Aventinus Weizenbock

Review Date 7/6/2000  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Weizenbock   Brewery: Schneider   Country: Germany   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: N/A   ABV: 8%

It's easy to get wheat beers these days, especially during the warm summer months. There are even a large number of weizenbiers imported from Germany to be found in the United States. Far fewer in number, however, are the number of weizenbocks brought in. This style of wheat beer is top fermented with ale yeast like a traditional weizen, but has the rich malty character and alcohol level of a doppelbock lager. Aventinus is the classic example of this style.

German wheat beers are traditionally drunk from tall, inverted conical beer glasses that allow room for the beer and the prodigious head they generate. I'm pouring mine into an Aventinus logo glass (I'm a stickler for matching the glass to the beer). It's a little different from a traditional wheat beer glass in that it is sort of bulb shaped at the top. This allows a column of dark brown colored brew to fill the bottom of the glass against which the logo shows up nicely. The bulb fills with a creamy-rocky head of foam for a truly beautiful presentation. The nose is yeasty with clove and entices you to take that first sip. When you do, you'll find an amazingly complex combination of chocolate, clove, banana, raisin, and subtle smoke. The thick malty sweetness provides a rich mouthfeel. The clove is most apparent in the finish where it combines nicely with the potent 8% by volume alcohol warmth, lingering on the palate to remind you for some time that you're a drinking a wonderful beer.

This rich brew is great with pork dishes, pork and sauerkraut or roast pork for example. Try braising pork tenderloins in the beer for a real treat.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??