Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Sam Smith tulip pint glass.

A: Pours a beautifully cloudy golden yellow color that's surprisingly well blended in spite of its yeasty fog. The head isn't particularly impressive, it's a one head white color with mediocre retention/lacing.

S: There's a heavy noble aspect to this, which leads me to suspect it was well hopped with Saaz, Hallertau, and the like. Beneath the earthiness lies some banana and clove character.

T: I notice the clove notes first and foremost, but also a hit of noble hops on the finish. I also find a bit of citric character buried beneath the weizen notes, an excellent addition, in my opinion. The yeast is noticeable but it never gets in the way on the back end, always a good thing. Flavorful and easy to kill.

M: Very, very well carbonated without being overly so. Medium bodied with an amazingly crisp, subtly dry finish. The drinkability factor is incredible.

O: My favorite American-made hefe, and my favorite Sierra Nevada beer. Not quite on the same level as Weihenstephaner's (brilliant, brilliant) hefe, but easily on par with the Ayingers and Franziskaners of the world, perhaps even a touch better. Plus, it's cheap and very, VERY easy to find, which is criminal for a beer of this quality.

In fact, I'd even consider it a go-to beer for me - the highest compliment you can ask for.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 01:05:33 | More by ThisWangsChung

Spaz7

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

05-24-2013 21:04:56 | More by Spaz7

ThomasAWilson2

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-24-2013 16:29:41 | More by ThomasAWilson2

Rosquin

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-24-2013 11:56:36 | More by Rosquin

JamesQuaff

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-23-2013 02:54:15 | More by JamesQuaff

TheConnMan

Michigan

4/5  rDev -2%

05-23-2013 02:10:31 | More by TheConnMan

Kreko7

California

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-22-2013 19:55:17 | More by Kreko7

Rdc67

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-22-2013 19:53:20 | More by Rdc67

Hana

Massachusetts

4.11/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance
Poured into a pint glass. Beer pours a light-golden color with a bright, white head. Hazy with sediment.

Smell
Sweet, ripe bananas with slight citrus smell. Almost reminiscent of mangos.

Taste
Up-front bananas and then citrus, with a very slight, refreshing bitterness at the end.

Mouthfeel
This beer has moderate levels of carbonation with slight astringency, but somehow managed to make me feel like I was drinking velvet.

Overall
Light, fluffy, delicious. A well-balanced hefe that has a pleasing silkiness.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 03:41:23 | More by Hana

notchucknorris

California

4.3/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

For whatever reason, I've completely overlooked this beer the past few years. Finally, I decided to give it a try this year. I'm an idiot for not doing this a long time ago.

A: Pours a cloudy burnt golden color with tons of visible carbonation in the glass. A nice, creamy white head settles to about 1/2 finger.

S: An awesome combo of banana and clove with some bready malt. A touch of earthiness in there as well.

T: Really nicely done here. An initial hit of clove and bready malt, followed by a nice, but not too sweet, dose of banana bread and wheat bread. Finish brings just a kiss of earthy hops and some orange peel. Prickly carbonation and a light and creamy mouthfeel. Not a whole lot about this I would change. This is a keeper.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 01:33:55 | More by notchucknorris

poopsmitherson

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-21-2013 23:44:38 | More by poopsmitherson

Kingcurio

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev -2%

05-21-2013 01:52:32 | More by Kingcurio

jrfehon33

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%

05-21-2013 01:28:42 | More by jrfehon33

Lucoli

New York

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-21-2013 01:19:32 | More by Lucoli

banger7

New York

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-21-2013 00:51:12 | More by banger7

Lazy_Genius

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-20-2013 23:30:59 | More by Lazy_Genius

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2%

05-20-2013 16:00:24 | More by InspectorBob

Illmaticzx

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2%

05-19-2013 19:05:51 | More by Illmaticzx

Rainier

California

4/5  rDev -2%

05-19-2013 06:06:18 | More by Rainier

deranged

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-19-2013 03:02:57 | More by deranged

whatsgoody

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2%

05-19-2013 02:15:45 | More by whatsgoody

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.76/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Slightly hazy light golden hue with about a two finger white head. Followed the directions on the bottle when pouring to get some of the yeast in there.

Aroma: Light clove and a bit of banana. Some esters from the yeast. Not all that aromatic but pleasing.

Taste: Pretty much watery wheat in the first half before giving the palate some clove spice and the signature banana flavor that makes this style memorable. The finish is definintely the high point of the flavor and has a nice crispness to it. The cloves linger in the aftertaste. One dimensional but refreshing all the same.

Mouthfeel: Between thin and medium in body with good effervescence. A bit prickly because of the spice but highly drinkable and even sessionable if you like the style.

Final Thoughts: Although Kellerweis won't blow your palate away with flavor, it is still a good beer to enjoy on a hot summer day or as an aperitif. Yet another well done beer by Sierra Nevada. It's a tad pedestrian but definitely still craft. Would I drink it again? Yes, summer has only just begun.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 01:52:27 | More by JamesMN

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-19-2013 00:50:46 | More by BeerForMuscle

Hallertau

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-18-2013 21:50:24 | More by Hallertau

bluestar0828

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

05-18-2013 21:10:07 | More by bluestar0828