Weizen Bock
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

Presented from the tap in a snifter, the beer was a murky light brown color with one-finger of white sticky head. Some nice lacing throughout the sample, and carbonation bubbles fed the head throughout.

The nose is very indicative of a dunkle or hefeweizen. Strong banana and bubble gum upfront with a more subtle orange citrus aroma. A conspicious lack of either dark fruits or alcohol.

The taste reveals the alcohol that the nose did not. Still it is modest. I think often times the presence of dark fruit taste and aromas heightens the perception of alcohol and this beer seems to lack the fig and plum taste of its German models. Therefore, although detectable, alcohol comes off as rather mild. Huge bubblegum and banana flavors mixed with a semi-spicy clove and orange aftertaste. A little dry and yeasty in the finish.

Medium body and highly carbonated.

Indeed weizenbocks are dunkles of bock strength and this beer was indeed highly indicative of a dunkleweizen. So much so, that not withstanding its ABV (which it drank lower than indicated) I would hesitiate to say this epitomizes the style. A good beer in its own right, but lacking in some of the characteristics I would have expected after sampling the likes of Aventinus and even an American version such as Otter Creek's

On tap in a snifter bowl. Nice!

A- Hazed rusty water color, decent lacing that hold together well.

S- Sweet and spicy aroma of sharp cloves and a fruitiness that resembles banana bread.

T&M- Slightly crisp and super creamy with a full body. A hard line clove sharpness balances the big maltiness out. Nice warming alcohol shows off a ripe banana and plum fruitiness. Bread maltiness middle to end with a semi-dry finish.

D- Awesome! one of the best beers I have had this year ... no doubt. Super drinkable and pack with flavor.

Appearance: Arrives looking like a Pilsner with a clear golden body and a white head that has decent retention and lacing

Smell: Rather understated but a vague whiff of yeast and banana

Taste: Rather sweet up front, with some banana wheat and malt characteristics; a little awkward on the finish with a touch of medicinal bitterness and some fusel alcohol flavors

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with some fizzy carbonation and noticeable warming alcohol

Drinkability: Not a typical weizenbock and, after talking to Dave Gonzalez, the brewer, I learned that, for one thing, it is a lager and brewed with 50% wheat - he was reluctant to call it a weizenbock in fact; it's an interesting beer but not what I was expecting