Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

PEBKAC

New York

2.83/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured into a weizen glass laden with a tourist trap logo I'm too ashamed to mention.

Swirled & poured out the last third like a good Sierra Nevada fanboy. Got nearly nothing but a new picket white fence for my effort. Once settled, it turns a muddy orange/peach color.

Smell is doughy, with ripe banana, coriander, & lavender & violet florals. Big presence.

Taste is much like a watered down orange banana smoothie. Very yeasty, feeling sort of dusty, like Orange Julius cheaped out & used powdered milk. Reddi Whip sweetness. Finish is yeasty bitterness & some faint grassy hops.

Carbonation is too low for me. Feel is too chalky the way SN wants to serve it. A second decanted bottle, though much thinner, proved better.

Where's my Franziskaner?

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2009 05:57:20 | More by PEBKAC

Jesse13713

Ohio

2.85/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance - A whipped, creamy head that is soapy underneath. A slightly hazy straw-gold color. Fairly opaque. An elixir-looking brew.

Smell - Magnificent fresh bananas and light spice. A bready and yeasty smell. The brew smells sweet all in all.

Taste - An immediately noticeable sweetness that is coated with a splenda-like taste. A bit flat with a funky well-water taste. The hint of banana is weak, and the spice of the clove drifts in an out in the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel and Drinkability - A bit too sweet for my liking. I would have liked to see a stronger emphasis on banana flavoring. This beer is very meh to me.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 21:01:44 | More by Jesse13713

hossua34

California

2.88/5  rDev -29.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

A - Hazy, pale yellow-gold. A gritty layer of particulate at the bottom of the bottle adds extra cloudiness when swirled and poured. Medium-sized head with good retention. Moderate to weak lacing.

S - Mine smelled almost exactly the same as Great Lakes Grassroots Ale, and no, that is not a compliment. Like deviled eggs, baked beans or the water that collects at the bottom of a cooler or picnic basket. Pretty disgusting.

T - First taste is of wheat and citrus, then banana takes over. Would be better without the slight "rotten" taste that accompanies that putrid smell.

M - Mouthfeel is pretty good. Creamy, well carbonated, smooth and refreshing.

D - What can I say? I just don't feel like having another one when I lower my nose back into that glass. The taste is not that bad, and the mouthfeel is great, but I really expected more from this hefe.

I could not believe how well-reviewed this Kellerweis was, compared to my experience with it. I bought this six-pack from a Giant Eagle grocery store, and come to think of it there WAS a little bit of white dust on the tops and necks of the bottles, but I just blew it off and forgot about it. There is no freshness or brewed-on date on the bottle, so I can only guess as to whether or not it was past-prime. Maybe I'll contact SN to find out.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2009 00:27:37 | More by hossua34

Sneers

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottled February 4.

Pours a cloudy golden hue with straw-yellow edges. It's capped with a moderate, frothy white head.

The aroma on this is on the thin side of things: mild banana and spice. Nice, but I wish it were stronger.

The taste is right on the money compared to the aroma, with a gentle sweetness and a little bit of breadiness. The finish is slightly citrusy.

The mouthfeel on this full and creamy: very nice. The carbonation is prickly on the tongue.

Sierra Nevada's Kellerweis is a totally decent hefe that I'd be happy to drink any day. That said, it lacks the complexity and strength of the best of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 02:38:33 | More by Sneers

PolarBear3

Australia

3.03/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Poured a pale cloudy golden colour with a two fingered head that dissipated to a nice thin film.

S - Like a typical hefeweizen. Get some banana immediately although not overly strong along with a hint of clove/spice.

T - Still get the banana but I get more lemon notes although fairly bland and watery.

M - Light bodied and very little carbonation althought is fairly smooth and creamy

O - Just an average attempt at the hefeweizen that just lacks any real depth in the flavour to make you grab for another. Not bad but a little bland overall.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 11:58:04 | More by PolarBear3

Reidrover

Oregon

3.05/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Lovelly looking beer in the pint glass, hazy pale orange, witha nice sized tight white head. Aroma is pretty simplistic for a hefe..subdued spice and some bubble gum. tste is as simple and subdued as the aroma..with some faint earth yeast in the end. Pretty average on the palate in all respects. Not a great hefe at all, quite dissapointed.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2010 03:30:08 | More by Reidrover

Krakistophales

Connecticut

3.05/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a hazy golden color with a finger of white head

S: Some citrus zest, some spice, a bit of banana, and a breadiness

T: A bit of citrus flavor, a touch of spice, but mostly bland and a bit sour.

O: Not sure I'm a fan of these hefeweizens. This one is okay, but nothing I'd be reaching for, even on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 18:47:22 | More by Krakistophales

bobhits

Kentucky

3.05/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

A few kinds words about this one were given to me recently and I realized I hadn't had it. The heck is wrong with me! Anyway time to test this one out.

It pours...like a hefe. Thick and cloudy yeast filled orange body, tall creamy looking head. Doesn't have the retention or lacing needed to push it to a 5 though.

A nice banana and clove aroma. There's a hint less malt and power than perhaps hoped for, but we're in the top hefe levels here.

