Out of the Bottle: 7-Malt Dunkelweizen

My first attempt at one of these didn't exactly turn out as I expected. For round two, I was determined to get it right. The recipe for the beer was a complete departure from my first brew. I even went so far as to special order Weyermann Dark Wheat for the grain-bill. Time to pop open a bottle and see how things turned out.

Things look promising enough out of the bottle. Because of the intended vigorous carbonation, it takes a careful pour to keep the head under control as the beer enters the glass. A quick swirl of the bottle before the final few ounces are poured rouses the yeast and creates the distinct cloudiness of traditional German wheat beers. The beer's chocolate hue is dead-on and the generous head stays as a thick blanket of foam the whole way down the glass.

So, what about the aroma and taste? Well, I think I got pretty close to what I was aiming for. Over-ripe banana that borders on bubblegum makes up the first whiff of the nose. Clove is there too, plus a bit of baking chocolate and plum. The beer is bready, dry and very tart on the tongue. There is only a hint of malty sweetness. The vigorous carbonation brings a nice tingle. If I were to change anything, it would be to use even more dark wheat and ditch the Pils malt in the grain bill. For the moment; however, I have no complaints.

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