Try?
I think I’m late to the party, folks, but what the heck. Better late than never, right? Taco Mac got in a keg of Monday Night Rucksack Hefeweizen, and though this is a summer seasonal and it was November 1st, I ordered one. I do love German style beers after all, especially hefeweizens, and with a name like Rucksack (backpack in English), well, you better be German style.
Rucksack is a little bit of a departure from your average weisse beer. Monday Night uses Mandarina Bavaria hops to add a citrusy note, which is perfectly fine from a Reinheitsgebot standpoint. Then they go a step further, as I’ll let them explain:
Introducing Rucksack. Our newest summer seasonal, this German-style wheat beer is a well-earned respite after long day on the trail or in the hammock.
Hazy and unfiltered, Rucksack’s wheat malt delivers a bready character that screams citrus fruit when combined with Mandarina Bavaria hops. Steeping this beer with orange peel post-fermentation only accentuates this fruitiness.
Steeping
the beer with orange peel? Definitely not Reinheitsgebot approved. Some
people add lemon to their hefeweizen, and some orange. So why not add it to
the beer here in America? I’ve seen worse things thrown into beer.
Monday Night Rucksack Hefeweizen has an alcohol content of 4.9% by volume and I paid $6.80 for a 23-ounce mug at Taco Mac. Total Wine sells it for $8.99 a six-pack.
My mug of Monday Night Rucksack Hefeweizen arrived a hazy straw color with a thick rocky head of foam (it subsided considerably before I had a chance to take a photo) and a heady banana, clove and citrus nose. Taking a sip, the beer has a tart wheaty palate full with banana and clove notes, a touch of orange citrus and a tart finish.
Excellent Bavarian style Hefeweizen with a splash of citrus. I look forward to enjoying it again.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler
