Brews and Blues Beer and Smokin’ Blues

Weyerbacher Slam Dunkel

Today's sampling is from Weyerbacher Brewing Co. in Easton, PA.  Slam Dunkel is billed as a double dunkelweizen ale and boasts a hefty 7% ABV. 

One tidbit I usually fail to comment on in my reviews is some of the beer terminology that could possibly be cryptic to the casual beer drinker, so let's talke about dunkelweizen for just a moment...  Whenever you see weizen or wit in the beer name, it means you are dealing with a wheat beer.  Wheat beers are made from malted wheat and barley rather than just malted barley.  Dunkel is German for dark, so a dunkelweizen is a dark wheat beer, and the style originated in southern Germany. 

Weyerbacher originally released the Slam Dunkel in 2007 as a small batch release, but later continued to include it as a seasonal brew due to it's wide popularity.  The dunkel part of this beer comes from the addition of chocolate malts in the brewing process.  Slam Dunkel also exhibits the common banana and clove aroma that is common in wheat beers, but it's more subdued in this brew.  Slam Dunkel is also bottle conditioned, so it does have the traditional yeast sediment on the bottom of the bottle.  Due to the higher alcohol content of this beer, it is another brew that is best served at a slightly warmer temperature.  I believe that 55° is just about perfect for this one. 

As I have commented earlier, I really like wheat beers on a hot summer day.  The dunkelweizen doesn't really fit the same bill though.  It's a heavier beer and not as crisp as a regular wheat brew. 

OHB – Weizen Bock

When I picked up my bottle of Bardstown Barley Wine last week, I also snagged a bottle of Olde Hickory Brewery's Weizen Bock.  I popped the top on this one this evening and was absolutely floored by what I tasted.  Steve and Jason went after this beer with both barrels smokin'.  This Weizen Bock has a solid malt presence and wonderfully sweet flavor and aroma.  From the bottle:

Our Weizen-Bock was inspired by the rugged, majestic beauty of the Alps.  Brewed with malted wheat and barley, select German hops and a special Barvarian yeast, our Weizen-Bock exhibits pronounced notes of banana, the spiciness of cloves and coriander and a warmth on the finish.  this handcrafted beer is best enjoyed in the company of good friends.  Cheers!

8% ABV

Until recently, I had never spent much time drinking wheat beers.  I had tried a few over the past years and just never really got into them so much.  After some recent tastings, I have come to the realization that these beers, with their lighter body and refreshing taste and crispness, will be most excellent companions in the summer months when it's so friggin' hot and humid outside. 

I brewed my first wheat beer this afternoon, and I can't wait to taste it.  It's called "Orange Blossom Special" and you can read a little about that rather disasterous experience in my LOG if you like... Wind is not a brewer's friend.  This should be a rather nice beer and the aroma should be quite interesting too :)