As we stated in the outset of the launch of this blog, as much as we love beer, we love the experience, culture, and ambiance associated with the historic beverage.  Thus said, this review includes a little bit more than the spotlighted beer, Franziskaner’s Hefe-Weisse Dunkel , and will allow for a little more subjectivity than normal for a review.

The first time I had this refreshing beer was about four years ago, and the setting was just right.  My wife was pregnant with our second-born, Aylah, and it was our second anniversary.  At the time we lived in Nixa, MO.  We found a babysitter for our boy, Malachi, and headed down the road to a quaint little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, A Bit of Bavaria.  This little shack in the Midwest serves the most authentic German food I have had since the time I spent a few weeks in Germany itself.  Sandra and I ordered up some hearty, gastrointestinal havoc reeking, sausage, spaetzle, red potatoes, and I ordered a bottle of the Hefe_Weisse Dunkel.

As I poured this Friday beer, the smell took me back to that hot Missouri night.  The smell is light and sweet.  I personally did not find it very complex.  I picked up on light toasted wheaty malt smell, slight cove aroma, and maybe a slight hint of chocolate.  The flavor is similar.  A nice, medium body.  The unadventurous drinker should not be deterred by the foreign look of the bottle.  The crisp, dry wheat flavor is a thirst quencher, and goes down smoothly.  The toasted wheat flavor is delicious, and far from bold.  In fact, I might go so far as to say it is slightly “watery.”  The light clove flavor compliments the sweet malt nicely.  I appreciate Franziskaner’s conservative use of this spice, as it is a flavor that I personally don’t find incredibly apealing.

The finish is nice, dry, and malty.  The after taste is wheaty/fruity.  Maybe a little citrusy, and a slight banana flavor.

I paired this German beauty with a meal similar to the one my girl and I enjoyed four years ago, only an authentic German family did not do the cooking this time.  I did.  Here is my rating, followed by a pic of my culinary handiwork.

Overall Satisfaction: ★★★½☆ 

Among other Wheat Ales ★★★☆☆ 

Kielbasa (Slow simmered in beer, of course), Sweet and Sour Red Cabbage, Red Potato, Onion and Cheddar Spaetzle, Wheat Roll