Erdinger Pikantus

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Price: £4.10

Description 7.3% Strong wheat beer of commendable character, this beer packs a punch. The Erdinger brewery in Bavaria brews a range of cloudy brews, all wheat beers in one form or another. This beer is a dark wheat beer in the 'bock' style. 'Bock' is German for goat and is a word associated with a dark strong beer, usually a lager of about 6% abv. Pikantus is a delicious exception, it is a 'weizenbock'. This means it is a dark strong wheat beer and something of a treat. It is toffee and brandy like in taste with a warm fruity finish, almost a dessert. The beginnings of Erdinger Weissbräu date back to 1886, the year in which construction of a wheat beer brewery in Erding was first officially recorded. After several changes in ownership, the General Manager at the time, Franz Brombach, bought the brewery in 1935 and re-named it Erdinger Weissbräu on December 27, 1949. The german purity laws (the Reinheitsgebot) were altered in 1850 to allow for german brewers to use wheat in the brewing process resulting in fabulous wheat beer varieties such as this excellent example. At 7.3% alcohol, this specialty wheat beer has a considerably higher alcohol content than other varieties produced by Erdinger Weissbräu. The dark bock beer owes its sharp and full flavor to the use of selected dark wheat and barley malts and a significantly longer maturing process. This is a strong dark offering from possibly the largest and best-known of the German wheat beer breweries. It pours a deep brown colour, with a cloudy appearance due to the sediment, and a rocky, high-rise head. Nose consists of cloves, milk, wine vinegar, citrus fruit and a malty/chocolatey note a bit like like Ovaltine or Horlicks. In the mouth there are dark-roast flavours reminiscent of a stout, but also light fruity, wheaty flavours like a weissbier. It is very smooth, although there is a definite alcohol kick and a slight sweetness. Dark roast malt and smooth chocolate flavours lie alongside vanilla and dark fruit - plums, damsons, black grapes. There is also a lactic note. Towards the finish there is a burnt, ashy, caramelly, even charcoal-like note, tempered by a phenolic lightness on the back of the throat. The lingering aftertaste is of smooth, chocolatey malt and vanilla. This is a gorgeously complex yet refreshing strong beer - the strength can be discerned from the taste but it still manages to be very quaffable. For some people, Erdinger Weissbier Pikantus 'dark bock beer' is a delicacy to be enjoyed in the colder months of the year. For lovers of strong beer, however, the season for Pikantus lasts a full twelve months. In contrast to many bock beers, Erdinger Weissbier Pikantus 'dark bock beer' does not taste too sweet. Despite its higher alcohol content, Erdinger's master brewers have succeeded in retaining the smooth Pikantus flavor. This beer would be a great accompaniement with german cuisine and also great as a dessert beer - it would pair fantastically with chocolate based desserts and would also make a great contrast and compliment for fruit based desserts. This is a complex yet refreshing beer with a quality that can really be appreciated!