Defrost
Ipswich Ale Brewery

Excited to see a weizenbock brewed by a respectable American brewer.
Can to weizen glass.
The appearance was a ruddy amber to murky orange color. A medium sized eggshell white foamy head fell off to leave some messy sliding lace.
The aroma had a wonderful blend of banana sweetness, sweet wheat, some light chocolate powder, toffee, nutty malts, phenolic fruity esters/red apple flesh, a touch of bubblegum, and some biscuity tones underneath.
The flavor yielded to the sweetness initially but opened up with some spicy yeasty to toasty nuttiness rolling into some boiled apples and sweet wheat. Aftertaste of apples, sweet wheat, phenolic banana, milk chocolate and some roasted nuts.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied, perhaps just a touch under with a clear sipping quality about it due to some some phenolic compounds pushing on my tongue. Sticky banana and milk chocolate layers pummel the spiciness to keep that semi-subdued. Finishes with some banana esters, silky milk chocolate, apple flesh, and some spicy weizen yeast.
Overall, I'd say a nice stab by an American brewer for the style. It's definitely one I would seek again.

 

I love some Ipswich, and I'm surprised they're not more popular. Maybe when general population tastes start moving back towards classic styles like I feel they are doing, then Ipswich will become more popular. As well as many other great breweries. Canned 1/11/19

Pours a larger size creamy bubbly head with moderate retention, very little lacing, very hazy auburn deep amber color

Nose nice aromatics, sweet candy malt, toffee, caramel, nutty malts, plenty of grainy biscuity malts, toasted wheat and Maillard sweet candy notes, toasty as well, touch of roasted coffee like, then yeast additions with some mild solventy notes and alcohol, touch of earthy vegetal, and some fruity esters both yeast derived like pome fruit and malt derived dark fruits date like, it's quite nice other than that light solventy glue like note.

Taste big sweet malt again, loads of Maillard notes, caramel, toffee, as well as biscuity toasted grainy malt, creamy and toasted wheat flavors, fair sweetness but not overly sweet, with a touch of warming alcohol, thankfully no solvent at all, then more fruity esters, a little pome fruit, caramelized banana, and malt derived fig/date like fruit, doughy wheat in the middle, light bitterness a bit too light, a touch of spice phenol notes, finish dries slightly, but sticky, touch more alcohol and lingering fruits and wheat

Mouth is med to fuller bod, rich, higher carbonation and just a touch of warming alcohol

Overall quite nice, taste was great, aroma was there aside from that touch of solvent glue note, but still a well done Weizenbock

 

Not many Weizenbocks on retail shelves these days but delighted to find this one - and in a very attractive 16 oz. can I might add. I don't have much experience with this style but I very much enjoyed my first can purchased at the Craft Beer Cellar in Westford MA and have subsequently made a return trip to purchase a 4-pack. Surprised at how the 7.7% ABV adds body to the flavor yet is hardly noticeable to the taste. Hope this Weizenbock becomes a part of Ipswich's regular product line.

 

From the 16 oz. can released in January 2019. Sampled on January 28, 2019.

Handsome looking light to medium amber brown with a tremendous long-lasting cream colored head. Some cloudiness.

Positively pungent aroma of banana first and clove second with a sweet roasted malt character hovering in the background. Low hop profile.

Medium to full body and smooth.

Very sweet with the same flavors of clove and banana. But there is a sort of buttery character underneath the sweet roasted malts. Overall though it is quite nice.