Buffalo Bill’s Strawberry Doppel Weizen

Evaluated as a BJCP 2015 29A Fruit Beer (Strawberry declared) with the underlying style of a somewhat hybrid ‘imperial’ 10A Weissbier (being declared as a Doppelweizen or Double Hefeweizen). Pours with a large ivory colored head of small and medium bubbles. The head is not as tight as a typical weizen, with less head retention than a typical weizen possibly because of a substantial alcohol note. The beer is a deep amber color, and very hazy (but typical for a weizen). Bready and slight toasty malt notes lead off the aroma, with slight black pepper phenolics, moderate fresh strawberry notes, and a medium level of overripe banana. The flavor brings out banana as fairly prominent, but nicely balanced by the strawberry, and a bready, almost doughy, malt character that supports the fruity melange. There are some typical weizen-like phenolics in the flavor, but more leaning to freshly cracked white pepper than clove. A medium body and moderate carbonation (a bit low for a weissbier) work with the malt and fruit to tame the fairly substantial (8-ish percent?) alcohol warmth and slight heat. In the fairly dry but fruity finish, the strawberry lingers – just short of syrupy. This is a very enjoyable strong fruit wheat beer that should be treated with respect – it will sneak up on you! With overall strawberry and bready flavors of a strawberry shortcake, I’d pair this beer with bratwurst or ballpark hotdogs slathered with sauerkraut, and some healthy red-cabbage coleslaw.