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Weihenstephaner Winterfestbier

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The Winterfestbier is the brewery's cold-season lager, and each edition is brewed with a different aroma hop, so its hop character shifts from year to year. A long maturation gives the bright golden beer its full body, and a fine-pored head sits over a delicately spicy nose with hints of citrus peel, white bread and herbs. The palate brings cracker-like malt, a touch of lemon zest and fruity hop notes, and an earthy, herbal bitterness leaves a dry, clean finish.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter25 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber9
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
What makes this beer itself
MaltHop
cleanearthyherbal
clean
earthy
herbal
malty
fruity
citrusy
Aroma
The nose leads with delicate spice and herbal notes, underscored by citrus peel and hints of white bread that speak to the beer's malty foundation.
also:spicy
not found:hoppy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Weihenstephaner Winterfestbier

◎ Appearance

Bright golden hue with excellent clarity and luminosity. A fine-pored, stable head sits atop the beer, showing good Schaumhaftung that traces delicate lacing down the glass as you drink. The carbonation is evident and well-integrated, contributing to the beer's refined visual presentation.

bright goldenclearfine-pored head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with delicate spice and herbal notes, underscored by citrus peel and hints of white bread that speak to the beer's malty foundation. The aroma hop character—which shifts yearly—brings fruity, floral undertones without overwhelming the nose. There is a refined restraint here; the bouquet remains elegant and inviting rather than assertive.

herbal spicecitrus peelwhite breadfruity hops

◐ Taste

The palate opens with clean, cracker-like malt that provides a solid, full-bodied structure. Mid-palate brings a touch of lemon zest and fruity hop notes that complement the malty sweetness without competing for dominance. An earthy, herbal bitterness emerges in the middle, building steadily toward the finish without sharpness.

cracker maltlemon zestfruityearthy bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and clean, with the earthy, herbal bitterness lingering pleasantly on the palate. The aftertaste is crisp and refreshing, leaving no residual sweetness or cloying character—a hallmark of the beer's long, careful maturation.

drycleanherbal lingering
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
86
Finish
80
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Weihenstephaner Winterfestbier

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About Festbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Festbier?

Festbier is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Festbier

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same dry, full-bodied, clean character as Weihenstephaner Winterfestbier will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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