Versa - Thornbridge Brewery

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a cloudy dirty golden color ale with a super large foamy head with great retention and some light lacing. Aroma starts with some very strong notes of banana ester with some very subtle citrus notes and some light wheat malt. Taste is a curious mix between some banana ester that are quite dominant with light citrus notes, which I wonder if they are intentional or a light infection creeping up, with some lightly sweet what malt notes. Body is quite full with great carbonation and some limited filtration. I am not sure what to make of this one – great aroma with nice banana ester which are somewhat offset by average cereal notes and light citrus flavour which don’t really add to the mix.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 13:36:35 | More by Phyl21ca

tenesmus

United Kingdom (England)

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle bought from Carringtons in Didsbury (highly recommended if you are in Manchester).

Poured into a straight pint glass its a lovely hazy marmalade colour, one finger of thick white head with excellent retention down the glass, some sketchy lacing.

Aroma is cloves, citrus, banana, a little earthy herbiness.

Taste is pretty much textbook. Banana of course but some other fruit coming into play, pear and lemon. A nice lick of vanilla, a little soap, bubblegum on the back of the throat, cloves and a touch of coriander. Theres a pleasing sweetness, biscuity malt, offset by a sour note and the zing of carbonation.

It has a lovely feel, smooth and creamy, but light and refreshing. You expect some assertive carbonation but its not overdone.

Very, very good take on the German wheat style, a lot of depth and very pleasurable. I don't understand when its brewed in Bakewell it still costs more than a Weihenstephaner but its a beer that can be mentioned in the same breath.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 18:24:37 | More by tenesmus

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.43/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Euston Tap, served in a Weihenstephaner Weizen glass. Can it possibly live up to such a vessel?

A: Hazy pale orange body under a finger of fleeting off-white foam. Light lace. Pretty average.

S: Mmm. Robust wheat, light clove, and only hints of banana and bubblegum. Very rich with the wheat itself, which is a pleasant surprise. Excellent.

T: Tangy wheat through and through, with a touch of bubblegum sweetness up front and some spicy clove on the finish. A bit vanilla-heavy on the aftertaste, but otherwise delightful.

M: Lively, creamy medium body. Very smooth, very fun.

O: I already knew Thornbridge was a terrific British brewery, but would never have guessed that my favorite beer of theirs would be their Hefeweizen! This is really great stuff, better than most German weizens I've had.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2012 04:51:55 | More by woosterbill

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

500ml bottle bought from The Vineyard, Belfast..

Poured a hazy light golden yellow colour... White head poured typically big thick and foamy then faded slowly to nice thick layer ... lots of carbonation rises to the surface... decent amount of thick sticky lacing...

Aroma - Nice clove spiciness, light vanilla notes, noticeable wheat, quite bready, very little malts, light fruitiness (banana and lemon), quite peppery...

Taste - Light biscuity malts, fairly strong clove, definite breadiness, quite creamy, good fruitiness (lemon, pear and sweet banana), salty, quite floral - hints of lily, honey grassy and peppery hints...

Feel - Very smooth and creamy with just a little bite underneath... light body... Extremely refreshing and drinkable...

Overall - An excellent take on a German hefe... recommended

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 07:32:26 | More by mdagnew

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A 500ml bottle with a BB of Feb 2012. Features the usual Thornbridge label with damask background. Described as a weisse beer brewed using a Bavarian yeast strain.

Poured into a Sam Smith's pint glass with vigorous swirling of the last third to ensure suspension of the yeast. A hazy golden-amber hue with great carbonation. Produces a huge head of creamy white foam with good stability; it eventually subsides to a decent surface layer. Fantastic aroma dominated by sweet fruity esters and yeast, with hints of wheat. Strong banana notes and some clove.

Tastes of sweet malt with a dry, complex finish. Notes of fruity esters and yeast - plenty of banana and hints of bubblegum and cloves. Wheat malt in the background. Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and full-bodied. A lingering dryness upon swallowing. Aftertaste of bananas and fruity esters.

Damn good, particularly for a weissbier that doesn't originate in Germany/Austria. The flavour is smooth, fruity and close to pitch perfect. Another top effort from Thornbridge - recommended to fans of the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 22:17:38 | More by jazzyjeff13