Erdinger Pikantus

Tasting Notes

The aroma leads with dark fruit — plum, fig, dried cherry — layered over banana and clove from the signature Bavarian weizen yeast. On the palate there's a rich, full body with notes of toasted bread, a hint of chocolate, and a gentle warming from the elevated alcohol. The finish is smooth and moderately sweet with just enough carbonation from the wheat to keep it from feeling heavy.

About the Brewery

Erdinger is based in Erding, Bavaria, Germany, and is one of the world's largest wheat beer breweries. Founded in 1886, the brewery has long focused almost exclusively on weizen styles, which is unusual for a brewery of its scale. Their portfolio centers on Hefeweizen and Dunkelweizen, with Pikantus representing their stronger, darker weizenbock offering. They're widely distributed globally and are closely associated with traditional Bavarian wheat beer production.

Food Pairings

Roast pork or Schweinsbraten pairs naturally because the beer's dark fruit and malt depth mirror the caramelized meat juices. Strong aged cheeses like Gruyère or Manchego work well since the beer's sweetness offsets the salt and funk. Chocolate-based desserts — particularly dark chocolate cake or a brownie — echo the subtle cocoa notes in the malt. Braised red cabbage and game dishes like venison find a complementary match in the beer's plum and fig character.

Style Guide

A Weizenbock is essentially a Bock-strength wheat beer — a fusion of the Bavarian weizen tradition and the darker, stronger Bock style. It typically runs between 6.5% and 9% ABV, carries a full, chewy body, and combines the banana-and-clove esters of hefeweizen yeast with the toasted malt, dried fruit, and warming qualities of a Dunkles Bock. It originated in Bavaria and is most closely associated with the brewing traditions around Munich. What distinguishes it from a standard Hefeweizen is the alcohol weight and dark malt complexity, and from a traditional Bock it retains the distinctive yeast character that a standard Bock lacks.