Trader Joe's Bavarian Style Hefeweizen - Trader Joe's Brewing Company

augustgarage

California

3.63/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Best before March, 2013. Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Ayinger Weizen glass.

The liquid is a cloudy gradient of golden poppy, jonquil, with hints of brighter shades. A thick finger of off-white mousse leaves waves of sticky yet thin lacing behind. Good retention.

Yeast-forward aroma with plenty of clove-like phenols...

Spicy palate entry with plenty of tartness from the wheat followed by hints of lemon. The profile grows sweeter as the beer expands over the tongue with a rough mixture of chewing gum and sourdough starter. Finishes medium-dry and refreshing though not as clean as the best examples of the style.

Soft, well carbonated, medium-bodied mouthfeel.

One of my favorite beers produced for Trader Joe's - a reasonable domestic approximation of a classic German style, pairing well with food, all for an exceptional value (less than $1/bottle).

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 00:58:50 | More by augustgarage

danfix99

Minnesota

2.75/5  rDev -23.2%

05-22-2013 03:15:44 | More by danfix99

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +11.7%

05-19-2013 00:52:07 | More by BeerForMuscle

fastrodney

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%

04-30-2013 22:01:06 | More by fastrodney

GraduatedCashew

California

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

04-25-2013 16:53:17 | More by GraduatedCashew

GennyCreamAle

New York

4/5  rDev +11.7%

04-21-2013 02:27:04 | More by GennyCreamAle

YieldToNothing

New York

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

04-08-2013 03:34:11 | More by YieldToNothing

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.08/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle pours a cloudy dark orange color with a moderate cap of off-white head. Decent retention, poor lacing. A litter darker than I would have liked to see.

Nose is yeasty and phenolic, almost to the point of smelling plastic-y. Cloves outweigh the banana it seems. Sweet and malty as opposed to a nice snappy wheat background.

Taste is lemony and sweet with the yeast having plenty of influence, but gets that same plastic flavor that is a bit unpleasant. That said, it is still drinkable and I wont have too much problem finishing the sixer....probably wont go back for more though. Worth the $6 experiment.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 18:09:58 | More by twiggamortis420

metter98

New York

3.53/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is rather dark yellow in color with some amber hues. It's relatively clear and has a slight amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin white head that quickly died down, leaving a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: Strong aromas of bananas and yeast are present in the nose.
T: Like the smell, the taste is dominated by flavors of banana-like yeast with notes of wheat and hints of sweetness.
M: It feels a little more than light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is rather dark for the style and is absolutely packed with flavors of bananas. It's not as refreshing compared to some hefeweizens.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 17:38:44 | More by metter98

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.59/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a hazy dark golden orange to copper in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation and some orange + amber highlights. The beer has a half finger tall off-white head that reduces to a medium patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of carbonation.

S: Moderate aromas of banana with some much lighter aromas of clove and wheat.

T: Overall the beer is slightly sweet with light flavors of wheat and pale malts but that is dominated by overripe banana. There are light hints of clove in the background. Minimal amounts of bitterness but a slightly metallic flavor in the finish.

M: Just shy of medium bodied with heavy amounts of carbonation. Slightly thin/watery.

O: This is an OK beer for the price but is certainly not going to compare well against the German or good American breweries. It is easy to drink but I really wish there was more clove present and that the banana was not quite as sweet. This is about the darkest colored beer of the style that I have come across.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 17:37:08 | More by dbrauneis

ortie

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

03-13-2013 01:38:20 | More by ortie

BrianCuoz

New York

4.75/5  rDev +32.7%

03-08-2013 17:20:06 | More by BrianCuoz

mdavidson

Washington

4/5  rDev +11.7%

03-07-2013 02:51:49 | More by mdavidson

RandyPuckett

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

02-23-2013 04:51:15 | More by RandyPuckett

ExaltedNecrosis

Texas

4/5  rDev +11.7%

02-14-2013 01:36:19 | More by ExaltedNecrosis

zzurn

2/5  rDev -44.1%

02-08-2013 07:38:06 | More by zzurn

powdersoldier

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%

02-05-2013 05:00:04 | More by powdersoldier

brandoman63

Illinois

4/5  rDev +11.7%

01-30-2013 04:50:09 | More by brandoman63

aflies

Arizona

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

01-18-2013 02:32:52 | More by aflies

TGZ32

Michigan

2.25/5  rDev -37.2%

01-14-2013 00:25:53 | More by TGZ32

McStagger

California

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Bought this by accident. Decided to try it anyways. Haven't had a wheat beer in years.

A: Murky, jaundiced yellow. Very hazy. Two fingers creme brulee head. Decent retention. Decent lacing.

S: Ah, there it is. Banana taffy, clove, all spice, bubblegum and a bit of funkiness. Not my favorite style, but a very good example of what the style should be.

T: More subtle notes of banana, candy and clove in the background. Nice, delicate malt sweetness in the foreground.

M: Soft, delicate. Delightful, honestly. Good carbonation to keep things from becoming flabby. Very approachable.

O: Pretty good example of the style, especially considering the price. Still, I bought this by mistake and won't be buying it (or pretty much any other wheat) again.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 05:42:16 | More by McStagger

acelin

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev +4.7%

01-10-2013 17:41:16 | More by acelin

TheMarkE

California

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

01-09-2013 04:56:26 | More by TheMarkE

barczar

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a tad hazy light brown color with a frothy one inch cream head that dissipates slowly, leaving solid lacing.

Banana, clove, orange, and wheat begin the aroma, which is fairly sweet. Coriander and a hint of diacetyl add intrigue.

Flavor is fairly citrusy, with tart orange and banana leading the profile, accompanied by wheat and lightly toasted malt. Clove, coriander, and white pepper finish things off fairly dry.

Body is moderate, with fairly high carbonation. It's pretty spritzy.

Standard flavor profile for a hefe. Nothing exceptional. Slight graininess.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 03:43:22 | More by barczar

sloelco

California

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

12-29-2012 22:40:26 | More by sloelco