Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

BarrelO

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a mug.

A: Hazy yellowish-orange. Two finger head that fades into a thin film and leaves a bit of lacing.

S: Bananas, cloves, lemons.

T: Lots of citrusy tanginess with some bananas an a bit of clove. It hits all the important notes for a hefe.

M: A bit heavier than most. Good carbonation.

D: I think we have a new champion in the American hefe category. If I had tried this in a blind taste test, I would have thought that it was German. Highly recommended for wheat beer enthusiasts.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2009 01:32:48 | More by BarrelO

melagnus

California

5/5  rDev +22.5%
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!

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2009 01:14:07 | More by melagnus

smanders

Virginia

4.6/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I've been anticipating this one for awhile, so you can imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon it on my way out of Total Wine. What a way to usher in the weekend!

Appearance - a cloudy nectarine hue with a billowy head.

Smell - Cloves, brown bananas, and a bundle of wheat/yeast.

Taste - I've returned to Germany where the Hefeweizens flow like water.

Mouthfeel - creamy and light. Perfectly balanced.

Drinkability - I am very happy with Sierra's latest wheat beer. If you've experienced Paulaner, Franziskaner, or should I say it, Weihenstephaner, you'll be pleasantly surprised by this domestic hefe. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Ken Grossman and his team of brewers are geniuses.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 22:03:45 | More by smanders

HeyItsChili

China

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours cloudy gold with brilliant blonde highlights and a creamy, thick white head.

S - Sort of faint, yeasty earthy aroma with a note of spices wrapped in a fruity banana scent.

T - Really tasty. Clean, refreshing, crisp. Wheaty goodness, faint spices, and a nice banana/bubble gum fruity sweetness. Finish is slightly chalky.

M - Creamy, smooth.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 21:16:54 | More by HeyItsChili

bamadog

Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a tulip...

Appearance: Pours a very hazy yellow color, but at the core of the glass it almost looks like a light to eventual darker peachy color; strong carbonation bubbling up into a big 2 finger frothy white head that eventually falls to a one finger head, and then falls even further into a fair and full layer on top.

Smell: Much like the bottle says, there is an immediate presence of banana (although it's a little artificial - kind of like a banana popsicle) and clove; upon closer inspection, there is a firm presence of yeast and a grainy wheat.

Taste: Really mirrors the smell in an exacting manner -- banana and clove, yeast and grainy wheat; flavors come across very smooth and unobtrusive -- not quite mild but I don't think I'd want to pair with any strong food as I feel the flavor would be lost; aftertaste is predominantly clove.

Mouthfeel: Very strong carbonation followed by a light stickiness; body is nice -- not thick or thin and the finish is moist and refreshing.

Drinkability: Quite high, really. This is a great summer beer and I feel rivals a couple of my favorites for the season -- it's got a slightly different flavor due to the spiciness of it and the ABV is more than manageable, so I may be picking up some more.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 20:28:55 | More by bamadog

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.47/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle - $1.99 at Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, Georgia.

"To serve, pour two-thirds into a glass, swirl and pour the rest." You're the boss, bottle!

Appearance: Rather well hazed, dull, dark yellow body with a voluminous, lasting, whitish head. Fair amount of gooey lace left on the way down.

Smell: Ah, the unmistakable aroma of wheat malt, replete with some sweet-scented, tangy qualities but also a scent of gently kneaded whole wheat bread dough. Pungent notes of semi-ripe banana and spice with a lesser hint of chewing gum and squeezed lemon.

Taste: Sweetish, tangy malted wheat with a distinct taste of grainy, mealy bread dough. Add in a few freshly-sliced lemon wedges and some dried banana chips. Good dash of earthy ground cloves. Spicy-minded hops with a low, subtle bitterness imparted. Very thin vein of tartness in the last third of the sip. Finishes dry, spicy, with little "goodbyes" from the wheat, lemons, and bananas. Nice.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation. Smooth, somewhat fluffed mouthfeel which has nice depth but also a delightful airiness about it.

Drinkability: Remarkably enjoyable and certainly recommended! It was difficult completing the review before I had greedily gulped this one down. Regretfully, I picked only the one lone single, but I'll be sure to return for a proper six-pack.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 02:41:38 | More by ChainGangGuy

kaseydad

California

4.47/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The label tells me how to properly pour this beer....which is a nice touch.

