UFO Hefeweizen - Harpoon Brewery

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.63/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Minimally cloudy maize. I managed to get all but an ounce into the glass on the first pour and still don't see any yeast. Maybe a superfine haze, but that's it. The cap is aged parchment in color, is nicely sticky and is laying down thick sheets of lace. The head and lace look so good that I won't mark down the appearance score because this U(n) F(iltered) O(ffering) is nearly clear.

The nose is pleasant in an untoasted, lemon-scented wheat and barley sort of way. That's all I can reasonably ask of my American pale wheats since they don't have the advantage of banana and clove esters that result from a true hefe weizen yeast.

UFO is a better than average version. Without a boatload of hops (Gumballhead), it's difficult to make an APWA stand out in a crowd. This one gets by on its wheatiness and a lightly lemony yeast strain. It's a bit harsh and grainy though; not as soft and refined in the mouth as it could be.

The beer is bitter, tangy and sweet (in that order), pretty much the exact opposite of how I prefer my wheat beers--both hefes and pale wheats--to be. Actually, I like tangy and sweet to share the spotlight. Still though, this is a well-brewed beer that should fit any number of situations quite well.

I'm not overjoyed with the body/mouthfeel and blame it, in part, for the harshness that I'm experiencing. Wheats ought to be soft and lush in the mouth and this one is neither. I'd like to see a slightly bigger body and a few less bubbles. Edit: as the beer sits, the mouthfeel improves noticeably.

Perhaps it's time for an overhaul in terms of style naming. This beer is as much a hefe (yeast) weizen (wheat) as any of the offerings from Germany. It's just that it doesn't use those Bavarian yeasties that are so distinctive in terms of banana and clove esters. In other words, Harpoon has every right to call this beer what they've called it. I propose American Hefe Weizen instead of American Pale Wheat Ale.

UFO Hefeweizen is a decent version of an American hefe. Although it could stand to be a little more refined, I could see myself buying a sixer now and then, especially in warmer weather. The only problem is, I don't recall hearing about any UFO sightings in Iowa.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2006 13:57:22 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been waiting a while to try this one, finally picked up a loose one in a mixed sixer to give it a go..

A - Poured a very bright golden yellow, huge white billowing head, decent retention. Nice side glass lace, good cloudy appearence, lots of carbonation.

S - Very light, lots of yeast with a touch of some lemon maybe, light in aromas, not in overall strength of smell.

T - Very very nice, light palate with a bigtime yeast presence. Lots of grain with a hint of lemon or some other kind of bitter hops, great flavors. One of the best haefe flavor profiles I have tasted.

M - Crisp, clean. very nice carbonation. Great overall feel.

D - Superb, could drink this all night long. Was great when first cold, even better as it warmed up. Just a phenomal Hefe.

Overall I was really quite impressed and damn near blown away by this. Just a downright nasty good hefe. Highly recommend

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2007 01:30:21 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Served in a tulip glass. Pours a golden lemon color with a white head and a bit of lacing. The nose is some slightly-tart wheat plus some lemon, orange, and a bit of the Harpoon yeast. The taste is a bit plain with just very mild citrus and a bit of light grain. Light body and the carbonation carries off many of the flavors before they really develop. Drinks fairly well; nice and crisp.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2010 23:08:59 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

$1.49 12 oz. single at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Pours a slightly cloudy, yellow body with a small, white head.

Smell: Cream-scented wheat malt nose with notes of vanilla and citrus and banana puree.

Taste: Lightly sweetish wheat malt, again, a bit creamy, like a dash of half-n-half was added. Citrusy character, but it's a bit fleeting. A few drops of vanilla. Faint banana fruitiness. Mild hop component and accompanying bitterness. Finishes crisp, with a tiny pinch of white pepper emerging in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus, somewhat lively carbonation.