There is a bit of a cali flavor here. Perhaps a kiss of hops or a dash of citrus lemon note that's covered up well, but it shifts this one a bit. The bananas and cloves are a given. This one is a touch too sour for me.

The biggest flaw here comes from the mouth feel. Far from the creamy body I'd hoped for. Instead just solid and enjoyable on a hot day.

I always passed on this one due to feeling it was a summer beer and nothing more. I was wrong. This is a solid a good American version of a Hef, but I do'nt see myself lining up to repeat this one. That said the price here will justify me recommending this to my more cost concerned hef fan friends.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 00:08:10 | More by bobhits

beertunes

Washington

3.1/5  rDev -24%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into 10oz glass. Poured a slightly hazy yellow, doesn't have the typical cloudiness you see in Hefe's. A thick, fluffy, white dissipated at a slightly quicker than moderate pace, leaving little lacing.

The typical aromas for the style are present, but subdued. Same goes for the flavors. The body was smooth and evenly full. Drinkability was easy. Overall an average version of the style, I could see keeping a few of these in the fridge during the summer, even though I prefer Wits over Hefe's. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2009 21:46:59 | More by beertunes

alexkeil

New York

3.13/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I respect Sierra Nevada as a brewery. I believe they are one of the best in this country and should be looked at as an example of great American beer. Saying that, I was a little disappointed in this german style offering. I really wanted a great hefe with notes of banana and clove in the aroma and flavor and this was a little tame - which most American hefeweizens can be, with the exception of Long Trail. This beer was expertly crafted, very refreshing and sessionable, clean in finish, and was free of major flaws: it just didn't make me go WOW.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2011 01:05:14 | More by alexkeil

Shrews629

Kentucky

3.15/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance - Cloudy, yellowish/orange. Very nice snow white thick head that had a combination of large and small bubbles. Looks good.

Smell - Some spice in the nose. Maybe the cloves? Getting some kind of artificial "plastic" smell. Getting a bit of the yeast and wheat, but having trouble detecting the banana.

Taste - Small amounts of bitterness at the end. Slight bit of sourness, but not much however. Seems to be balanced very well. No one flavor is dominant over the other. Still not picking up the aforementioned banana.

Mouthfeel - Light mouthfeel. Very crisp, smooth and watery.

Drinkability - Could definitely set a few of these back on a hot day. Very nice looking beer, but the smell brings the score down just a bit. Not horrible. I would drink it again if it was offered. I don't seem to be able to find a Hefe or Wheat that really appeals to me for some reason.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2010 15:33:51 | More by Shrews629

colts9016

Idaho

3.15/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a heffe glass at 40 degrees.

Appearance: A foamy, creamy, and frothy head that has some retention to it. The head left lacing on the glass. The color of the beer is a medium straw color with light yellow hues. The clarity of the beer is cloudy.

Nose: A rich lemon , orange, floral bouquet, wheat and crystal malt made up the bulk of the aroma. There are notes of yeast, bread, and grapefruit.

Taste: A rich wheat, lemon zest, orange, floral bouquet, malt, and yeast is the main flavors.

The mouth feel is creamy, rich and slightly chewy.

Overall: The body of the beer is medium light and the finish is medium. The one thing that I find displeasing in the beer is the balance. I felt that the wheat and the citrus was not equal in the playing field. I know that Sierra puts powerful flavors in the beer and maybe that is what they intended to do here.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2010 07:51:28 | More by colts9016

tlong421

New York

3.15/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I really dislike Sierra Nevada more times than not and only chose this beer because someone had left it in my fridge. In saying that:

A: standard weizen appearance; nice golden color

S: I didn't detect much of an order at all.

T: I feel it was an average weizen; hints of banana, but generally it felt a little watered down to me

M: smooth, easy to go down. It's really hard to screw up the mouthfeel of a weizen

D: again, same as mouthfeel, it's hard to really screw this up. Even the worst weizens are easy on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 06:15:48 | More by tlong421

Luke4

3.18/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very good carbonation out of a bottle. The aroma was a bit weak, with basically nothing to speak of. However, the appearance was top notch. Very pale and opaque; just like a Hefe should be. Banana is very noticeable on the front and end of this beer, with small amount of bitterness in between. Overall a good all day summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 05:29:28 | More by Luke4

foogerd

New York

3.2/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- real cloudy off yellow body, thick foamy soapy head with great lacing
S- banana puree with really light spice notes come through
T- taste like banana concentrate to me a bit unnatural some spicy notes at the finish, not my favorite example of the style
M- tons of carbonation though it fit well with the brew
D- can drink through this fine theres just so many better hefe's out there i wouldnt start with this one to try the style

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2010 03:53:36 | More by foogerd

charlzm

California

3.2/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Consumed on September 9th, 2011 at The Four Points Sheraton Sierra Nevada event.

Beer is a cloudy yellow somewhere between light and medium in hue. A slight white head crowns the affair.

Aroma is bananas with a mild wheat undercurrent.

The flavor is light, fresh banana wheat bread. Bitterness is mild but apparent. No cloves or other spices to note. Somewhat bland.

Mouthfeel is slightly thick and even a little chewy.

