Gordon Biersch Brewing Company is kicking off their spring collection of German-style lagers with the debut of Dunkelweizen, a dark wheat beer with a malty, rich undertone. It will be available at select West Coast retail stores in bottles through June, Dunkelweizen joins Gordon Biersch’s Märzen, Pilsner, Hefewiezen and Blonde Bock styles on the shelf. Like all Gordon Biersch varieties, Dunkelweizen is brewed in strict accordance with the German purity laws at its San Jose brewery.
The word Dunkelweizen (pronounced “doonn-kel vite-sen”) is German for “dark wheat beer”. It is essentially a dark version of Weissbier, also known as Hefeweizen. Gordon Biersch Dunkelweizen achieves its malty flavor from Bavarian dark malted wheat and caramelized dark wheat. The roasted malt taste compliments the unique flavor profiles created naturally from specialty Bavarian Hefeweizen yeast. The overall flavor profile includes pronounced clove, citrus, banana and bubblegum.
Found out about this while checking out The Macon Telegraph: It’s a beer lover’s dream come true: a tap right at the table at Stats sports bar in Atlanta. No sitting around trying to flag a waitress for a refill. Just put your glass under the tap and you’re good to go. What a great idea! And, amazingly, it’s in Atlanta, Georgia - a state that still bans residents from picking up a six-pack on Sundays.
There’s just one catch - you’re drinking on the meter and when the table hits the limit, the flow stops. At least temporarily. The meters tick away suds by the ounce, with prices ranging from 25 cents to 37 cents, which works out to about $4 a pint for the least expensive beer. When the table hits the 180 ounce mark, the taps stop pouring until a server checks over the table. At 180 ounces a table, that’s 12 pints at a shot.
The bar reportedly spent $50,000 to install the system, called The Table Tap, which connects to 16 kegs in a basement cooler. Guests can pick which two beers they want hooked up at the table.
The Philadelphia Daily News has a great story about the new Philadelphia Brewing Company, which was created when the folks behind Yards Brewing went their seperate ways last year.
Among the new brewery’s offerings:
- Kenzinger - A quenching golden session ale that is crisp and smooth enough to refresh, but with a “spirited, unforgettable flavor that delivers 100% of recommended daily taste bud stimulation.” Brewed with pure pilsner malts, light on the bittering hops but loads of hop flavor and aroma. 4.5% abv.
- Newbold IPA - A substantial, aromatic ale with aggressive hop levels and an eye-catching crimson hue. 6.5% abv.
- Rowhouse Red - Their take on a “bière de mars, ” or a ruddy French farmhouse ale. In true Philadelphia fashion, European and American ingredients are melded into a complex, ruby ale with flavors of toasted malt and rye. 5% abv.
- Walt Wit - Philadelphia Brewing’s take on the traditional Belgian white ale. Citrus and spice flavors with only a whisper of hops and a hint of herbs to set off the flavor of white wheat and oats. 5% abv.
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Just over a year ago, my neighbor Tony introduced me to Leinenkugel’s Sunset Wheat and I instantly added it to my wheat beer rotation of Blue Moon and Hoegaarden. Great beer - Very smooth brew that is a tad sweeter than Blue Moon and works as a perfect summer beer.
So, when I saw the Leinenkugel “explorer” 12-pack at a local shop for $14, I snagged it without a second thought. Featuring Sunset Wheat, Honey Weiss, Berry Weiss and Summer Shandy, it’s a nice way to sample a couple of Leinie’s brews without breaking the bank.
I already knew I’d like Sunset Wheat going in, but how did the other beers fare?
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The voting is over and the dust has settled on Philadelphia CityPaper’s Beeramid to determine the best beer in Philly. Flying Fish Belgian Abbey Dubbel (1283 votes / 29.6%) was my pick to win it all, but Nodding Head Grog (3049 votes / 70.4%) easily took the prize in a final round that wasn’t even close.
I’ve never had their grog, but will definitely have to give it a try now. Here’s what some other people had to say about it:
RateBeer.com - 68%
“On tap at brewery. Pours a dark brown with a thin beigh head. Aroma of roasted malts, coffee notes and some chocolate. Flavor is dark malts,nuts and some toffee with a light dry finish…”
BeerAdvocate.com - B+
“Pours just short of opaque. Nose is woody. Flavor is whoa! Nice and hearty. Woody character. Thick robustness that is nowhere near overdone. Slight bitter back tone. Feel is thick enough on the liquid. Has a good level of carbonation. Very drinkable. A good brown ale. If you see it, go for it.”
