What happened to Dunkelweizen?

The only place around here that will do special orders requires a one case minimum, even for regular customers. The only beer I can special order in smaller quantities is Schlenkerla, because they're basically singles, and even then I have to commit to a 1/2 case.

 

I guess things are wildly different on this side of the country. Some stores out here are strict like that but maybe have someone trade/send you some of their dunkel and you can see if it's worth committing to a whole case or not if available. Hoppy hunting!

 

Thanks, but I kinda get their position. It's a relatively small shop, if I take one six out of a case they really don't have shelf space for the other three.

 

I stopped asking my local Retail Beer Distributor to special order beers for me. The case comes in, I purchase one 4/6 pack, and those beers just sit on his shelf. I just feel bad for this situation.

Cheers!

 

As long as I can get Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel, while I might try others (and I would), it's hard to imagine replacing what's so far the best by a long shot.

 

It's because you cannot make this style with 90 IBU's. All the younger drinkers want is over-hopped beers.

 

TJ's Dunkelweisen was a real gem, especially at the price and now they seem to be getting out of their Heller Bock. its a shame that IPAs are taking over the market. Whatever happened to the great esters and phenolics from wheat and yeast? next thing you know, Goose Island will be offering a Bourbon County Mango/Pineapple stout. I may need to move to Bavaria.

 

You don't get Schneider Weiss? Heaven forbid... you are not getting wheat biers!

 

Firestone Walker has produced an excellent Hefeweissbier. I lean towards dunkel but when their hefe was so good it was all I drank at times. But last time, in the flagship location in Paso Robles, they also had their Schwarzbier and a Rauchbier on tap, so good both.

 

I almost bought a 6-pack of Bierwolf the other day. Saw "Dunkelweizen" on the label, picked it up, and put it in my cart. Then took a bottle out and read the details. Yeah, that's not a dunkelweizen. Put it right back where I found it.

Then why didn't they just brew a dunkelweizen?! Afraid it wouldn't sell without some flavor additions?

 

Craft breweries always seem to miss the mark on dunkelweizen attempts. There have been some rare exceptions like Neshaminy Creek Dunks Ferry, Ramstein Dunkelweizen and the superb Black Walnut Dunkel by Perennial Artisan Ales which was apparently only brewed once. Mostly the american craft brewers overhop, possibly thinking it will sell better. Over the years I've seen most of the superb German imports become extinct in the U.S., including Franziskaner, Julius Echter, Hacker-Pschorr, Tucher, Konig Ludwig, Andechser, Miltenberger and Weltenberger. After retiring to California from the East Coast, I have been able to find or special order Erdinger, Ayinger and Weihenstephaner. Also, Schneider-Weisse Tap 7 Original is a very dark hefeweizen, essentially a dunkel and can still be found if one is diligent. The strange thing is that whenever local beer stores get a shipment dunkelweizen it sells out quickly, begging the question why more of it is not imported.

 

REPLY: Actually 5th Element - GERMAN style WEISSBIER (SKU 3 859892 222994) is a premium craft beer imported from the Daruvar valley of Croatia that has a long history of Czech immigrants (Starocesko). 5th Element "GERWEISS" is available from every Total Wine & More (all 200+ stores) in 23 states that has a state beer distributor that is a world class on-the-ball supplier.[/QUOTE]

 

I miss Moonglow...

 

Hrm, if that logic applied though, nobody would be drinking most IPAs, IIPAs, Impy/BA/Pastry Stouts, etc. All the things that are dominating the market and squeezing out styles like Dunkelweizen.

 

I did a search to see if this was available at my 'local' Total Wine (Claymont, DE) and this is what I got:

"We could not find this item at Claymont, DE. But we found it at Sacramento (Arden), CA."

Cheers!

 

From where I'm from (Alabama) there's a cool Micro Brewery (Cahaba) that makes a Dunkelweizen, and my local nano/micro brewery (Cross Eyed Owl) makes two of them and I believe one is now a flagship. It is sad that none of the major players really brew a Dunkel. Traditional German Beer just isn't sexy like Pastry Stouts, DIPA's, or Kettle Sours.

 

I lived in Germany for a few years when I worked at Bayer and it was hard to find Dunkelweizen on tap in the north / middle part of Germany other than in bottles. It was not till one travels south that it is a mainstay of the taps. I suspect businesses have a finite amount of taps and have to decide what will have a better turnover. Since many Dunkelweizen taste reasonably good in the bottle (if fresh), I understand why they are sparse on tap. In the US, were there are some high volume and cheap wheat beers (Blue moon), a few good craft wheats (Allagash) and a reasonable selection of German wheats at tap places like the Yardhouse, there is insufficient demand for Dunkelweizen on tap. In Boston, many stores that sell German weizen beer will buy a case of Dunkelweizen upon request if you pay in advance.

PS: I have ca. 20 different German Wheat beer glasses I am trying to find a home for in case anyone is looking to pour a nice Dunkelweizen into a real German beer glass...:-).

 

It is generous of you to make this offer.

I have three different German Wheat beer glasses (Weihenstephaner, Kapuziner, and one unbranded). I am sorry to say these glasses do not get used often enough.

Cheers!

 

I love the style but I think it would be hard for an American craft brewer to top the German offerings. I’m fortunate to be near a reliable and reasonably priced source of Weihenstephaner Dunkelweizen as well as Hacker-Pschorr, Paulaner, Schneider, and other excellent wheat beers. If I spotted a craft Dunkel on draft I would try it but I probably wouldn’t roll the dice on even a six pack that I hadn’t previously tasted.

 

WINNER...

This is perhaps 99% of the reason why Dunkelweizens (and other less popular styles) are not found commonly.