Grolsch Dunkel Weizen
Grolsch Bierbrouwerij N.V.

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a hazy amber brown color (nice glow when held near the light) with an off white two finger head, that fades not so quickly but doesn't hang around either, leaving a small amount of lacing around the glass.

Smell is of clove, banana, and caramel

Carbonation is present throughout the beer. Caramel upfront, lots of yeast, wheat, biscuit, banana, slight alcohol. Dry finish. The body is just right not watery but not to heavy.

Good example of the style.

An amber, orange, brown beer with a dense, creamy head that lasts the entire brew.

Smell is really nice, with notes of vanilla, the obvious phenolic banana whiffs and caramel. The wheat is also present and adds a 'creamy' smell, or whatever that is.

Taste is really smooth. A great combination of yeast products and wheat. Nice vanilla, banana and caramel tastes followed by general phenolic tastes of the yeast. The wheat is strongly present. Bitterness is just a bit too high for a Weizen. Mouthfeel is so smooth and aftertaste is medium dry and a little bitter.

A: A cloudy light brown colour, with a white fluffy head. The head displays good staying power. Pretty much bang on for the style - personally, I like my Dunkelweizens darker (even matching a stout) but this example is certainly within the style.

S: Typical wheat beer yeast aromas - principally banana.

T: As you'd expect - there's all the banana and bubblegum flavours the smell suggests - I wouldn't be at all surprised in they'd used the Weihenstephan yeast in this one. Certainly more fruity than the Premium Weizen from Grolsch. There's also plenty of wheat flavour in there (mmm, breakfast cereal).

M: Plenty of body and plenty of carbonation. Has a real tendency to foam like sherbet in your mouth, but not unpleasantly so.

D: This is one I could happily spend long summer evenings drinking - a shame I discovered it mid-winter really.

Grolsch has produced a very competent example of the Dunkelweizen style with this beer. There's nothing particularly daring or quirky about it but that's to be expected from a big-name brewer I suppose. Nevertheless, if this one finds its way into the local supermarket I expect it will find its way into my fridge on a fairly regular basis - especially in summer.