Wildbrau Grandauer Weissbier Beer Review

Grandauer Weißbier

Review Date 1/31/2024 By John Staradumsky

For Christmas of 2015, my wife bought me a really cool present: BeerAdvent Calendar 2015 froman Kalea. In truth, my wife got me a lot of nice presents (she’s the best wife ever), but the nice thing about the Beer Advent Calendar is you get it early. You have to, since it’s comprised of 24 different imported Germbeers in a box with little doors that you open, one per day from December 1^st through December 24^th. All of the beers are listed on the side of the carton, however, so be careful not to look and spoil the daily surprises!

I love German beer more than beer from any other country on Earth, so this was definitely right up my alley. My one criticism of the calendar is there are not enough bocks and doppelbocks (not fair!), but otherwise it’s just an amazing way to sample 24 German beers I’ve never seen before. I get mine at Costco here in Georgia and pay on average $59.95 for the box. That might sound steep, but when you distribute that price over 24 different half liter cans, it only works out to $2.50 per can. Not a bad deal at all looked at that way.

First week of September 2023 arrived, and that means I am out there at Costco weekly looking for my beloved Kalea Advent calendars. I didn't see them (and of course buy one) until September 24th, but I gleefully placed one in my shopping cart when I did. The price this year was stable from last year at $69.99 and I think that is a bargain honestly. $2.92 per can is still a bargain for beers from small German brewers I might never otherwise get to enjoy, that includes new beers and one I have had before and get to enjoy again.

On December 13th, I opened my Day Thirteen door to reveal a special treat: a can of Wildbrau Grandauer Weißbier. I just love a good Hefeweizen, and always have. Then too, Wildbrau is a brewery I've never enjoyed beer from before, and I do love discovering a new brewery. Bonus points if it's a new (to me) German brewery. That is exactly the case here. Wildrtau is lcoated in Grafing bei Munchen, not to far from Munich as the name implies. Like so many breweries in Germany, Wildbrau has a long history dating back to 1060, and can trace back to a tavern on their site in the year 1205. You can see on the label for Grandauer Weißbier that Wildbrau makes the claim they have been brewing ince 1060, only 20 years later than Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world.

Should you find yourself in Grafing bei München, you might want to stop byt the brewery to play their Schnitzeljagd game. This is a tour and treasure hunt that you can enjoy for the low price of 79 Euros (it comes with some extras that make the price easier to bear). The story goes that in 1932 business was booming to the point that the brewery bought their first truck to make deliveries. The problem: the feloow that bought it lost the title and died before telling anyone where it is. Your mission is to find it, and you will be given a tour and clues (and one presumes beer) to help you in your search. Can you be the one to find this lost treayre after almost 100 years?

But back to the Hefeweizen. Wildbrau says:

Inbegriff bayrischer Bierkunst. 1548 wurde erstmals Weizen als Zutat für die Bierherstellung erlaubt. Die Tradition des Weizenbiers war geboren. Über Generationen hinweg verfeinert, entwickelt es so seinen ganz besonderen und unverwechselbaren Geschmack.

Which means if you don't speak German:

The epitome of Bavarian beer art. In 1548, wheat was first allowed as an ingredient in beer production. The tradition of wheat beer was born. Refined over generations, it develops its very special and unmistakable taste.

Time to update on the distribution of styles received in the calendars over the years, including this Hefeweizen:

Dortmunder 8 4%
Munich Helles 51 24%
Oktoberfest 35 17%
Munich Dunkles 11 5%
Hefeweizen 12 6%
Dunkelweizen 14 7%
Zwickl/Kellerbier 12 6%
Kristalweizen 3 1%
Pilsner 21 10%
Bock 2 1%
IPA 5 2%
Doppelbock 5 2%
Maibock 3 1%
Pale Ale 7 3%
Weizenbock 5 2%
Vienna Lager 3 1%
Imperial Pilsner 4 2%
Steinbier 1 1%
Stout 4 2%
Rauchbier 4 2%

Wildbrau Grandauer Weißbier has an alcohol content of 5.1% by volume and 10 IBUs according to my can. Ingredients on the can are listed as water, barley malt, wheat, yeast, and hops. My can is stamped EXP 2025/03.

Wildbrau Grandauer Weißbier pours to a murky golden color with a thick fluffy white head formation and a nose of pronounced clove and banana. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body, just right for the style. It’s quite wheaty, tart crackery, and spicy with clove and banana. The tart crackery wheat pops in the finish and makes the beer very refreshing. I swirled and got sediment, too, this is can conditioned.

I’m greatly enjoying my 9th annual Beer Advent Calendar with the day 13 beer. Here’s looking forward to the remaining 11, and another assortment of 24 in 2024. We’ll be on the lookout next year at Costco, and following the beers on their Facebook page.

The beers of the 2023 Beer Advent Calendar:

Day 1 Falter Export Hell

Day 2 Kauzle Helles Lager

Day 3 Kurpfalz Brau Kellerbier

Day 4 Graminger Kirta Dunkles Weissbier

Day 5 Erl Brau Erlkönig Hell

Day 6 Hösl Märzenbier

Day 7 Bambule Pilsner

Day 8 Landgang Helle Aufregnung

Day 9 Propeller Bier Turbo Prop Pilsner

Day 10 Gmoastier Weisser Bock

Day 11 Flötzinger Hell