German Beer

Bitburger Premium Pils: German Pils/Lager, 4.8% (Bitburger Brauerei)

Really clean and crisp. Light malt with a bit of cereal. A genuinely refreshing and balanced lager, perfect for a hot day. This seems to be the go-to after work or with dinner lager in the West of Germany, and it’s easy to see why. 8/10

Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5.5% (Paulaner Brauerei)

Wheat, obviously. This one is quite strong on the orange with a bit of banana and very faint herbs. It’s creamy and soft. It’s a classic wheat beer. 8/10

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Erdinger Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5.3% (Erdinger Weissbrau)

Sweet yeast, with less citrus and other fruit than some wheat beers, although there is slight grapefruit. It has a slight mineral tang. A decent run-of-the-mill wheat beer. 7/10

Benediktiner Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5.4% (Klosterbrauerei Ettal)

Pungently malty. Quite dry, but with some dark honey and caramel. Creamy, with a hint of banana and spice. It’s above average for this style. 8/10

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681 Riviera: German Brown Ale, 5% (Coltro Brauservice)

Very malty and bitter. Tastes slightly roasted. It is very similar to a British bitter. It’s a bit thin, but it it’s quite well-rounded. Named after Rheinkilometer 681, which is the location on the Rhine river of the place that serves the beer (Haus Berger, Rodenkirchen.) 7/10

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Reissdorf Kolsch: German Kolsch, 4.8% (Brauerei Heinrich Reissdorf)

A Kolsch is kind of a cross between a lager and an ale. I’ve no idea either. But it tastes more malty than a lager, but more crisp than an ale, so I suppose it’s a success. It’s got a nice barley taste to it and is only slightly bitter. It’s the kind of beer you’d happily have at a BBQ and not think too much about it. 7/10

Krombacher Weizen Dunkel: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 5.3% (Krombacher Brauerei)

Molasses, slight woodiness and caramel, but still quite crisp for a dunkel. Good balance between sweet and bitter. A bit thin though, and lacks some punch. 7/10

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Paulaner Weissbier Dunkel: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 5.3% (Paulaner Brauerei)

It’s quite sweet and bready, with some cocoa and nuts. It’s quite light and fruity (banana) for a dunkel, and quite highly carbonated. It goes down very well. 8.5/10

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Franziskaner Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5% (Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau)

The usual citrus and bananas, but with a bit of peach and apricot. It’s quite orange-y and has some winter spice. It’s very soft and creamy. It’s a touch light, which stops it from being a favourite. 8/10

Weihenstephan: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5.4% (Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan)

Very full bodied. Mild banana and lemon, quite sour for a wheat beer and with some bitterness. It’s good because it’s a wheat beer, but it doesn’t stack up against some of the great ones. 7/10

Weihenstephan Dunkel: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 5.3% (Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan)

It’s highly carbonated for a dunkel. Tastes of toasted rye, with some cocoa and fruit cake. Lots of malt and a bit of pepper. Really good dunkel. 8.5/10

Binding Schwarzbier: German Black Lager, 4.8% (Binding Brauerei)

It’s not nearly as heavy as it looks, in fact it’s a bit thin. Mild roasted malt, but not much else. 6/10

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Schöfferhofer Kristallweizen: German Wheat Beer (Kristallweizen) 5% (Binding Brauerei)

It’s more crisp and fresh than a standard wheat beer, but does have some of the banana/clove/citrus of the style, but with some mineral aftertaste. It’s just a bit subdued and not as interesting as a regular wheaty. 7/10

Rapp’s Wetterauer Gold Apfelwein: German Cider 5.5% (Rapp’s)

I know it’s not a beer. It’s got a very mild taste, very faint cooked apples. Sour and acidic. It’s got hardly any body to it and very little sweetness. It’s refreshing I suppose, but so is water. Not a patch on other cider. 4/10

Kapuziner Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5.4% (Kulmbacher Brauerei)

Slightly offbeat wheat beer, thanks to being a bit floral and grassy. It also has a slight initial taste of bubblegum, along with the usual banana/clove/citrus. It’s quite creamy, but with a faint bitterness. 8.5/10

Kapuziner Weissbier Dunkel: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 5.4% (Kulmbacher Brauerei)

Very, very smooth with low carbonation. A slight woody smokiness, lots of rye bread and raisins. The echo of the standard wheat beer notes (banana mostly.) It feels a bit thin and has a slight dusty flavour which stops it being great. 8/10

Faust Weizen Helle: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 4.9% (Brauhaus Faust-Miltenberger)

This one has hints of cider and caramel, and is heavy on the bananas. Faint dough flavour, some grass and pears. Quite spicy. Surprisingly full bodied for the abv. 8/10

Faust Weizen Dunkel: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 5.2% (Brauhaus Faust-Miltenberger)

Roasted malt, digestive biscuits and molasses. A little bit nutty and some dried fruits. Like a Christmas cake. Quite dry and faintly bitter, with medium carbonation. 8/10

Kramer Apfelwein Suss: German Cider 4% (Kramer)

