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

BretSikkink

Mexico

2.78/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Color and foam are average and middle of the road for style. I found the aroma and flavor to be very poor: below average for what should be a safe style. The nose has a lot of banana that doesn't let up in the flavor. The sweetness is almost up to the level of coconut. No balance from any spicing. The mouthfeel is sturdy and pleasant, but I found this nearly unpalatable after about halfway through. Not good enough.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2010 00:52:07 | More by BretSikkink

beertunes

Washington

2.75/5  rDev -23%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into 9oz pilsener glass. Poured a very cloudy (and not the typical Hefe cloudy, more of a denser color type of cloudy) brownish yellow with over an inch of white head that had decent retention and very light lacing.

The aroma featured the expected yeast, clove and banana scents, but the wheat scent was very light and showed up mostly in the back. A very subdued aroma in general. The flavors were very similar, all the typical aspects, but very soft and understated.

The body was just on the light side of average. Drinkability was decent, you could easily kill a sixer of these on a summer's day. Overall, a decent enough beer, especially considering the price point. At less than $7 for a sixer, it's worth a shot, just don't expect to be blown away.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 19:42:39 | More by beertunes

mikeg67

New Jersey

2.68/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle bought at Traders Joe's. Pours a hazy copper with a lively white head. Nose of banana with some citrus notes. Flavor was a banana and yeast. Finish is not existent. There is really nothing to write home about. Cannot be compared to real German Hefeweizen.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2010 22:35:46 | More by mikeg67

Cavanaghty

Maine

2.63/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from bottle into a smaple glass.

Appearance: Cloudy copper color. about two fingers of white head.

Smell: Bananas, wheat, and alcohol.

Mouthfeel/Taste: Medium to light bodied. Grassy taste with alcohol.

Overall: Not really impressed by this beer, I actually expected better from the Trader Joe's selection.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 19:46:25 | More by Cavanaghty

mwilbur

Minnesota

2.5/5  rDev -30%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured from 12 oz bottle into weizen glass.
A: Pours a hazy golden yellow with high carbonation producing a 2 inch billowy white head. Not half bad.
S: Nice clove, banana, and mild sweet caramel malt aroma.
T: Uh oh...nose-dive here. Watery, off balance, and just not tasting right. Jumbled mess of banana, clove, and malt. Not good.
M: Light body. Thin and watery.
D: I was about to be amazed by this beer up until the taste. DP. Bottomline--don't waste your time.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 04:04:18 | More by mwilbur

illidurit

California

2.48/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12 ounce bottle poured into a pint glass. Cloudy orange color with an explosive white head. Huge white suds, too much even for a hefe. Sorta fizzy, leaving a little lacing as it recedes. Aroma is overripe banana and bubblegum with a glaring lack of clove. Creamy vanilla banana flavor with the slightest hint of spiciness in the back of the palate. Sweet and one-dimensional. Mouthfeel is way too bubbly. It's hard to drink without swirling out tons of carbonation. Finish is a little unclean.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 10:52:40 | More by illidurit

tigg924

Massachusetts

2.17/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

Appearance: gold in color, 1 inch head, hazy

Smell: banana, wheat, and clove

Taste: bananas, clove, wheat, and a medicinal taste as well

Mouthfeel: medium bodied, high carbonation, slightly sweet

Drinkability: This one tastes a bit too medicinal for me. The basic flavors are there, but I did not care for the aftertaste. One and done for me. There are lots better in the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2010 17:36:32 | More by tigg924

hodgsongreg

Minnesota

2.03/5  rDev -43.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Poured the color of aged grapefruit juice, which is not always bad. It smelled like slightly soured ketchup and regular yellow mustard mixed up. The taste actually made an interesting combination to the smell, the taste of cold, carbonated hot dog water. The strange thing is, the taste grew on me as I made my way to the bottom of my glass. It had enough carbonation to add to the spice notes, which was pleasant. So far as drinkability, I'll finish this glass and be unlikely to revist this.

With this being my first hefeweizen, if this is any indicator of a quality flagship of this style, I gotta scratch it off my list. Any recommendations are welcomed. Thanks!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2008 04:26:10 | More by hodgsongreg

TastyTaste

Minnesota

1.83/5  rDev -48.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Appearance: Lightly hazed dark gold color, giant white head, fills the stop of the glass nicely.

Smell: Sour and grainy, a little yeast, but this smell is way off.

Taste: Sour and murky, the flavors drown each other. Cloying, with a slight melted plastic taste. Bad.

Drinkability: These TJ's offerings are very hit or miss, mostly misses (and this is one)

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2006 02:38:09 | More by TastyTaste

cwagense

Pennsylvania

1.5/5  rDev -58%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1

this is a nice looking beer, but is thick and very fruity in the nose and is so middle-tongue sweet i had to cut it with with lemonade just to be able to drink it. the sharper-flavored west coast hefeweizens (pyramid, among others) are cleaner and bear more resemblance to their namesake. not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2007 00:53:28 | More by cwagense