Chris Shanahan: Beer review – Wig and Pen, and Weihenstphan

Wig and Pen Velvet Cream Stout half-pint $7
New Wig and Pen brewer, Frazer Brown says he’s making the house stout, “a little less sweet with more roasty, toasty flavours”. Certainly the brew on tap’s consistent with memories of older batches. It’s as opaque as bureaucratic language – but thankfully easier to understand. Wholesome chocolate and roast-grain flavours meld seamlessly with the warmth of six-per cent alcohol and creamy, smooth texture.

Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier 500ml $6.10
It’d been some time between encounters with Weihenstephan brewery’s Bavarian beauty, but it still showed the beauty of a classic Bavarian style. It’s their filtered version and therefore crystal clear. It pours with a luxurious white head and has the style’s definitive, delicate banana-like aroma. The palate’s light and lively, combining subtle, smooth malt with wheat beer’s zesty, fresh finish.