Orbit Beers and Tap Social Movement go way back. Having brewed a Belgian Wit beer together in 2023, we decided to get back together and brew another for 2024, but this time a dark Wheat beer! Introducing our new Dunkelweizen, available on tap only from 20th September.
Tap Social grew out of a passion for good beer and social justice. They are a craft brewery and hospitality organisation that creates employment and training for ex-offenders because they believe that everyone benefits when no one is excluded from the job market.
Tap Social Movement was founded in 2016 by Paul, Amy and Tess. Having experience in a range of positions across the criminal justice system, they have all witnessed the difficulty people face when trying to turn their lives around after coming into contact with the law. A lack of support and assistance is available for those trying to navigate complicated career pathways, and criminal records often dissuade employers from hiring otherwise eligible candidates.
Tap Social have three community spaces in Oxfordshire that you can visit. Check out the Botley taproom (home of the original brew house), the White House by Tap Social (the community cafe, bar and kitchen in central Oxford) and Tap Social Lock29 (their bar within Banbury's Lock29).
The Beer
Tap Social's Head Brewer Jason came over to the Orbit Brewery this time around to brew a German-style Dunkelweizen - a dark wheat beer for the changing of seasons.
This Bavarian-style wheat beer translates as Dunkel (Dark) Weizen (Wheat), and is somewhere between the two styles. Slightly spicy, smooth, hazy, and medium-bodied like a wheat beer, but with the colour and richer malt profile of a Dunkel (dark lager).
The result is a medium-bodied, copper-coloured German-style wheat beer that offers smooth notes of toffee, milk chocolate, and fresh-baked bread from carefully selected malts. The yeast brings out hints of ripe banana, while Mandarina Bavaria hops add a subtle touch of spice and citrus marmalade. At a sessionable 4.6%, this Dunkelweizen is an easy-drinking yet satisfying choice for the season.
It will be released on tap only in Tap Social Taproom in Oxford and Orbit Beers Taproom in Walworth, South London from 20th September, just in time for Oktoberfest!