Wheat beers always hit the spot on a hot sunny day. Light, sweet and with a slice of orange, they’re a great summer beer. Syracuse’s next heat wave, however, is still months away. But while we continue to wear mittens inside our apartments, there is one kind of wheat beer up for the wintry occasion.

German weizenbocks serve as the dark and burly winter warmer ale of the wheat-beer family. When the sun won’t show and the snow won’t go, weizenbocks are there for you. Similar to the all-barley German bock or doppelbock, these brews taste smooth and rich from the heavy malt focus. They weigh in around 6-9 percent alcohol and gain an added sweetness from being brewed with large portions wheat.

The finest among weizenbocks is G. Schneider & Sohn’s Aventinus, purportedly the original wheat doppelbock by the brewery. Fans of dark Belgian beer will notice some immediate similarities in smell and taste. After a proper pour with a thick head, Aventinus has an aroma of dried fruit like raisins and dates backed by the malted wheat. The flavor expands on those fruit flavors, adding a bit of clove spice and banana, the hallmark flavors of German wheat beers. At 8.2 percent abv, there’s no doubt this is a heavy drink. But the fine bubbles and velvety mouth feel make Aventinus a tough brew to put down.

Despite their delicious nature, finding weizenbocks in Syracuse is tough. Luckily, Aventinus is available for $3.50 per half-liter bottle at Galeville Grocery (412 Old Liverpool Road) in Liverpool. Fans of this beer, however, will be disappointed to know this is the only weizenbock currently available in the area. Some great substitutions, however, are Middle Age Brewing’s Winter Wheat, Franziskaner Dunkel and Sam Adam’s Winter Lager.

Beer Bites

Young’s Double Chocolate Stout

Four out of four mugs

Let this ale warm up to enjoy the soft, chocolate flavors. Think Guinness, but better and with cocoa.

Old Speckled Hen

Two out of four Mugs

A mellow English ale, buy this canned and avoid their clear glass bottles that spoil the beer during shipping.

Otter Creek ESB

Three out of four mugs

An American interpretation of the classic British extra-special bitter style comes off as a rich amber ale.

Snapperhead IPA

Two out of four mugs

As an IPA it’s weak, but it still makes for a decent drink. Just don’t expect a mouthful of hops.

Published on March 7, 2007 at 12:00 pm