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Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Wheat Beers

The Singularity of Wheat

Weizen Bock

Weizen bocks are essentially winter wheat beers, originally brewed in Bavaria. The color can be pale gold to brown. They are of higher alcoholic strength, as high as 7 percent ABV, showing a warming personality, though they should still have a significant rocky head when poured. These beers combine the character of hefeweizens and dopplebocks and as such are rich and malty with estery, yeasty qualities, and show a note of wheaty crispness through the finish.

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

93 Weizen Bock, Bastone Brewery (MI). 7.75% ABV (7/10)
Dense, murky brown color. Aromas of malt balls and chocolate covered dried fruits follow through on a satiny entry dryish medium-full body with banana crème brûlée and green nectarine notes. Finishes with a crisp, wafer, steel cut oat and mineral fade. A delicious beer to savor.

89 Plank Heller Weizenbock, Privatbrauerei Plank-Laaber (Germany). 7.5% ABV (6/08)
Hazy pale amber color with a Himalayan head. Sweet honeyed golden raisin, nut and fig-orange bread aromas. A round, silky entry leads to a tangy fruity-yet-dry medium-full body with fruity caramel, orange banana custard and golden raisin puree flavors. Finishes with a tangy, praline, mandarin orange fade and wheat dough fade. A vibrant zesty treat.

89 Plank Dunkler Weizenbock, Privatbrauerei Plank-Laaber (Germany). 7.5% ABV (6/08)
Chestnut color hazy. Rich nutty pumpernickel dough aromas follow through on a chewy entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-full body of toffee, molasses, brown buttered orange and raspberry cake and spice flavors. Long, tangy finish. Delicious and rich.

86 Weizenbock, Upland Brewing (IN). 7.2% ABV (7/09)
Deep reddish mahogany color with a lacy head. Aromas of roasted cashews, baked apple and singed banana bread pudding follow through on a round, silky entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with a clean precise tang and hint of toasted soy and pepper on the lively finish.

84 Weizen Bock, John Harvard’s Brew House, Framingham (MA). 7.2% ABV (7/10)
Muddy brown color. Mocha soda, grainy roasted corn and barley aromas with faint carbonation and a peppery medium-to-full body. Flavors of hard cider, bitter chocolate and funky medicine on the finish.

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