Vitus beer from the Weihenstephan brewery

Thanks to PerfectDraft, you can explore a wide range of breweries and beers, including the Pacific Ale from 4 Pines Brewing and Brussels Beer Project’s Tatie Tatin. Today, we’re heading to Germany to discover the thousand-year-old Weihenstephan brewery and its iconic Weizenbock beer, Vitus.

Vitus – Weihenstephan

Weihenstephan Brewery

Perched atop Nährberg Hill, a monastery overlooks Freising, a small German town north of Munich. Over the centuries, it has evolved and adapted to overcome the challenges of its time — including fires, wars, disease, and looting.

The story began in 725 with Saint Corbinian, accompanied by twelve companions who built and settled in the Weihenstephan monastery. Several decades later, in 768, the monks started growing their own hops on monastery grounds while paying 10% of their production as land rent.

Although brewing likely began during this period, the official brewing license was granted in 1040. This means the brewery officially started production with more than 300 years of experience — a remarkable achievement. Ironically, while it is considered the oldest brewery in the world, it is also one of the most modern, equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

Today, the brewery produces a wide variety of Bavarian beer styles, including brown, blonde, wheat, and dark beers. In total, around 15 beers are brewed under the brand, best enjoyed chilled in specially designed glassware. Like many German breweries, its beers follow the purity law, the Reinheitsgebot, which requires the use of only essential brewing ingredients: water, barley malt, yeast, and hops.

Weizenbock Style

Originating in Germany, the Weizenbock style is a strong wheat beer known for its malty richness and fruity complexity, combining the flavor profile of a Dunkelweizen with the strength and body of a Bock.

It is essentially a powerful version of an unfiltered Weissbier or Hefeweizen, typically brewed with 60–70% wheat malt. The color ranges from amber-orange to brown, using traditional Bock brewing methods to create a cloudier, spicier profile. This character comes largely from Weizen yeast, which develops phenols and esters that produce signature banana and spice notes. On the palate, Weizenbock delivers rich malt aromas alongside fruity and spicy notes such as banana and clove, making it a complex style often enhanced by Vienna and Munich malts.

Vitus Beer

Vitus, the patron saint of brewers, innkeepers, seeds, and harvests, perfectly embodies everything needed to create exceptional beer. At Weihenstephaner, Vitus is a German Weizenbock with a light amber color and a fine, creamy white head.

This specialty beer is brewed with a distinctive yeast and benefits from extended maturation to achieve smoothness and balance. The aroma reveals fruity notes of dried apricot, clove, citrus, and banana. On the palate, it is intense with lively carbonation that creates a creamy, effervescent mouthfeel.

Since 2007, Vitus has won numerous international awards, and according to brewery data, French beer lovers are among its biggest fans.

Food Pairing

This beer pairs perfectly with grilled chicken, pork tenderloin, smoked sausage, seafood, or smoked Gouda cheese. Serve at around 10°C in a tulip glass for the best tasting experience.

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Please drink responsibly.