Pours a hazy golden straw color with a huge head that turns into a lingering presence throughout the consumption process.

Smells of bananas, cloves and bubble gum.

Great taste! Smooth and satisfying with a mellowing tart start as it hits the tastebuds and a mild bite on the finish.

The drinkability is off the charts as this is a great venture for the SN staff. Perfectly done and will make for a great summer brew. Also very pleased this is a regular on the circuit.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 02:14:02 | More by kaseydad

Durge

Connecticut

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

This is a very cloudy light chestnut colored brew with a good size white head and fair lacing. The aroma is solid wheat and clove with a hint of bubblegum. The flavor comes through with a strong nutmeg wheat idea and is peppery on the tongue. There's a nice citrus bite that adds a lot of character to this. The mouth feel is fairly light and fizzy but it offers some meat for the style. It could be sessionable but it's not what I would call a guzzler. Very decent summer-type brew with a distinct, Belgian-leaning taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2009 02:08:11 | More by Durge

Hibernator

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen
12 oz brown bottle
# on the side label - 9113116 53
Served in an Allagash tulip glass

A nice looking beer to start. Pours a murky and hazy light orange with an intense head. The head is super fluffy, leaving really nice trails of sticky lacings.

The aroma of nice here and true to what one might expect for the style. Whiffs of ripe banana peel, funky spices and just that overall hefeweizen association.

Chewy, classic bubblegum flavors with a chalky yeast kick. Clean and extremely drinkable with an enjoyable complexity about the beer. Spicy cloves, sliced banana fruit, tropical fruit punch and an acidic bite blend together.

Um, this is quite the drinkable summertime offering. I envision myself revisiting this beer many times in the coming months. I just pounded this beer rather quickly with minimal effort. Solid.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2009 02:04:07 | More by Hibernator

Zorro

California

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cloudy golden colored beer with a good sized white head.

Smells strongly of banana and clove in about equal proportions. Sweet wheat malt and hints of fruity and other spicy scents. Complex Hefeweizen.

Starts out mild and spicy with a lighter banana flavor than the scent and a distinct soda cracker aftertaste. Flavors intensify as you drink this. Good banana flavor and it is a bit stronger than the clove.

Mouthfeel is good.

Tasty hefe made in the USA, about damn time. Much better than the SN Wheat beer and a good match for German Hefeweizen.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2009 01:55:58 | More by Zorro

tpd975

Florida

3.63/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy golden hue with a nice pillow like head. Nice retention as well.

S: Nice Hefe aromas. Lots of yeast with hints of banana and bubblegum.

T: Light banana up front with a hint of spice. The finish is full of hefe yeasty goodness.

M: On the lighter side, great carbonation.

D: Nice and refreshing on one of the hottest days known to man.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2009 00:00:09 | More by tpd975

Tdizzle

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased a fresh six-pack from BevMo! Cypress. Bottled on May 29th, 2009.

A- Poured into an Allagash stemmed glass, this beer pours a thoroughly hazy, almost glowing, gold color. A standard pour produces a huge, billowy white head of foam that takes a while to settle down into a thick layer over the beer. A few splotches of lacing cling to the glass for the duration of the beer.

S- Massively wheaty and yeasty with bold notes of banana, clove spice, bubblegum and lemon zest. A citrusy accent of hops lies in the background.

T- Wheat malt and spicy, fruity yeast with a mildly hoppy bite and nice zing of lemon flavor towards the slightly metallic finish. All the characteristics of the aroma are here in the taste.

M- Rich, full-bodied with a nice amount of light carbonation. The mouthfeel has a nice chewy texture to it.

D- The low 4.8% ABV along with the rich flavor and aroma makes this a deliciously sessionable hefe that'll be a fantastic summer beer, though I look forward to drinking this year round.

