Last week I ordered some new yeast, but when I got it one of the Wyeast packs was already swollen.  I probably could have sent it back because I’m a pretty good customer at this retailer and they have great customer service, but I decided to do an “emergency” brew.  So I just threw this recipe together.  I knew I wanted to brew an IPA or Pale ale with the yeast and the several ounces of hops I had in the freezer.  To be honest it started as a Pale ale, but I kept adding more and more hops, because I do that sometimes.

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Ever heard of Patersbier? Can’t blame you, not many people have, there are no commercial versions. This beer is only brewed for the Trappist monks as a lower abv beer. Since I’d never heard of this beer, I bought an All Grain Kit from Norther Brewer, because it sounded like a great summer beer. But alas, like most kits I buy I can’t leave well enough alone, I need to make it my own…

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I don’t know why this style of beer is not made more often in the states.  This beer is a light bodied with a low bitterness, but dark in color and full of malty flavor.  The best part of this malty beer, very low ABV 4.3%.  That’s right a real flavorful session beer.

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This was one of my favorite beers I’ve brewed this year.  I know the Peanut Butter Porter and Black Cherry Stout were popular, but there is something to be said for a very simple style of beer, done well.  In German “Dunkel” means dark and “Weizen” is wheat, Dark Wheat.  What you have is a maltier and darker wheat beer.  I really love this style of beer and while it is simple to make, it is harder to do well.  I think this is a great recipe, and highly recommend using the liquid yeast, but be warned it can be extremely active.

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This is a very easy recipe to make and would also lend well to an extract version.  The final beer is dry and cherry sweet, as it should with the base beer being a dry stout and the Cherry Extract addition ramps back up that initial sweetness.  It’s a very interesting beer, which many people have liked.  Check out Basically Red’s thoughts on it!

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Before you even think of brewing this recipe, make sure you either have powdered peanut butter, or you have de-oiled your peanut butter.  For the few people who really know me, I’m freakishly addicted to Reese’s Peanut butter cups.  So much so that I can’t have them in the house or I’ll inhale them.  With that said, I’ve been contemplating brewing a Peanut Butter beer for a very long time.

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