Marshall's Mugs: Tröegs DreamWeaver Wheat Ale

Straight from the dream woven homecoming weekend we just had, this beer is sure to imprint an image into your memories. Tröegs DreamWeaver Wheat Ale slides into a slightly-warm October as a perfect fit.

If you have been in any bar on Main Street, you have seen Tröegs HopBack Amber Ale, which I have not tried, but I know it cannot top DreamWeaver. I stumbled upon this golden treasure as my first legal drink on my 21st birthday at Homegrown Café, and my mind was blown.

DreamWeaver is a German wheat beer with an American twist. Tröegs adds Pilsner and Vienna malts with a healthy dose of wheat to make up its light and refreshing body. This anytime of the year beer has the taste that satisfies a dark winter lust but suits a light summer feel.  
German Northern Brewer hops delicately add the hints of bitterness needed for this wheat beer. However, what matters more than anything else in a wheat beer is the yeast.

This German wheat yeast brings the magic that Tröegs claims is in DreamWeaver. Notes of spicy pepper and clove tickle your tongue and widen your eyes. But wait, you don’t like peppers and cloves, which is why the long-lingering wave of banana filters through each taste bud in your mouth.

Even more interesting, Tröegs leaves the wort, unfermented beer, to ferment with an open top. According to the Tröegs website, it is specifically designed so the yeast will ferment over the top and the foam will be collected to be utilized for the next batch. This creates the freshest results for the strong pepper and clove characteristics.  
So here is what you do.

Grab a six-pack that you can probably find at most liquor stores. Go home and whip up a quick salmon or tilapia salad. That’s right—no red meat this time. After the salad is ready, grab a wheat-style glass (usually tall with a wide top) and pour three quarters of the beer in the mug. Then take the remainder in the bottle and swirl it around. Pour the foam from the bottle to put the cherry on top of this magical creation.

The foam really awakens the yeast flavors and brings out optimum taste. The pour results in a hazy yellow-brick road color with a foamy top. The smell is magical, a yeasty peppery aroma floats into the air, and the taste doesn’t disappoint either. I really enjoy the bananas at the end that give this German-style wheat its American profile.

I cannot suggest to try this beer enough. It is not too strong at 4.8 percent alcohol but not too weak either. Tröegs has done an amazing job since 1997 brewing out of Hershey, Pa. Their innovative and simplistic approach is what craft beer is all about. Cheers to them.

Taste: 5

The complexity of the spices and banana is as tasty as it is intriguing. 




Feel: 5

Light and crisp with a wonderful finish.


Look: 5

A hazy yellow-brick road color that distinguishes the beer’s appearance. 


Smell: 5

Pepper bananas might not sound appealing, but this magical aroma leads you right to the glass. I wish they made it in Yankee Candle. 




Overall: 5

Yes folks, I finally gave something a five. That is how passionate I am about the tastefulness of DreamWeaver. Each category stands alone as perfect in my book. So what is it in yours?