After trying one stale German hefeweizen after another, I'm grateful to have a fresh, tasty wheat beer readily available. Another home run for Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 23:38:26 | More by Tdizzle

Hautacam

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Super hazy without a swirl... opaque with a swirl. Nice cottony head on top.
Smell is the expected banana -clove combo...but a little subdued.
The taste is really nice. Sweet, but not too, bubblegum, banana, vanilla , yeast ; and clove in the background....some citrus and wheaty grain.
Mouthfeel is just right...velvety carbonation..excellent.
A very , very drinkable hefe just in time for summer. Slam dunk, Sierra !

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 22:53:10 | More by Hautacam

JBogan

Nevada

3.6/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Poured as directed on the bottle, a cloudy straw color with a one finger white head which receded quickly but left a nice amount of lacing. Rather average looking for a beer of this style, however I gave it a slightly higher than average mark due to the lacing.

Smelled of bananas and cloves, just as advertised, along with some yeast.

Tasted much the same, along with a hint of citrus. However the taste seemed somewhat muted compared to the Hefes I usually drink.

Mouthfeel was a bit of a letdown. Thinner than I would have liked for a beer of this style. It was fairly smooth however.

Overall this beer was very typical of an American brewer mimicking a Euro style beer. A decent approximation, but not up there with the best beers of this type. There are German Hefes that are superior in almost every way. It's nice to have this beer available just about everywhere, but for a dollar or two more per six pack I'd much prefer to drink the top of the line offerings.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 22:51:19 | More by JBogan

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I saw this at my local store and bought a six pack to try. I have always been a fan of SN products, but I am not a huge fan of Hefeweizens.

Anyway, poured from the bottle into a mug using the 2/3s technique specified on the bottle. The beer had a pillowy two finger white head. The beer itself was a very hazy yellow. The nose was sweet with bubblegum notes and banana notes. There was also some nice clove presence. The banana was most dominant in the taste. The bubblegum and clove were also there in nice balance. There was also some nice lemon flavor to brighten up hte drink. Mouthfeel was light bodied with a nice amount of carbonation. Drinkabnility was great. The low ABV and great flavor make this a sessiopnable beer ideal for summer.

Overall, the best Hefeweizen I have had to date and a great, drinkable summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 13:11:22 | More by Gosox8787

bum732

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy orange yellow, nice creamy head, good lacing. Smells primarily of clove, some banana, sulfur notes, some bubblegum. Tastes of sweet but slightly spicy clove like malt followed by a nice mellow wave of banana. Finishes fairly dry, fairly clean. Nice carbonation that accentuates the spiciness. Creamy up front, finishing fairly thin.

A very nice beer, very sessionable. Not anything incredibly special, but another solid beer from Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2009 23:43:36 | More by bum732

ATPete

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle

Pours a hazy light brown/orange color with a small white head with some yeasty sediment. Soft, very toasty wheat nose, some standard banana notes, some interesting citrus notes, very inviting. Light in body, very drinkable and extremely traditional. A job well done by Sierra Nevada. Leaps and bounds better than the old Wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 22:05:42 | More by ATPete

vrazionale

Vermont

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

12 oz. bottle at refrigerator temperature poured into a snifter.

A - Hazy light golden body with a thick, cloudlike head with good retention.

S - Lots of banana and tropical fruit notes. Good savory spice complement here, with clove coming to the fore. The spiciness reminds me a bit of rum. Smells very, very similar to a Belgian golden ale, but with that wheat tang and yeast drawl.

T - Again, tropical fruit and spices make for a delicious, refreshing brew. The toasted wheat flavor profile is an interesting combination with the banana and clove flavors that traditionally signal Belgian golden ale. The finish is long and filled with spice and juicy fruit.

M - Nice texture to this wheat brew and a good carbonation level. I can barely taste the alcohol.

D - This is a great hefeweizen with a fruity, spicy bouquet and flavor. Completely solid all-around. This is a great brew for year-round drinking - the tropical fruit and spice flavors and aromas add a lot of depth above and beyond the standard hefeweizen flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 21:47:12 | More by vrazionale

Riccymon

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle a hazy, sunset orange with a massive, four-inch pillowy head. A nice cap of head remains throughout the life of the beer, as does some lacing. This is as pretty a hefe as I've seen.

Aroma is a little floral in nature, and it and the taste are so loaded with orange, banana, bubble gum, and yeast flavor that it's almost meaty. I also found a little grassy note in the finish. On the whole, ranks favorably with some of the best domestic and foreign hefes I've had.

