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Styles · Dunkles Weissbier

Beer style · BJCP 2021 10B

Dunkles Weissbier

German Wheat Beer

Representative The guidelines publish this style’s ranges per variant or not at all, so these are a representative envelope instead.

Original gravity
1.044–1.056
Final gravity
1.010–1.014
Bitterness
10–18 IBU
Color
14–23 SRM (28–45 EBC)
Alcohol
4.3–5.6 % ABV

What it is

The dark counterpart to Weissbier: the same banana and clove yeast character laid over Munich malt bread crust, toast and light caramel. It is richer and maltier than the pale version yet should stay every bit as lively and drinkable. Roast character is not wanted here.

Flavor

What a Dunkles Weissbier should taste like, on the three wheels the studio scores every recipe against. The shaded ring is the style’s range on each axis, from 0 at the center to 5 at the edge.

Hops

Hops stay in the background: none of their character belongs.

Malt

Grainy, bready/biscuit and toasty, with room for sweet/honey, caramel, dark fruit or chocolate.

Fermentation

Banana, fruity esters and clove, with room for clean.

Hops that suit it

The traditional choice

What Dunkles Weissbier has classically been brewed with.

Nothing else on character: the hops here are there for bitterness and balance, and any variety whose aroma you would notice is out of place.

Yeasts that suit it

Strains the lab made for beers like this one, whose fermentation character sits inside the style’s wheel. A strain sold by several labs is listed once; its page names the others.

Style numbers, names and vital statistics are from the BJCP 2021 Beer Style Guidelines, where you will find the official descriptions. The descriptions and flavor wheels here are Beerwright’s own. Beerwright is not affiliated with or endorsed by the BJCP.