Not a great hefe, but a serviceable one.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2011 15:42:55 | More by charlzm

kingcrowing

Vermont

3.23/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured in a snifter.

Nice deep golden color, very smooth and cloudy with a small white head. Very classic hefe look. Very sharp taste, light body. I think it's slightly over carbonated but it's still good. Some banana and other spices in the flavor I think it's a good hefewizen but it's too light in body and the flavor is a little weak for me.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2009 02:04:35 | More by kingcrowing

SamN

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Bought a sixer at Campus West Liquors. Poured in a hefe glass.

Poured a hazy golden hue with a slightly tan head that was smaller than expected, no lacing. Very nice hefeweizen look, the unfilteredness singing it's siren song, calling me in.

Smells of spice, big banana smell. creamy wheatness, flowers. Very aromatic, great nose, quite complex.

Taste is sort of...bland. Lemony, with some hops in the end. Watery, without much going on, a little bit sweet. Bummer. I'd honestly rather smell this beer than drink it.

Mouthfeel is okay. Carbonation is right on, light like a hefe should be.

Drinkability is quite good, if I don't care about taste. I could drink a lot of these BBQing or fishing. Great summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2009 22:19:07 | More by SamN

maddogruss

New Jersey

3.23/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Got a bottle from this from the Cloverleaf Tavern.

A: Pours a hazy, straw-yellow body with a small, white head with ok retention and decent lacing along the glass.

S: A slight, bitter yeast smell with some sweet banana ester notes and slightly metallic undertones.

T: A slight, metallic, banana ester taste with a sweet, banana and slight clove aftertaste. Decent hefeweizen-style beer overall.

M: A pretty light bodied and smooth mouthfeel with a nice, crisp finish. Pretty nice summer beer.

D: A nice mouthfeel and taste combination makes this beer pretty nice to drink. A decent summer beer overall and not too bad of a hefeweizen.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2010 19:48:42 | More by maddogruss

grannaniwa

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Big white two-finger head on top of a cloudy, lemon-yellow brew. Nice banana and estery bite on the nose. Nose shifts to more cloves as it settles down. Head dissipates very quickly.

Flavor is much spicier (as in spice rack) than I expected. Very round taste, ends a little tangy and a little sweet. Maybe some cooked corn flavors -- having trouble placing something. Swallow has a bit of yeast on it.

Overall: B, Definitely a distinct flavor profile, but not a good fit for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 00:47:26 | More by grannaniwa

LXIXME

New Mexico

3.23/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from above the glass an inch or less gave this a medium to big white head above a slightly cloudy golden colored beer.
The head slowly fades into a pretty decent lacing on this light bodied hefeweizen.

Light sour lemon and other citrus fruits, and grains aroma that transfers exactly to the taste.

This beer had a light lemony dry aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 05:58:33 | More by LXIXME

chinchill

South Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Peroni glass, this beer pours a hazy golden-yellow with a rather short-lived white head. Banana and clove in the nose, but not as pronounced as in a typical Bavarian version.

M: light body; surprising harshness with a bit of tongue bite.

O: perhaps the first SN beer I on't want to have again. Not bad, but an rthe average version of a style i don't usually care for.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 20:42:50 | More by chinchill

joecast

Australia

3.23/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Cloudy golden. Low carbonation with no head to speak of. A bit of a lackluster start.

Decent aroma with all the expected character. Light banana and clove with a bit of spicy phenolic yeast.

Mellow taste which lacks some pop due yo the low carbonation. Light soft mouthfeel with a nice sweetness and little hop character.

Well, it's nice, but being SN my expectations were high.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 08:52:22 | More by joecast

bbluemzbeer

California

3.24/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Sierra Nevada is Great beer Company. I decide to try their Hefeweizen beer. It was 8.99 a six pack. If you think this beer will taste like a german hefe you will be disappointed. It was total diffrent taste more lighter and circus is srong not as balanced.

Appearance Nice cloudy, , little head retention but above good lacing.

Smells: lemons, banana, slight clove, a some breadiness.

Taste : Taste theh banana, citrus/lemon and clove but the citrus is very strong. Feel the good carbonation. It does not tast lke a germany hefe . It has disitnct taste of it's own. After three beers it become more flavorful. Again do not expect this beer to taste like a German hefe .

Mouthfeel: Great carbonation, thicker than I was expecting and nicely carbonated.

Verall : Certainly not an authentic German offering does not have hops like German beers. . Not overly sweet which I really like. The intensity of the taste is not there but when as the beer warm up they came out. I might buy again if on sale not for 8.99 six pack. I would buy a German Hefe. THis would begreat for summer time

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 17:42:38 | More by bbluemzbeer

jpro

South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a 6'er last weekend... Pours a pale, straw yellow - nice and cloudy with a puffy white head; good head retention. Aroma is of yeast, bread, pepper and some very light hints of banana / clove. The taste is mostly of bready malt / wheat, banana-fruity esters, spicy and a little tart. The mouthfeel is nice and creamy; its light-medium bodied and very drinkable and a great summertime brew (although its probably not something I would go for on a regular basis).

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2009 02:49:51 | More by jpro