Drinkability: A fine, light wheat ale, but it's certainly no hefe. It's refreshing, sure, but a bit lacking overall. If you're looking for an authentic hefeweizen, you best look elsewhere.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 03:02:25 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a hazy light golden color with a moderate that retains fairly well and leaves some lacing but does not meet hefe standards in that area

Smell: Banana and coriander with a touch of clove

Taste: Starts with a banana and wheat germ flavor that becomes spicy with coriander very shortly after it touches the taste buds; after the swallow; a fruity bitterness builds that nicely offsets the other flavors; has a slight orange tang at the very end

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: As an American Pale Wheat this excels, but as a Hefe it disappoints; the website calls it an Amercan Pale Wheat but it is labeled as a Hefe; the average beer consumer is confused enough by beer styles - craft breweries should not contribute to further confusion

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2007 17:18:15 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured a lightly hazy golden color wheat beer with a medium size foamy head with average retention and no lacing. Aroma consists of light wheat malt with no discernable trace of banana or cloves. Taste is also dominated by some weak notes of wheat malt with no discernable ester of banana that I usually appreciated in this style. Quaffable on a hot summer day but not really interesting.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2008 19:52:15 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

2.88/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

It's good to drink an American try at a classic German style. It reminds me of why I Like German Wheats better. This one looks brightly a canary yellow. Slightly cloudy with fair head retention and lacing. Smells grapefruity, mildly spicy, with mild sweetness. Tastes mildly malty with grapefruits, lemons, and oranges. Mild corriander and pepper added to vague hops give a bit of complexity. Body fades quickly, leaving the palate feeling scrubbed. Feels grainy and a little astringent. Finishes crisp and a little cloying.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2005 18:09:47 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a slight hazy sraw color,a slight spicy aroma but mainly yeasty.Taste was a litle smokey and spicey with some definant yeasty notes.I think there are alot better American Hefeweizens (Arcadia Whitsun,Penn Hefe, Tabernash etc...) but not to bad,would be much better with a lemon.Not one of the better Harpoon beers but it is drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2003 19:43:20 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice label. Good name.
Typical hefe-weizen appearance.
Good head retention and lacing.
Limited aroma with a little yeasty sulphur, some wheaty malt.
Crisp, effervescent carbonation. Medium bodied.
Lightly flavored. Mainly spicy character. Wheat-based malt. Subtly tart. No banana. Well balanced.
A very good American hefe; but it lacks the yeast characteristics of a Bavarian example.
A drinkable and accessible beer for summer. Great to bring to parties where Corona seems to be the beer of choice.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2005 14:03:01 | More by NeroFiddled

WesWes

New York

2.78/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

The beer pours a clear gold color with a thin white head that quickly fades to lacing. This quite un-hefe like. It boasts of being unfiltered, but the beer is as clear as a golden ale. Also, it has little head retention. Hefe's are supposed to hold a decent head. The aroma is weak. It has a wheat aroma, but I have to really try to find it. It lacks that fruity banana smell and the yeast zing. The taste is under par. Don't get me wrong it's not bad for a pale ale, but thins is supposed to be some kick ass hefe beer. It lacks the fruity taste that accompanies most all hefe's. It has a pale ale feel with a bit of body and wheat malt flavor. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a low/medium bodied beer with good carbonation. It drinks average. This was a waste of time and money.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2004 02:18:51 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

2.83/5  rDev -17%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Poured into an imperial pint glass. Close enough. Beer is light yellow and slightly hazy. Forms a white head that leaves some lacing on the glass. Carbonation is moderate to low. Head is made up of medium bubbles. It looks OK.

Aroma is kind of wheaty with mild fruit character.

Gulp gulp gone. Beer is thin and watery, drinks about like water too. Its pretty boring. Mild bitterness at the back from some grain, what's the ABV on this? 5.1% yeah right. This is an NA beer if I've ever had one.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 02:07:40 | More by drabmuh

metter98

New York

3.43/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is hazy light yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin white head that quickly died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and a thin collar around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light to moderately strong aromas of wheat in the nose along with some notes of lemon citrus.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and has flavors of wheat and notes of lemon citrus.
M: It feels light-bodied and a bit thin on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This is a great summer beer to have more than one of because it is easy to drink, refreshing and has some thirst-quenching properties.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 23:02:52 | More by metter98

zeff80

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Sola's in Back Bay.

