I've been drinking beer for nigh on 28 years now, mostly what one would consider craft beer or microbrews for most of that time. And just when I think I've seen everything, a beer comes along that surprises me (or maybe even downright shocks me). Such was the case with Weihenstephaner Vitus, a Weizenbock beer from Germany's Weihenstephan Brewery.

The folks at Weihenstephan certainly have a right to claim they know their beer: they've been brewing it since the year 1040, and can therefore claim to be the "Alteste Brauerei der Welt", or oldest brewery in the world. Be that as it may, I hadn't gotten around to tasting their Weizenbock. Weizenbocks, of course, are strong wheat beers, usually a hybrid of two German styles, doppelbock and Weissbier.

Perhaps the prime example is Aventinus Weizenbock, a Doppelbock, although Erdinger also makes a wonderful version as well. Both of these beers are from Germany, but American microbrewers have added a few examples of their own. Victory's Moonglow Weizenbock is worth seeking out, as is Hang Ten Weizen Doppelbock, a beer brewed by Baltimore's Clipper City Brewery under their Heavy Seas brand.

These beers are relatively dark in color, however, usually carrying a ruby reddish to brownish hue. And that's what surprised me when I popped the cap on my bottle of Weihenstephaner Vitus: this beer was relatively clear, looking a lot more like a traditional wheat beer. Apparently the bock here is more of a Maibock, or pale bock, than a darker doppel.

The brewery calls Vitus a "single bock" Weizenbock, though again that should imply a slightly darker color if we're talking traditional bock. I'm sticking with the pale bock theory here. Each half liter bottle has 260 calories, and the beer has 17 IBUs of bitterness and 7.7% alcohol by volume.

Weihenstephaner Vitus pours to a cloudy yellow orange color with  a thick and fluffy head formation and a spicy clove and banana nose.  A thick layer of Brussels lace clings to the sides of my weizenbier glass and follows the liquid down to the bottom. The palate is surprisingly light in body, but still big on flavor: loads of banana and a hint of vanilla work together to impart a bananas foster character.

Spicy clove, nutmeg, and tart refreshing wheat impart drinkability. I get a hint of bubble gum, too. The finish is dry with tart wheat and a hint of alcohol, though Vitus does not seem as potent as it is.

Being bottle conditioned, there is yeast in the bottle.

Again, this is more like a souped-up hefeweizen than the darker Weizenbocks one usually experiences. Weihenstephaner Vitus is certainly different, and different is good! This one shouldn't be missed, and at $3.99 a bottle it's a good deal, too.

Update 5/19/2012: Enjoyed a half liter of this wonderful brew on tap at Atlanta's Der Biergarten restaurant tonight. I was reminded why I love this beer so much, so rich yet refreshing and complex with notes of clove and banana. Delightful!

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



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