Buckeye Vaitsenbock

Very cloudy dirty beige color with almost non-existant head. Aroma is sweet, lots of caramel, hint of alcohol and honey. Flavor is malty, sweet, lots of caramel.

(22 oz bottle: Obtained in trade with bkelley68, thanks Brian!) For an American-made Weizen Bock, I wasn’t expecting much, but Buckeye really seems to do a good job in general, and they have done a nice job here too. Sweet, malty, plenty of banana and wheat flavors, and a mild alcohol presence, plus some mild bitterness and a gentle tartness late in the finish to help balance things a bit. Sweet banana, massive esters, wheat, darker malts, alcohol in the nose. Full bodied, thick and syrupy, but not really cloying, and quite well-carbonated on the palate. Dark ruddy amber in color, cloudy enough that I can’t see through the beer at all, just murky translucence that nearly blocks out the significant amount of carbonation rising through the beer. Bubbly, tan head dissipates rather quickly down to a small ring. Solid beer that has aged quite nicely for me.

Hazy orangish-brown in color with little movement elsewhere. Aroma is rocking - sugary banana bread, fresh wheat, cloves, nutmeg and a gentle hint of lemons. Moments before taking the first sip, there’s always that moment of anticipation, nervousness and the possibility that your expectations will soon tumble to the ground. Here, though, we’ve met and exceeded said expectations. Smooth, creamy banana and spice conjectures creep into the mouth, accentuated by signature pepper, cloves and vanilla. A hearty malt complexity revels in its wake, drawing its dynamics from caramel and Vienna malts principally, but also paying heed to the bock roots by conducting itself with a smooth, sweet and nearly oaken presence. Carbonation is scaled back, which I like for this style, again imparting near cask-like qualities. Medium-to-full bodied, finishing like banana cream pie. Oh so good! Big thanks to Secret Santa (kujo9) for sending this one my way - I’m very f’cking pleased! This brewery seems to do everything right.

Lightly hazy dark copper color with a lightly-lacing, light tan head. Very nice authentic, wheaty aroma with good German bock character. Starts semi-sweet and wheaty with a hint of tartness toward a yeasty, bready finish. Nicely balanced with good authenticity. Thanks to goldtwins for sharing!

Hazy, muddy water color. Banana bread nose with some clove. Slighty thin on the palate, with decent carbonation. Flavors of wheat, fruit, and a tangy yeast snap. Hoppy finish with some yeasty overtones.