All About Beer Magazine

These dark wheat beers derive their character from the use of darker malts in the non-wheat ingredients, so that a richer, darker-colored beer can be achieved, along with fuller malt flavors. Dunkel weizens still display the floral, estery qualities of a pale weizen. Dark weizens are produced with or without a secondary fermentation in the bottle, with the corollary that these styles can be yeast sedimented or unsedimented depending upon the preference of the brewer.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range	Quality Band
96-100 points	Platinum
90-95 points	Gold
85-90 points	Silver
80-84 points	Bronze
Less than 80	Not Recommended

Legend

= Brewpub
ABV = Alcohol by volume
Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

95 Ur-Weisse, Privatbrauerei Aying (Germany). 5.8% ABV (6/08)
Hazy amber copper color with blanket of mousse. Creamy nougat, dark banana-orange bread and delicate spice aromas. A round, chewy entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium-full body with loads of sweet wheat pastry, cream banana custard, clove and orange blossom honey flavors. Finishes with a long, tangy, creamy nougat and spice bread fade. A gentle giant of a dunkel weiss with superb drinkability.

92 Dunkel Weisse, Hacker-Pschorr Brauerei (Germany). 5.3% ABV (6/07)
Slightly hazy, deep copper brown color. Banana purée, buttered almond brittle and sumptuous brown spice aromas follow through to a frothy and round medium-to-full body of toasted banana nut bread, nutmeg and candied orange peel flavors. Finishes with a nice caramelized nut, earth and delicate spice fade.

91 Franziskaner Dunkel Hefe-Weisse, Spaten-Franziskaner Brau (Germany). 5% ABV (6/08)
Hazy copper mahogany color with a fine taupe head. Nutshell, banana bread crust and toffee aromas. A round entry leads to a dryish medium-to-full body of caramelized nuts, fig anise bread and delicate spice. Finishes with banana pudding and dark toffee fade. A tasty choice for grilled game sausages.

90 Julius Echter Hefe-Weiss Dunkel Premium, Wurzburger Hofbrau (Germany). 5.5% ABV (6/07)
Cloudy, deep copper brown color. Toasted pumpernickel and toffee aromas. A rich, supple and velvety entry leads to a dryish medium-full body of banana custard, dark nutty toast, cocoa and subtle spices. Finishes with a toasty toffeed fade with a hint of citrus rind and wet stones. Well balanced and refreshing.

88 Dunkelweizen, Spoetzl Brewery (TX). 5.2% ABV (11/06)
Deep copper-mahogany color. Sourdough, yeast, nuts and dusty earth aromas. A smooth, lightly frothy entry leads to a dryish medium body of sweet dark caramel, dark raisin purée, roasted nuts and cocoa powder flavors. Finishes with a tangy chocolate-covered lemon peel and delicate spice fade. Very smooth, balanced and highly drinkable.

87 Falken Steiner Ur-Schwarze, Privat Brauerei Bischoff (Germany). 5.2% ABV (6/08)
Russet mahogany color with an off-white blanketing head. Nutshells, overripe banana and pumpernickel dough aromas. A round, supple entry leads to a dryish medium-full body with dried banana, praline and pudding flavors. Finishes with a mild, slightly earthy, yeast and wet straw fade.

83 Dunkelweizen, Bastone Brewery (MI). 5.2% ABV (7/09)
Deep brown color. Fruity caramel fudge aromas follow through on a round entry to a fruity-yet-dry medium body with dark caramel apple and banana soufflé note. Finishes with a tangy apple nut granola and tilled earth fade. Nice roasted character.