Draft sampler. Drunkelweizen has a roasty brown color with a light thin head. Nose makes me think more of banana nut bread, but it’s not too strong. That’s how it tastes, too: light and bready with banana as an afterthought. Maybe some cocoa nibs further down, marzipan, and even a little ginger spice. Quite complex when added to the spritz of a good wheat beer. I only notice the hop presence in a nice, lingering bitter aftertaste.

Mug Club mug, unchilled. Big foamy head atop a deceptively generic gold "beer" color. The mix of grains makes a pretty complicated smell and taste. There’s a bit of phenol to start, then some hefeweizen clove esters, followed by ale fruitiness. A sharp European hop bitterness and a slight whiff of red apple. Texture has slight oatmeal creaminess and very ticklish carboniation that makes it fun to drink. A bit of lemon and honey in the middle. The finish brings back the hefeweizen sensation.

Sampler. Cloudy yellow, with a lacy ring of foam at the edge. Clean wheat smell without the usual hefe esters. Nice hoppy nose up front, then the wheaty softness of Roman Meal bread. Very clean taste with just a bit of clove. More of a corss with an American wheat. In fact, the assistant brewer told me "sometimes we want to make a banana bomb, sometimes not." This is one of those "nots." In fact, he confirmed on non-German hop bill of Warrior, Chinook and Santiam. Very enjoyable.

Mug Club mug.Rings of foam on the side of the glass. Color is just on the light side of a Pils. I got an unfrosted mug, but the pour is still pretty cold, which I think inhibits any delicate odors. Can get a pure "beer" smell with some nice hop notes. Taste is of light pils malt, a trace of honey roast. Hops may tend toward a more bitter and spicy Dortmunder, or maybe I’m just looking too hard for floral hops when someone hands me a microbrewed Pilsner. No doubt, though, this is a great lager with plenty of malt and nice spicy hops.

Nitro pour, unfrosted Mug Club glass. Looks just a stout, except the bubbles cling to the glass instead of cascading. Thick, creamy gray head. Light chocolate smell. Very creamy nitro texture. It does suggest a Belgian styled stout: smoothly roasted chocolate malts, a phantom bitterness behind the palate, some plum and blackberry. Even a suggestion of oatmeal creaminess. Some wit esters pop up toward the middle, but a nice finish.

2008 edition, draft sampler. This time around, the beer is hopped entirely with Amarillo, and it shows when I sip it. Big notes of grapefruit and pine. Despite that, the malt is very pale in the glass, and leaves some nice looking lacing. ABV for 2008 is not 7%, last year was 6.4%. 2007 edition, Draft in Mug Club Mug. How is it I keep just missing Cornfield and RayBoy01? I asked the same questions of Tim, and all I can remember is that Amarillo is NOT one of the hops, but you could’a fooled me! Orangey body with quarter-inch eggshell-colored head. Hearty hop and malt smell enhanced by smell of mash from the brewhouse. Lightly toasted and honeyed malts. A slight melted butter texture, which help the bitterness slide down. Hops? Grassy, piney, grapefruity, resiny, take your pick. No alcohol burn, but I’m feeling its effects later on. Not a beer to mess with!

Mug Club draft. Cloudy gold color and a thin lacy head. My nose is a bit out of joint today, but I mostly get a clean light malt smell with a melange of spices. Taste has citrus to start, then a bit of bubblegum, and just a few hefeweiß esters. Tends more toward an american Wheat profile with its extra malt. A hint of coriander as it warms up. I don’t pick up as much fruit as they claim, and to my mind, it might enjoy a shot of honey, but this is a filling, good-drinkin’ beer.

Sampler from cask. Amber in color like a small kerosene lantern’s light. I first catch a bit of English ale and light fruit here. This pour is almost still, and very warming. Toffee malts, a nice fruity ale character. I’m going to imagine this is what a CAMRA-approved cask ale is like until such time as I can get to England.

Sampler glass. Different brewer, different recipe than last summer’s German Hefeweizen. In the sampler glass, it’s cloudy yellow, almost wit colored, with a short, bubbly head. Smells pretty clean, with low esters. Taste starts with a load of banana and a bit of vanilla, but doesn’t sacrifice a good, basic wheat and barley malt background. Clean wheat balance, no lingering taste when done.
Earlier Rating: 10/9/2006 Total Score: 3.4
Draft. This would be fine served in their chilled mug, but I think it killed the smell until I could warm it up a little. Cloudy yellow with streaks of orange. When I do get some aroma, it’s just a nice enervating wheat malt. Taste is bit closer to orange than the lemon of other German weizens. I get more of the gently wheat. Only a slight hint of the style’s usual banana and clove, but I didn’t really missit, until some ’nanner came up later when I burped… pard’ me!