Hacker-Pschorr Dunkle Weisse (Weisse Dark)

Review Date 5/20/2003 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Dunkelweizen   Brewery: Hacker-Pschorr   Country: Germany   State: N/A   $ Per OZ: $.12 (B)   ABV: 5.3%

The latest fad in the craft beer world, it seems, ishigh priced imported brews. Prices are heading higher and higher, and single bottles of imported brew costing $4, $5, or even $6 are not uncommon these days. Often times, these are rare brews of distinction worth every penny charged. Sometimes, though, I don’t feel the price to be justified. Perhaps the beer is not exactly spectacular, or maybe a very similar but lower priced alternative is readily available.

Amidst this seemingly unending sea of high priced imported beer, however, there are plenty of old favorites available to the beer enthusiast that offer both great flavor and excellent value. One that immediately springs to mind is Hacker Pschorr Weisse Dark, a delicious and traditional German dunkel (dark) Hefeweizen.

Wheat beers have become very popular of late in the United States, especially in the warm summer months when their tart, quenching character makes them extremely refreshing. Many brewers now produce some variation on them here in the States, but in Germany, land of their origin, they are nothing new. In Bavaria, Weisse beer is ubiquitous.

Weisse is German for white, and in the context of wheat beers it refers to the cloudy, yellow-white color common to most beers of the style. Weisse Dark is therefore a sort of contradiction in terms, since it means “white dark”, a name that doesn’t make much sense when taken out of the context of its colloquial meaning. Just think of the white referring to the style in general, and it will make more sense.

Hacker-Pschorr is one of Munich’s original breweries, and its roots extend all the way back to the 1417. Georg Pschorr, the man for whom this particular beer is named, was born in 1798 and was influential in the formulation of the classic Hefeweizen style. You can see his stoic visage represented on every bottle of Hacker Pschorr Weisse Dark.

I have been drinking Hacker Pschorr beers for over 15 years now. Simply put, this is one of my favorite German breweries, and they make some of my very favorite weisse beers. Recently, the brewery was acquired by Paulaner, another large Munich brewing concern. Fortunately, the quality of the beer has not changed one iota.

Hacker Pschorr Weisse Dark pours to a dark ruby brown color with a thick rocky head and a tart clove nose. The palate is tart and refreshing with a subtle smoky character and hints of chocolate, toffee, light clove, and crisp crackery wheat. This is a smooth and very drinkable beer that slowly segues into a tart and quenching finish. The head formation stays with the beer as you sip, and follows it all the way down your drinking vessel (preferably a Bavarian style Hefeweizen glass) leaving a fine layer of Brussels lace clinging to the sides.

Hacker Pschorr Weisse Dark is everything a classic Bavarian dark wheat beer should be. And at $1.99 for a half liter bottle, it’s an exceptional value and widely available throughout the United States. Why not try a bottle today?