While in Munich I had a chance to renew my acquaintance with dunkles Weißbier. This may be a familiar drink to those who have been to Bavaria or neighbouring areas but I will explain a bit in case it is unfamiliar. Weißbier does not mean "white beer" which would be the obvious translation from school German but is Bavarian dialect for Weizenbier that is wheat beer. If you look at a bottle it is likely to be described as obergärig meaning top-fermenting (like ale). In Bavaria is is generally offered in two main forms helles (meaning light coloured) and dunkles (meaning dark). It is generally hefe Weißbier meaning "yeast wheat beer" in other words there is yeast suspended in the beer meaning that it is not transparent. In Baden Würtemberg it is common to offer kristall Weißbier which has the yeast filtered out and making the beer transparent.

 Schneider Weissbier

Schneider Weißbier was one of my favourites when I lived in Bavaria. It has a colour that is lighter than many "dark" Weißbiers. The taste is good and the Schneider Weißbräuhaus in the Berg am Laim district of Munich is well worth a visit for the food as well as the beer. A stronger bock Weißbier called Aventinus is also offered.

 Erdinger Weissbier

My other favourite was Erdinger dunkles Weißbier. This has a more classic dark colour. The Erdinger brewery is famous for its helles Weißbier but I derinitely prefer this one. It also offers a bock Weißbier called Pikantus which is very tasty but with 7.3% alcohol should be drunk slowly.