Welcome to Beer Tastings, a weekly series in which Utah Beer News highlights a particularly tasty local brew. As we enter October, our thoughts turn to cooler temps and German-inspired beers. This week, we crack open Grand Bavaria, a Weissbier from Red Rock Brewing. What are you drinking? Let us know!
Beer Tastings: Grand Bavaria
‘Tis the season for Bavarian beers. Oktoberfest is underway in Munich (and Utah), and we’ve already tasted our share of fall beers.
My wife is much more schooled in certain German-style beers than I am. She loves the yeast-y, clove-y characteristics of many hefeweizens — or weiss biers — and the like.
I’m the first to admit this is not a go-to style for me. In fact, for a while, I seemed to experience a mild allergic reaction every time I sipped a wheat beer. They don’t bother me as much anymore, but I’ll still usually just take a sip of whatever my wife orders and call it good.
That said, the Grand Bavaria by Red Rock Brewing is one I’ll enjoy once or twice each autumn. It pours a cloudy, pale yellow. Aromas of vanilla, clove, and a touch of banana. More biscuit or fresh bread comes through in the flavor for me, though there’s still a hint of nice spice.
Bubble scurry to the top of the glass to greet a small, rocky, white layer of foam. It coats the tongue and offers a nice balance between sparkly and creamy.
When pouring from the bottle, don’t forget to give the last ounce or two a swirl to pick up any extra yeast. The Grand Bavaria is the perfect finish to a crisp fall day.
- Brewery: Red Rock Brewing
- ABV: 5%
- Serving Style: Bottle (500mL)
- Date Tasted: October 1, 2018
- Purchase Location: Cottonwood Heights Liquor Store
Red Rock Brewing: 4th West Oktoberfest
Each year for the past three, Red Rock Brewing has partnered with 400 West neighbor Mountain West Cider to host the 4th West Oktoberfest.
With The Garten space next door, it’s a perfect venue to enjoy a sausage, some live music, and, of course, a mug of hefeweizen, dunkelweizen, altbier, or an Oktoberfest.
Notes: The tasting notes format is adapted from a Homebrew Academy Beer Tasting Mastery course I took in 2017. Utah Beer News is not compensated in any way for beers mentioned in the Tastings series.
Grand Bavaria — Red Rock Brewing
Product Name: Grand Bavaria
Product Description: From the brewery: This Bavarian style wheat beer is lively and refreshing. It has a complex aroma of vanilla, banana and hints of spice from our unique German yeast strain. It’s made with German malted wheat and premium two row barley.
- Aroma
- Appearance
- Flavor
- Mouthfeel
Overall Impression
Grand Bavaria by Red Rock Brewing is a local wheat-beer favorite. It features a complex aroma and flavors of fresh bread and clove.
- Aroma: Vanilla, clove, slight banana
- Appearance: Cloudy pale yellow with a minimal rocky head
- Flavor: More biscuit and fresh bread for me, though clove and some banana peek through a well
- Mouthfeel: A nice balance between sparkly and creamy. Coats the tongue.
But you don’t have to take my word for it.
