Denison's Spezial Weissbier Dunkel
Denison's Brewing Company

Pint at Volo.

Pours a light brown copper hybrid, which is exactly how I imagined this blend would look. It arrives with no head, which is disappointing, but may be a result of the pour. The nose has a sweet spiciness to it, banana, caramel, clove, sharp wheat, lemon and a nice breadiness.

I love Denison's Weissbier and I love Denison's Dunkel, and the blend of the two tastes exactly as I expected it would. The sweet banana of the weiss is amped up by the caramel in the dunkel, and the spiciness in the finish is somewhat tempered. It actually seems more straightforward than I would have guessed, but it makes for a pleasurable brew. Medium-light body and carbonation adds to the drinkability.

A good beer all-round, but I'll stick to just the dunkel.

A - Whitish gold colour. Finger of head disappearing to a nice lace.

S - Banana, clove, wheat malt.

T - Usual banana and clove, although not overpowering. Still somewhat malty and balanced.

M - Not much to say really, pretty average

D - Good. Would definitely have another.

On tap at Volo and consumed between their other two offerings: the weiss and the dunkel, of which this brew is a blend. Opaque and dark-copper in colour, the Spezial presents a nice cover of white head.

Light smell. Caramel, citrus, spice, light hops. Doesn't smell bad but could use more presence.

Tastes like a dark version of the weissbier. Dark malt, decent hop bittering, light spice (though I can't pick out anything in particular). Some warming alcohol. Not bad.

Good medium body but a touch over-carbonated for the flavour.

This is drinkable but I don't think it's something I'll be buying again. I love the weissbier and can't say I'm a fan of the dunkel; this one sits right in the middle. I'll just keep drinking their fine weissbier!

Enjoyed on tap at Chauncey Smith in appropriate glassware. Brown colour, minimal had, lacing followed. Average mouthfeel. The cloves come out, not the bannana, the sweetness of the dunkel makes it drinkable.On a whole it's unoffensive. Neutral aroma.

On tap at Chancey SMith's- Deeply hazed and murky mocha, has a thick and creamy off white cap that laces well. Nose of spices (clove mostly), banana, yeasty esters, milk chocolate, earthy malts. Tastes somewhat sweet, of banana, clove, a bit nutty, milk chocolate. Very drinkable, medium body, creamy. Very good.

On tap at Volo, a blend of Denison's two offerings.

This beer looks to be a muddy medium brown colour, with one finger of thin, filmy white head, which gives up random sheets of lace in its wake. It smells of wheaty caramel malt, some banana, and savoury spice. The taste is banana esters, sweet white grains, some more caramel, and earthy hops. The carbonation is moderate, the body weighty enough, but somewhat chalky, and it finishes off-dry, more fruity malt staying the course.

Pretty much what one would expect from the union of these two styles, the combination meaning there's a whole lot going on here, mostly good.