A - It was a clear golden color with a small, white head and lots of carbonation. Left no lace.

S - It smelled of wheat, yeast and clove.

T - It tasted quite sweet and of good wheat. I little citrus kick added to the flavor.

M - It was crisp and very sharp. A light-bodied beer.

D - It was a pretty good pale wheat ale. Nothing particularly amazing but certainly good.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2007 12:51:12 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.33/5  rDev +27%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap 1/4/07 at Chili’s in Lincoln, RI, served in a large Weizen glass.
I’ve had this beer a few times from a bottle and it was one of the first few beers I reviewed, but I had never had it on-tap until now.

A: The beer is a bright gold color with a good-sized, foamy white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is fruity with lemon and full of wheat. The funny thing is that I don’t remember the smell being so strong in the bottled version and I usually have trouble smelling beers that I drink on-tap.

T: Lemon and wheat dominate the taste as well. There’s a little bit of hops, but not much. Overall it’s a light but bready taste with a heavy dose of lemon.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium-to-heavy carbonation, light-to-medium body, finish is clean.

D: Tasty and very easy-to-drink, not too filling and a good representation of the APWA style. I had forgotten how much I liked this beer until I drank it again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2007 00:34:28 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.85/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy straw color with a fluffed up 1" white head. Minimal lacing & no head retention

S: Some lemon & hinst of wheat malt

T: Tart wheat malt, lemons & pepper up front. Slight banana peel notes as it warms. Finshes fruitty with lemons on the tip of the tounge

MF: Light bodied & sprtizzy

Pretty quaffable, usually not my favorite style. This was a pleasant suprise. Easy drinking nothing too complex here

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2006 04:35:38 | More by russpowell

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer is much like the UFO White. Both have basically the same characteristics. Both are wheat beers and they both look pretty much identical from the pour. The main difference is that the UFO Hefeweizen doesn't have the citrus like the White has. I found that the flavor of this one fell apart when comparing the two of them together. The Hefe was just overall on the bland side. Not much stood out other than it being a smooth wheat beer. Personally I prefer the White over this one any day.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 04:39:03 | More by Knapp85

emerge077

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A decent domestic Hefe clone, but not technically classified as such.

Pours a pale yellow, clouds a little with the yeast poured in. Smell is average, funky grain, zero fruity esters. A fair amount of foam results in the final swirl and pour.

Taste has some nice elements, a mellow banana and estery apple/pear comes out in the aftertaste. A tart, semi-metallic note seems out of place, and knocks the taste down a notch.

Mouthfeel is very smooth and creamy, ample carbonation make this one good for a session.

Paired well with spicy Tom Yum soup...

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2007 01:56:35 | More by emerge077

Gavage

New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: hazy pale yellow in color with a big 3 finger head. Light lacing developed. Nice visible carbonation bubbles.

Smell: full of bananas, clove, and a general spiciness.

Taste: the first whiff produced full aroma, but the flavor was a bit timid. Banana, clove, and a mild bitterness are wrapped in a light malt level. Very dry throughout.

Mouthfeel: crisp and very dry from start to finish. Short, quick aftertaste of bananas linger on the tongue. Lighter in body.

Drinkability: this was a bit to dry and light on the malt profile. Initially refreshing, but grows a bit tiring after a while.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2006 03:10:48 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -12%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured into weizen glass.

Pours cloudy golden with a white, thin, well-retained head.

The smell is light. Vague hints of wheat malt and earthy breadiness.

The taste is of crisp wheat. Some breadiness from the yeast is there, but subtle. Water washes away much of the flavor. It's neither on the sweet nor the bitter side. It's a very mild taste. The yeast, especially, could use some flavors. It's not bad, but could use more flavor.

Watery thinness dominates. A slight medicinal feel is left, though washed away with everything else.

