One of my earliest beer influences was legendary beer scribe Michael Jackson. Jackson wasn’t simply an author, though; amongst his many masterpieces on beer is a documentary series entitled “The Beer Hunter.” And perhaps my favorite episode of the six that were shot (far too few and an incredible loss for the world) is “Germany: The Fifth Element.”

In this episode, Jackson goes to Bavaria and amongst the brews he looks at are those of the Kaltenberg brewery. There, he interviews Prince Luitpold, overseer of the Kaltenberg castle brewery and the great grandson of Bavaria’s last king. From the moment I saw this episode, I desperately wanted to try these beers, but given the very small production of the castle brewery this always seemed unlikely.

To be fair, Kaltenberg beers are also made at a secondary, larger facility in Furstenfeldbruck. These days, some of them are also contract brewed and distributed by Germany’s Warsteiner brewery. In 2007, I got my first taste of Warsteiner-brewed Konig Ludwig Weissbier, the famous Kaltenberg Weiss seen in the Beer Hunter.

Recently, I got my second taste of Kaltenbgerg-inspired beer, Konig Ludwig Weissbier Dunkel at the Prado Taco Mac in Sandy Springs, Georgia. I’ve enjoyed Konig Ludwig Weiss in bottles and on tap many times since 2007, but this is the first time I’ve seen the Dunkel anywhere. Apparently, it is bottled and will be sold that way in America as well. It should not be mistaken for Kaltenberg’s Konig Ludwig Dunkel, which is not a wheat beer but instead a Munich Dunkles in style

Konig Ludwig Weissbier Dunkel is a German-style Dunkelweizen of strength 5.5% alcohol by volume. I paid a very reasonable $6.00 for a full mug pour of this beer. Warsteiner says this about the beer on their website:

Although a dark Weissbier seems impossible considering that a “Weissbier“ is known for its “white color”, König Ludwig Weissbier Dunkel is a bona fide wheat beer that has innovated the traditional wheat beer with enhancements that provide its rich, dark color from a unique type of hardy wheat malt.

This meticulously refined brewing process with specially selected ingredients locally sourced in southern Germany produces this effervescent dark Weissbier of exceptional quality. If you are looking for a truly special beer experience, this classic Bavarian beer with its appealing color, caramel taste and refreshing wheat beer taste is for you!

König Ludwig Weissbier Dunkel was honored with the World Beer Award 2010 for the world’s best dark wheat beer.

Kaltenberg Konig Ludwig Weissbier Dunkel brewed under contract by Warsteiner pours to a murky medium brownish color with a thick rocky head formation and a very spicy coffee nose. Taking a sip, the beer has a tasty chocolaty cookie malt component upfront in the palate imparted by the dark malts. Next up I get a hint of smoke followed by crackery tart wheat and that traditional bananas and cloves; in the finish comes the delicious tart wheat finish that refreshes.

Sadly, Taco Mac does not serve German fare, and this beer had me wanting a plate of meaty wursts with pungent potato salad and tangy sauerkraut. I think when I find this beer in bottles that’s exactly what I’ll serve it up with at home. Kaltenberg Konig Ludwig Weissbier is a beer that begs to be served with good German food, though you can certainly enjoy it all by itself.

Update 8/21/2014: Time to revisit this old friend of mone, and I'm glad I did. I picked up a half liter bottle of Kaltenberg Konig Ludwig Weissbier Dunkel at Total Wine for the bargain price of just $2.99, and I am seriously enjoying the dark nutty, cookieish malt flavors going on here. The smoke and banana-clove laced with crackery wheat truly make this a refreshing treat indeed. My bottle seems rather fresh with a best before date of 13FEB15.



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