Very light and watery. Virtually still. Definitely tastes like a watery wine rather than cider. I’d liken it to very light ginger wine as it does have that kind of spice, but it’s nowhere near as pleasant. Not sure why it exists to be honest as it has almost no flavour. 2/10

Keiler Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 4.9% (Privatbrauerei Stumpf GmbH)

So many juicy apples. Sweet and sour and creamy. Bread, vanilla biscuits and dough. The bananas take a back seat here, but there is the usual cloves plus some pepper. I loved it because it’s different, but ymmv. It’s the least wheat beer like wheat beer I’ve had. 9/10

Keiler Weissbier Dunkel: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 4.9% (Privatbrauerei Stumpf GmbH)

After the leftfield Hefe, the Dunkel is very ho hum. The usual roasted malt and some banana. There’s a bit of spice and maybe a hint of coffee, but it’s very thin. 6.5/10

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Würzburg Hofbräu: German Pilsner, 4.9% (Würzburg Hofbräu)

Very dry and incredibly bitter. Not very balanced at all. A bit floral and earthy. 4/10

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Kullman’s Dunkel Lager: German Brown Lager, 5.2% (Troegs Brewing Company)

The usual dunkel toasted malt (more than most) and rye. This one has a lot of chocolate with a herbal finish. Nothing mind blowing, but done well. 7/10

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Tucher Weissbier Dunkel: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 5,2% (Brauerei Tucher Brau)

Bready, with some tropical fruits. Strong bananas, the usual cloves, but a hint of cinnamon too. Malt and herbs on the finish, with a slightly earthy note. Good balance of sweet and bitter. 7/10

Tucher Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5,4% (Brauerei Tucher Brau)

More orange than usual. A touch of pepper and coriander, although not too herby. Quite light and creamy. It’s not very complex, but is a good hot day wheat beer. 7.5%

Herbsthäuser Hefe-Weizen Hell: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5.2% (Herbsthäuser Brauerei)

Oranges and bananas. Full of malt and honey, traces of lemon and cloves. It’s rich and creamy and perfectly rounded. Best wheat beer so far. 9.5/10

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Herbsthauser Hefe Weizen Dunkel: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 5.2% (Herbsthäuser Brauerei)

Only slight banana and wheat bread in this one. It’s got some background cherries and chocolate, but very faint and there’s not a lot else going on. It’s got a crisp feel to it, which I’m not sure I like in a dunkel. 6.5/10

Jacob Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5.3% (Familienbrauerei Jacob)

Particularly strongly wheaty. Banana chips and faint bubblegum. Gently sweet, but with a hoppy bitterness at the end. Quite a bit of spice and richness, verging on molasses. 8.5/10

Jacob Weissbier Dunkel: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 5.3% (Familienbrauerei Jacob)

Quite strongly malty, but at the same time tangy and metallic. The usual banana and clove. It’s full bodied and robust, but a bit one-dimensional. 7/10

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Karmeliten Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5% (Karmelitenbrauerei)

Very full with a mineral tang. A bit of grapefruit pop and quite a bit of spice. More zing than most wheat beers. 8/10

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Karmeliten Kloster Dunkel: German Munich Dunkel 5.5% (Karmelitenbrauerei)

Very bready with a hint of smoke and roasted fruit. It’s quite crisp and dry. A bit unsubstantial. 7/10

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Wolfersftetter Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5.5% (Brauerei Wolfersftetter Geord Huber)

Very strong on bananas and very creamy, but highly carbonated. It’s very big and heavy. 8.5/10

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Wolferstetter Dunkles Weizen: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 5.5% (Brauerei Wolfersftetter Geord Huber)

Very full and heavy, and more wheaty than many dunkels. It’s quite earthy, with a bit of liquorice and burnt toast. 8/10

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Wolferstetter Edel Hell: German Helles 4.9% (Brauerei Wolfersftetter Georg Huber)

Very mineral-ly, with lots of corn. Quite dark to look at but light in taste. A bit of a soapy aftertaste. 5/10

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Wolferstetter Dunkel: German Munich Dunkel 5.1% (Brauerei Wolfersftetter Geord Huber)

The same mineral twang as the hells. Lots of coffee, some treacle and mild roasted bread. Reminiscent of Old Peculier, but thinner. 7/10

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Baumgartner Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5.4% (Brauerei Josef Baumgartner)

Very full bodied. Not very fruity and only lightly spiced. Lots of sourdough sharpness. Tingly on the mouth. 7.5/10

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Schladminger Schnee Weissbier: German Wheat Beer (Hefeweizen) 5% (Brauerei Schladming)

The usual bananas, but also some apricots. Creamy with a bit of sparkling tartness. Slightly herbal, but on the sweet side. 8/10

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Ayinger Urweisse: German Wheat Beer (Dunkelweizen) 5.8% (Ayinger Privatbrauerei)

Easy on the malt and banana. Orange and cinnamon undertones, with some honey. Dark and meaty and slightly tart. 7.5/10