Kellerweis
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

KellerweisKellerweis
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Hefeweizen
Ranked #16
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,642
Avg:
4.04 | pDev: 11.88%
Reviews:
1,418
Ratings:
4,180
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 22, 2024
Added:
Mar 12, 2009
Wants:
  383
Gots:
  769
Our Bavarian-style wheat beer is complex with flavors reminiscent of banana bread and spicy clove. This hazy-golden beer glows with suspended yeast, creating a velvety texture and refreshing finish.

Kellerweis is one of the few wheat beers made using the traditional Bavarian method of open fermentation, which allows the ingredients to shine and creates vast depth and character in this hazy-golden beer. To serve, pour two-thirds into a glass, swirl the bottles and add the rest.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by melagnus:
Photo of melagnus
Reviewed by melagnus from California

5/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Well I'm proud to report that a US-brewery has finally brewed an incredible Hefeweizen! Sierra Nevada's Kellerweis Hefeweizen rouses the senses and makes one think they were back in Germany smelling the fresh air under a tree in the Biergarten. Possibly, only Long Trails would maintain somewhat equivalent in the mind as an acceptable choice when looking to a US Craft Brewery to provide what the Germans have done so eloquently for so long now.

Though the Germans clearly still win out in tradition, History, Gastronomy (not sure if Sierra Nevada will actually distribute the glass they chose for the beer to the fine establishments serving it or not!) and experience (one can describe the Biergarten culture with words, though no word could ever fully explain what is!), this beer goes a long ways beyond the one-step-above notion of what a Session Beer is that they choose to label Wheat Beer here in the US! From Keller (cellar) to your palate, I hope you recognize the truly mind-blowing love and devotion that this brewery, Sierra Nevada, has gone to in bringing you this beer.

A - Heaven has arrived! Though missing the Weißwurst and Biergarten, the meringuelike frothy-white head would take several fingers to measure and even after receding, leaves legs that make the once visible head known. Finger-thick film remains atop the cloudy opaque Deep Gold (Two-row Pale, Wheat, Munich [SRM 6]) hue. Rousing the suspended yeast by swirling the glass instantly vigorates the head via high carbonic activity. Though the brandy snifter isn't ideal for sampling this beer, the design still allows for plenty of love to consume the senses!

S - Banana mixed with gum sweetens the nose, with a spicy clove-like note to finish it off. Yeast breadiness pours through, giving a darker earthy balance to the sweet spiciness on top. Phenols and esters balance nicely with no trace of Noble hops in the background.

T/M/D - Bread-like yeastiness coats the palate with a slight lingering bitterness that balances out with a creamy smooth finish. With that said, the bitterness is solely there as a balancer and is to-style. Very medium-to-full-bodied on the palate, this beer presents a fruit cocktail array of banana and bubblegum that dries out to a yeasty earthiness. At 4.8% ABV, the quick finishing of the bottle lets you know you've had one, without making operation of a motor vehicle out of the question; a Session Beer for sure! With that said, I think I'll forgo driving today and sit out under the rays of the sun, while I listen to the birds, the breeze and enjoy a few more of Gods creation!

C - The beer (brewed on the 156th day of 2009 [29 May 2009]) is cold, but not stingingly-so and provides a very refreshing element that only a warm breeze on the side of a Bavarian mountain could add to. When thinking back to the days in the Biergärten (plural for beer gardens in German!) and the beers once consumed, I can only say that Sierra Nevada has created an incredible beer that a tasting panel would be hard-pressed to find the Americanism in! Splendid job and possibly the best US-brewed Hefeweizen in existence!!!

Prost!
Jun 20, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of Brainsurgerystudio86
Reviewed by Brainsurgerystudio86

5/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I’ve been saying (& will continue to say) for many years that Kellerweis is, without question, one of the best American examples of a traditional German Hefeweizen that has ever existed. It’s unfortunate that this is no longer available in packaged form. However, if you are lucky enough, you may be able to find it on draft exclusively at either of the brewery locations.
Feb 22, 2024
 
Rated: 4 by ctbeerman1 from Connecticut

Sep 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.44 by Beergod420 from Michigan

Feb 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by heymikew from California

Jan 22, 2022
 
Rated: 4.15 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Oct 13, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by Taenim from Maine

Sep 06, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jul 19, 2021
 
Rated: 2.7 by Dentist666 from Russian Federation

Jun 20, 2021
Photo of Elemental19xx
Reviewed by Elemental19xx from Illinois

3.87/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I think their label got it right on the nose "Our Bavarian-style wheat beer is complex with flavors reminiscent of banana bread and spicy clove. This hazy-golden beer glows with suspended yeast, creating a velvety texture and refreshing finish." This is one of the few beers where the label is spot on. Very much so enjoy the banana bread flavor going on, as well as the very smooth finish.
Jun 11, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Rerate, 355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. I turned the bottle upside down before opening. Hazy yellow colour, small white head of poor retention. The aroma has notes of citrus, and less pronounced notes of cloves and banana. There are also some less pleasant hints of solvent. The flavour is also citrussy, with moderate notes of banana and cloves. Fizzy mouthfeel.

Original rating: 355 ml bottle, at Peter Gift, Aarhus, Denmark. Deep golden colour, no head at all in the shiny glass, probably due to the pub’s ignorant use of rinse aid / rinse agent. The aroma and flavour have some of the typical notes of a hefeweizen (banana and cloves), but this beer was far from the best h.w. I’ve had (and I love hefeweizens). Fizzy mouthfeel.
May 10, 2021
Photo of TommyG22
Rated by TommyG22 from Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Very good American Hefeweisse.
Apr 10, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by hester7 from Texas

Mar 05, 2021
 
Rated: 3.61 by mattjp03 from Alabama

Mar 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by mikerieder from South Dakota

Feb 28, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Chipwells from Georgia

Feb 05, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Pisshhead from Ireland

Oct 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Samnem from Pennsylvania

Sep 28, 2020
Photo of Nvrmind16
Reviewed by Nvrmind16 from California

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
As white beers go this is a good one. A summertime treat with diverse flavor notes, a great showing by Sierra Nevada who is more known for their IPA,s
Jul 09, 2020
Kellerweis from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 4180 ratings