One of the world’s most respected breweries has some exciting news: the US introduction of Ayinger Weizen-Bock.

Ayinger Weizen-Bock, a strong wheat ale, is pale – “helles” – and brewed from a grist of 60% wheat malt and 40% barley malt. Produced via a decoction mash, it has the astonishing finesse, aroma, and flavor of Ayinger’s famed wheat beers but with the flavors turned up to balance the greater strength. It offers the classic Bavarian weizen beer aroma, suggesting spice and cloves; a smooth body that drinks fairly full; and flavor that is the essence of the wheat harvest, fresh-baked bread, some of the richness of great home-made vegetable soup, and somehow maybe even the afternoon sunshine of a fall day. It’s bottle-conditioned, of course, and presents a beautiful rocky head upon pouring.

Ayinger Weizen-Bock is a winter seasonal only – look for it at great beer spots starting sometime near the end of September. We recommend you grab some when you see it: this is a rare style, truly a world class beer – as such, production is very limited.

ABV: 7.1% OG: 1.067 IBU: 10; packaged in traditional, slender half-liter bottles, 20 per case.

Merchant du Vin imports a full range of Bavarian specialty beers from Ayinger Brewery: Celebrator Doppelbock, Brau-Weisse, Ur-Weisse, Altbairisch Dunkel, Jahrhundertbier and Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen.