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Er...DING, DINGOct 12 '04 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line If you're reading this, honk your horn
I was recently in Germany - home of einer milliarde breweries. As you can imagine, being a keen (but sensible) consumer of the amber nectar, I was as happy as a dog with two tails. But, although the beer I'm reviewing today is as German as the Windsors, I bought and consumed it right here in sunny Schottland. This beer was ERDINGER HEFE-WEISSE. The Erdinger Brewery in Bavaria has been around since the 1880's and claims to be the world's largest brewer of wheat beer. All their beers (all of them are wheat based) are brewed to traditional recipes but under modern techniques. Their website has some interesting information on their history and brewing practices, so I won't go into any of that here. http://www.erdinger.de Meanwhile... A blonde, redhead, and brunette were looking at a dictionary for the hardest words they knew. The brunette's word was quizzical. The redhead's word was photosynthesis. The blonde's word was dick. Back to the beer... This beer pours a rather murky, rusty-yellow colour with an aggressive carbonation forming a big and billowing white head which soon collapses leaving a thin and wispy lacing on the glass. The first thing that strikes me about the aroma is the spiciness - it's peppery, with clove and nutmeg tones. There's a noticeable wheat graininess, and lots of fruit - mostly banana, but there's also some vine-fruit hanging around in there too. Quite a bit of an alcohol nose but surprisingly, the yeast isn't very prominent. It's medium-bodied and, after an initial spritzy kick, it has a smooth and creamy mouth feel. The taste has an initial bitterness, but this soon gives way to a wheaty, grainy sweetness. It's quite fruity - dark and vinous with very little of the banana aroma transferring to the palate. Not much from the hops - perhaps a little earthiness, and a faint bitterness, but not much more. Again, the cloves and spices don't convert to the palate well - they're there, just a little more subtle. The finish is slightly dry and it has a lingering sweet and fruity aftertaste. • The Verdict • At 5.3% ABV, I wouldn't say this is the best wheat beer I've ever had, but it's not the worst either. Unremarkable would probably sum it up. It promises so much in the nose, but fails to deliver when it really matters. Oh it's refreshing enough, and let's face it, that's an important criteria when discussing wheat beers. But it wasn't complex enough for me. Maybe I chilled the bottle too much and froze the flavour out of it...but I don't think so. I don't think there was all that much there to begin with. I suppose this sounds as if I'm berating this beer, but I'm not really. I just think I was expecting more, y'know? Still, I drank it and I quite enjoyed it - you can't say fairer than that. I paid £1.59 for a 500ml bottle in my local Safeway/Morrisons which isn't too bad a price. Would I drink it again? - I might, but only after I've thought up a decent pun. Sláinte ©proxam2004  |
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