Ex Pat Brewing is the operation of Paul May, a friend of mine who is a very talented home brewer. Like myself here at Stubborn Agnes, Paul brews too little, especially too little of his Weizenbock (which I'm not convinced isn't a re-bottled Ayinger brew...).
This was, to date, the easiest, and my most favorite beer to review.
Ex Pat Brewing - Wunderbar
German-style Weizenbock
6%
Appearance: Rich dark brown, like thin coffee. Very creamy, dense off-white head.
Aroma: Smell of Belgian yeast, or of that common in many Ayinger beers. A prominent sweet malt smell with just a hint of underlying hop crispness.
Taste: Molasses, very slightly bitter at first with a wave of malt goodness after, slightly floral yeast flavor. Very sweet finish, just shy of cloying.
Mouthfeel: Rich, creamy, yet clean and refreshing. Surprisingly a bit of alcohol heat, but only a tiny bit.
Overall: This is the first home brew I've had that wasn't my own, and easily one of my favorite beers, period. Home brew or otherwise. It's unfortunate how limited it is, being a home brew. Paul is very humble, but has every right to be otherwise. This beer is better than many commercial beers and what I, and other home brewers strive to make. It is nothing pretentious, just a great example of the style. Strong, refreshing, and perfectly balanced. Along with the strong malt profile, the contributions by the yeast add subtle, but interesting complexities. For it being 6%, it's surprisingly warming (must be a high 6%!) which makes it a great choice for a chilly fall night, drinking out of a tall ceramic stein. I hope I can brew like Paul when I grow up!
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