Judge's Review: 94 Rating - Riegele Augustus by Brauhaus Riegele

Riegele Augustus by Brauhaus Riegele is a Weizen Doppelbock and is being evaluated as a Weizenbock (category 10C from the 2015 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines).  Weizenbocks are strong German wheat ales noted for rich, bready malt and prominent yeast-derived dark fruit esters and clove-like phenolics.  The award-winning, family-owned brewery (in its 28th generation!) of Brauhaus Riegele was founded in 1386 in the city of Augsburg, Germany.

This Weizenbock pours light amber in color, very cloudy, with a big, fluffy, tan head. The aroma is moderately bready and wheaty and is complemented by esters of banana and plum with hints of clove and vanilla. The flavor continues to showcase the rich, bready and wheaty malt with a slight sweetness; light plum and banana esters and a hint of clove provide balance to the complex malt character. The body is medium with a creamy, smooth mouthfeel and a light alcoholic warmth. The finish is just lightly bittered with rich, bready malt balanced by a lingering clove and spice finish.

This beer is an exemplary example of the Weizenbock style. The rich, complex malt character is well balanced by the esters and phenolics. At 8.0% ABV, the strength is deceptive. This beer could easily be listed as a classic commercial example of the style. German beer aficionados should definitely seek this one out.