On Tap is a regular column featuring our recommendations on the most unique new draft beer offerings from local pubs.
Our Recommendations: Duncan’s Weizen & Dark Ritual
Where: Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant of West Chester, 3 West Gay Street, West Chester, PA
It’s only August, but this summer’s heat has me eagerly anticipating autumn weather. Crisp cool mornings, turning off the AC and opening the windows for a cool breeze. One of the signs of autumn is the release of weizens, so I was delighted to see Iron Hill Brewery in West Chester had just released Duncan’s Weizen.
Duncan’s Weizen is a traditional Bavarian-style wheat beer, “with a fruity nose of banana and clove resulting naturally from the yeast strain used.” $5.50 gets you a 16 ounce pour. The ABV is 5.8%.
As the waitress brought the tall pilsner glass to our table, my friend Bob noted, “that’s a beautiful looking beer.” It poured a reddish brown with a decent head. It is a good looking hearty unfiltered wheat beer. My first taste revealed cloves which were a bit strong, but the clove taste acclimated and subsequent sips were full of the tangy fruit. One of my favorite all-time beers is Victory’s Moonglow Weizenbock, which is only released for a short time in the autumn. I found Duncan’s Weizen to be comparable and a delight. It has me eager for the fall weather to come.
I also sampled Dark Ritual, which is a black IPA that was just tapped on August 8th. These black IPAs fool the eye—no matter how often I try one, my mind expects the stoutness of a Guinness. This is surprisingly light and hoppy, and has a kick at 7.3% ABV.
Both of these August releases are good choices this summer. Check them out at Iron Hill West Chester while they last.
