aspects are absent and instead a caramel-like flavor comes through. It compliments the banana quite well, though everything is muddled and ultimately the flavor is a little weak.
883 characters
Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel from Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu
Beer rating:
3.83 out of
5 with
1,691 ratings
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