Kellerweis goes down smoothly and is nicely medium-bodied. A little thicker than some imports, which is welcome. Very drinkable, and something I'll reach for even with Live Oak Hefe right in town.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2009 19:48:58 | More by Riccymon

IMincedTheKing

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a clouded light orange with a big frothy head.

The aroma is banana and yeast with some spice. Smells delicious, but not extraordinarily interesting.

Big orange and banana flavors. A zippy carbonation tingles along with the spices. Lemon and wheat come out later and hang around through the finish. Tastes great, but the mouthfeel is a lot thinner than I'd like for the style.

Another top notch brew from Sierra Nevada. I'm really glad they replaced the Wheat Beer with this hefe, because it's so much better. I'd gladly drink a bunch of them.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2009 17:33:33 | More by IMincedTheKing

Newmerator

California

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

I just finished at the gym and figured i'd swing by bevmo for some tasty brews. got a bunch of darks and remembered hearing about about SN's new hefe. + i find light ipa's and hefe's refreshing after a work out.

Pours a VERY cloudy golden color, with a nice fluffy 2 finger head. great lacing on the glass as well.

Smells of lemon grass, yeast, a little bready, then heavy on the citrus in the back.

Taste - this is one tasty effin hefe! citrus and yeast. very refreshing.

m- medium light body. great feel

d - not the biggest fan of hefe's but i wouldn't mind having a few of these guys.

Cheers

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2009 00:54:34 | More by Newmerator

Soneast

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy straw-like color, with a thick, pillowy, white colored head, that recedes to a creamy layer leaving lots of bubbly lace on the glass.

Cloves seem to predominate the aroma, although the banana esters are definitely present. Basically this smells mild and fruity. Quite refreshing, really.

I find the cloves to take center stage with the flavor of the beer as well, although the bananas aren't far behind. Aside from the typical flavors imparted by the yeast, I also detect a wheat sweetness, as well as a barely perceptible bitterness towards the end, certainly not enough to take away form the yeasty esters and wheat sweetness, but just enough to balance the overall flavor of the beer.

Pretty light bodied, but the carbonation is just right to not make it seem fizzy. I gotta be frank, this is one of the better hefes I've come across in quite a while, so crisp and refreshing. This totally lives up to the style and proves that Sierra Nevada knows more than just hops.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2009 01:33:59 | More by Soneast

Liverpool08

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep hazy lemon/orange color. GIANT white pillow head, leaves nice lacing down the side. Aroma of cloves a light spices, also a little dry fruit. Taste is great! One of the best American Heffes I have had. Nice deep spice flavors, with cloves and bananas. This is what a Heffe is suppose to be unlike most American attempts. It taste like a distant cousin to a Weihenstephaner. Not quite as complex, but a great effort. Nice drinkibility, not too watery or bland as a lot of American offerings are. I would say this is the best American version of this style. Thanks SN!

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2009 22:48:13 | More by Liverpool08

phantomwyse

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a very hazy marigold orange with a mountainous and billowy white head.

S: Sweet banana, orange juice, even some pineapple, some hay-like yeast, soft wheat undertones.

T: Banana, clove, orange, dry grass yet a moist earthiness. Nice malt sweetness at the close.

M: Solid medium body with a good tingle and a drying finish.

D: A solid American hefeweizen, gets to the heart of the style more than most attempts, but lacks the overall complexity of its German counterparts. Still, a fantastic summer seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2009 00:28:57 | More by phantomwyse

MisterClean

California

5/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Shared at a homebrew club meeting. Thanks Terrence and crew.

A - Poured straw yellow, with a white 2-fingered head. Dissipates slow and leaves beautiful lacing.

S - Wheat, hay-grassiness, honey, and light noble hops. There is a slightly fruity ester of possibly apricots.

T - Holy crap, it's good. I needed to take a step back after trying this. The apricot esters took over and just enhanced the wheat and honey.

M - Well-balanced, full bodied. Just excellent.

D - One word: perfect. I can't think of any advice to give SN, it's perfect for the style of beer they were going for. Maybe the only advice would be to send me more.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2009 02:57:15 | More by MisterClean