It's certainly not the HW it claims to be on the label. It's a typical American Wheat Ale. Quite average. I give it the benefit of the doubt of being an easy drink on a hot summer day, but that's about it. Surprised that it's a year round offering.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2006 14:47:53 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is a serving of UFO on-tap at Harpoon's Windsor, VT locale.

Appearance: The ale is a hazy off-yellow color with little head. There was a lemon wedge in the glass with helped to dissapate the head. BOO LEMONS (in my humble opinion only, if you like lemons so be it).

Smell: The ale has a slightly tart wheat aroma and, every now and then, a hint of estery fruits.

Taste: The ale is refreshing with a slightly tart flavor that allows the alefruits of a hefe weizen to emerge. When those flavors emerge, the ale is golden, tasting sweet and fruity with having a firm wheat tartness. When those flavors don't emerge, things get a little dicey.

Mouthfeel: The ale sits well on the palate with the occasional alefruits to carry the day.

Drinkability: The ale is perfect for a hot day, otherwise the flavors just won't cut it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2006 03:19:26 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazed golden hue with a healthy sized two finger head and leaves a brilliant layer of lacing around my pint glass. This beer is definitely a bastardized example of a wheat lies under the American wheat category in my opinion. Aroma has slight lemony tones with hints of a metallic offness to it, no special fireworks missing some serious yeast characteristics. The taste is a slight buttery sweetness with some contrasting hop bitterness apparent in the flavor profile. Slight mild banana tones with a nice smoot finish one refreshing beer. Mouthfeel is a light to medium bodied and this example of a hefeweizen is a bit under carbonated in my opinion. The drinkability factor is good but nothing extradordinary from this mediocre Americanized classic style of yeast with wheat.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2003 17:35:57 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an almost clear yellow with a thinner white head. Nose is like earth and a bit dusty. Touch of citrus and fruit give a slightly sweet edge to it. Flavor is earthy. There is just a touch of banana here. Really if it weren't for that I'd swear I was drinking a helles or something. Feel is okay. This is an average beer. I suppose it's a nice mellow more mass marketed brew than anything. It's okay I guess.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2008 15:28:11 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Only slightly cloudy! Pale yellow color. Good thick, tight-bubbled head--leaves good ring lace.

Rather mild smell; typical of most wheat ales--slight citrus, touch of soft nut. I would say this one is on the lighter wheat beers I've tried.

This is a dry beer...not a lot of wheat to it. Good spiciness--coriander, all spice, pepper. Rapidly ending finish, also dry. The body is smooth and the carbonation is above average.

This would be one of the wheats I prefer because I am not a big fan of strong wheaty flavors. I imagine those who prefer this style might rate this a little bit lower. No fatal flaws; it is easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2008 19:11:47 | More by smcolw

Jason

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12 oz. brown long neck with a bottled on date jet printed on the glass.

Appearance: Dense white head stays for a while on top of the hazy pale orange brew.

Smell: Sweet malt, yeast and bit earthy, fruity and rustic.

Taste: Crisp spicy fermented wheat with an restrained hop bitterness, some yeast and fruit follows with some lingering grain. Touch of floral sweetness, perhaps a by-product of the yeast, and a mild tartness towards the end.

Notes: This is by-far one of the better America wheat beers around. One could say it is comparable to Widmer or Pyramid if not better. Flavourful yet on the clean side and very well balanced. This sample was decanted gently to leave most of the sediment behind, though if you want more of yeasty nutty character swirl the yeast in.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2001 22:59:39 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.63/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ouncer sampled, brown bottle with no freshness indication to be found. Pours the expected hefe tone of yellow/light orange and very cloudy, lifts a white head and leaves better then average lacing. Pleasant, lemony brew, a bit thin in the mid and finish flavor wise. Hops dry things out late. Respectable summer sessioner. Lacks the complexity, aromatics and smooth mouthfeel of the higher rated offerings of the style. Would be fine with a light lunch, salad/fish/chicken etc etc.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2005 21:08:17 | More by Billolick