Aventinus Doppelbock Beer Review
July 30, 2009
Back in the early nineties, in my first flush of beer geekdom, Aventinus was a beer that made a great impression on me. When I saw a few bottles recently, I grabbed them to review for The Brew Club.
Aventinus is brewed in Kelheim, Bavaria, by Schneider-Weisse; George Schneider acquired the Weisse Hofbräuhaus (the oldest wheat beer brewery in Munich) in 1855 and was granted the right to brew by King Ludwig II back in 1872. The family continued to brew in Munich until George Schneider IV diversified, acquiring breweries in Kelheim and Straubing in the 1920’s. This was propitious as the Munich breweries were destroyed by Allied bombing in 1944.
Whoops!
Schneider-Weisse are still being run by the Schneider family, now Georges V & VI, with young George VII being born in 1995. George VII’s first words are said to have been “Schneider-Weisse” so it could be considered that the brewery is in safe hands.
Aventinus is a doppelbock (double brew) and was first devised in 1907 by Mathilde Schneider, the widow of George Schneider III. Mathilde took over the running of the brewery after her husband died at the youthful age of 35, Mathilde herself lasted well into her nineties.
While most doppelbocks are bottom fermented using lager yeasts, Aventinus is a full bodied top-fermented wheat beer, brewed in open vats using spring water, local wheat and barley and the finest Hallertau hops. It’s brewed to a full 8.2% ABV and unpasteurised to allow for secondary fermentation in the bottle, the extra slug of yeast means you’re into unfiltered wheat beer country.
Imagine this as a wheat beer’s bigger, stronger brother and you’ll be getting the general idea.
While wheat beers tend to be pale and crisp this is dark and intense. Hold it up to the light and it’s cloudy thunderheads instead of summer lightning.
Nose wise, instead of orange peel and banana notes, you get Christmas pudding, black cherries and cinnamon; with some over-ripe banana hiding in the back. And that potent nose translates into the flavour, it’s incredibly complex, you get a sharp/sour note that’s close to a Belgian Lambic and then the full flavour rolls in; once again, it’s Christmas pudding, raisins, cherries and a hint of caramel. Wonderful.
When we first tasted Aventinus back in the day, my good friend Jon described it as ‘Like drinking a train, the taste knocks you out, and when you try and stand up wham! The next carriage hits you.”
I’ve not tasted this for at least ten years but, without hesitation I’ll give it Five Stars – a true classic.
Rating: 
Posted in 5 Star Reviews, Ales, Bocks, Porters and Stouts, European Beers, Views from a Brit, Wheat Beers
Subscribe Here!
July 30th, 2009 at 8:39 am
I certainly have enjoyed this beer in the past! I am a big fan of Schneider-Weisse beers.
Reuben´s last blog ..Lidl now sells some nice english beers.
July 30th, 2009 at 8:51 am
I too am a huge fan of Aventinus. There are a number of breweries that are on my “to visit when I have the cash someday” list, and this is one. Interesting note about the allied bombing…
Sometimes I think folks are afraid to give classic or abundantly available beers great ratings, as they cling to some esoteric status, but I agree with your review.
Have you tried Schneder-Weisse’s collaboration with The Brooklyn Brewing Company? If not, be on the lookout…its great. I recently picked some up and loved it.
nate´s last blog ..It’s amazing how you get around…
July 30th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Hopfen-Weisse is interesting all right, actually I need to try it again as the last time I was a little tipsy when I tried it so I did not get to “taste” it properly.
Reuben´s last blog ..Lidl now sells some nice english beers.
July 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
I always take note when Bob gives a beer 5 stars. Nate and Reuben seems to like is as well, so that means its on my list!
Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Sam Adams Cherry Wheat Beer Review
July 30th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
You have to try their Eisbock version, too. Here’s a review of it. http://thankheavenforbeer.com/2008/12/18/middle-of-the-week-review-aventinus-weizen-eisbock/ This beer is an absolute classic in it’s own right. Terrific.
Michael Reinhardt´s last blog ..Just a warning: Review Barrage
July 30th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
It IS a truly great beer. I had the pleasure of drinking it on draft a number of years ago at my local bar, which (at the time anyway) was well known in these parts (central NJ, USA) for bringing in unusual beer not normally found on draft. I am not usually big on wheat beers…but this one blows me away.
So either way, bottle or draft, it is definitely 5 star brew.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:37 am
OK, so I grabbed a bottle of this last night to try, especially because of all the raving about it in the comments! I suppose this is an example of my palate needing development because I wasn’t thrilled by it. I would agree with Bob’s notes on taste and smell, but I couldn’t get over the strong flavor of alcohol. At 8.2%, this shouldn’t come as a surprise I know, but to me it overwhelmed the other flavors. Still enjoyable, I would probably have given it 3 stars.
Scott – TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Wolaver’s Organic Pale Ale
September 23rd, 2009 at 3:17 am
Definitely a classic, and as a wheat doppelbock with those light spicy notes, I find it better than most regular doppelbocks which tend to a little too much sugary sweetness. It’s been ages since I had one now that I think of it (and I even have the crazy looking big balloon Aventinus weizen glass waiting for the next chance
)…
Barry M´s last blog ..Neuzeller Schwarzer Abt
April 16th, 2010 at 8:23 am
Boys. Boys. Boys.
I honestly love it when you review biers that are a) fantastic; b)easy for me to get and c) we seem to complete agree about them.
I had my first Aventius Doppelbock a couple of years ago in Zurich and have never looked back. It is truly a top shelf Weiss that is not only a great drink but a challenging one.
If you do like this, then I’m almost certain that you will love the Hofbräu Schwarze Weisse.
Oh and Friday’s here, so bring on a night at the pub