German Wiessbier

Kristall Weissbier
Weihenstephaner (Brewery)
Freising Germany

B+

This beer is the first in a seiers that I am hoping to do that roughly follows the BJCP style guidelines as I study for the BJCP exam this March.

Very light, straw color that is "kristall" clear. Tones of German maltiness in the aroma, with hints of grass, and spicy hops. Mouthfeel is light yet somewhat slick and more viscous than was expected. Flavor is on par with the style with a very malty yet balanced taste. Hints of bready and buttery yeast flavor. Good clean finish leaving a lingering sweetness and hoppy echo. Over all good but nothing to write home about. Very clean, very precise, very German.

I recently read an essay by Stephen Beaumont about the idea that a beer is not only good with certain food or certain time or whatever, but it is also about where you drink the beer. This idea manifests in even the most modest and uneducated (on the subject of beer) drinkers when they say "Man, it's a shame we can't get the Irish Guiness over here. It's SO much better over there." While that is no doubt true, I have news for these people: It's the same stuff. You just aren't drinking it in an old, creaky, cozy Irish pub in Ireland! Where you drink a beer has as much to do with how you remember it as the beer itself. I think this is the case, for me, with this beer. All the signs point to great beer here, but it just isn't the same as the beer I had in Munich because I'm not in Munich. Anyway, its worth the $2.99 I spent on the bomber and I hope you think so too.