Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Hazy, creamy straw with a white head, great retention & lacing.

S: Modest banana & clove, with a bready malt aroma.

T: Banana, bread, touch of clove, no yeasty acidity, very mild bitterness, good stuff.

M: Velvety smooth, light to moderate body that's not over carbonated.

D: A great drinker.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2010 00:54:06 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beautiful hazy golden beer that almost seems to glow with an inner light. Nice, big, creamy head that settles to a cap and leaves some decent lacing. Light lemony and grainy aroma- pleasant enough. Very nice lemony flavor and quite creamy, but with a backbone of slightly assertive grain. Much softer than their old wheat, of course, but still has enough of a bite to contrast nicely with the lemon element and add some interest. Really nice effort by this brewery that has recaptured my interest with their offerings over the last couple of years.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2009 01:42:36 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into Town Hall Weizen glass.

Color is a hazy pale golden yellow. Pours 2 fingers of creamy white head. Nice retention leaving some splattered lace.

Aroma: typical hefe aroma. Bananas, cloves, orange peel, lemon zest, wheat. Not to bad.

Taste: Big banana and clove taste with some mixed spices. Nice fruit flavors with orange peel and lemon zest. Very similar to the aroma. Wheat of course. Not to bad.

Mouthfeel: crisp and smooth. Light bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Ends with a very dry fruit and clove aftertaste.

Overall, this is a pretty good representation of the style. It is nothing above and beyond, but at the price it cost, I don't mind having it around all the time. A good beer at a good price.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2009 03:16:31 | More by mothman

JohnGalt1

Idaho

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

12oz just picked up at the COOP today... poured into my smaller weizen glass.

3 finger meringue like head.. great retention and lace.. the brew is a hazy pale golden color.

nose smells like it made the trip from the motherland... very bready and ripe bananas... subtle cloves and just whaffs of pink bubblegum.

Flavor has alot more mashed bananas than the aroma.. a little more bubblegum this time that lingers more in the finish.. again very bready and just minor clovey notes. The body is on the thicker side and carbonation is light lending toward a creamy mouthfeel.

This is a pretty damn fine hefe... I really like it... the drinkability is pretty high... I had 2 way earlier in the evening that went down too fast... I wanted to save my final one to review, but this glass is clearing pretty quickly too... hats off to the crew at Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2009 07:15:31 | More by JohnGalt1

mactrail

California

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Lovely lemony amber color in the tulip glass with cloudy appearance. Not a traditional Hefeweizen but it's elegant yet flavorful. Crisp with a nice acidic touch, yet mellow with a restrained clove and banana taste. Excellent creamy carbonation, much like a good German beer such as an actual Kellerbier. Nice touch of hops gives a good beery finish.

One of my favorite American wheat beers, however this fits into the styles. Lighter body than many Hefeweizens, but real flavor unlike the typically anemic American Pale Wheat Ale style.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 04:54:04 | More by mactrail

Cyberkedi

Georgia

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

Rich, nose-filling aroma is wheaty and yeasty with just a hint of honey. It pours a hazy, appetizing amber with a fairly thick white head. Flavor is downright delicious, strongly wheaty with an undertone of yeast, a hint of citrus and just a whisper of honey sweetness. Texture is very tingly and pleasant. One of the best Hefeweizens I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2009 00:02:26 | More by Cyberkedi

RoyalT

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - This is a rich and cloudy yellowish-orange in color with a modest head.

Smell - The big banana and sweetish yeast come pretty darn close to pulling off a traditional nose. There's a light orange tinge that seems to blend in with the flavors and provides a nice, fruity, summertime atmosphere to this beer.

Taste - The banana is subdued at the taste but still there and the orange flavors take one step forward. I'm usually not a big fan of orange in my HW but this isn't bad. It's not like an orange juice drink but more like an orange rind. The yeast does a great job of keeping up with the other flavors and really is the deciding factor in producing a tasty all around profile.

Mouthfeel - This just does make the grade with a light body helped along by tingly carbonation. There is a complete absence of bitterness to this HW, and I say that only because the SN Wheat Beer crapola that was such a disappointment had among other things a horrendously inappropriate leafy bitterness at the finish. So, kudos for learning from your mistakes.

Drinkability - I can count on one hand the number of successful American efforts at the style and include this one from SN in that group. Other than a few hard to find examples, if we're talking general availability, Brooklyn Brewing makes the only hefe weizen that compares favorable to this. If you've ever had Rio Salado's Hurricane Hefe that and this SN are strikingly similar. Overall a tremendous product from SN that really showcases the depth of the brewmasters there.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2009 01:53:31 | More by RoyalT

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: Poured from a bottle to a weizen glass. Had a yellowish-brown color and a cloudy, thick consistency. There was a huge, foamy, long-lasting head and good lacing.

S: Smelled of wheat, hops, bananas and some malt.

T: Tasted of hops, malt, wheat, bananas, a little spice. Not as sweet as some hefeweizens, but tasty nonetheless.

M: A high amount of carbonation with a dry finish. Light-bodied.

D: A drinkable American hefeweizen. This is a solidly made, easy to drink beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2009 12:40:03 | More by avalon07

gford217

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a bright, cloudy yellow orange with a big creamy white head that shows very good retention and solid lacing.

The aroma is wonderful and everything you'd want and expect from a hefe. There's the bubble gum and banana sweetness mixing with some lemony hops and, as it warms, a clean peppery spice aroma.

The taste has an initial lemon zest pop before the sweet malted wheat takes over, with the bananas coming in strong. The finish is slightly bready and with a bit of peppery spices that tingle the palate.

The mouthfeel is very active with lots of carbonation. It seems to have a light mouthfeel but still completely fills the mouth, which is definitely saying something.

This is a fantastic hefe from Sierra Nevada and a great craft beer introduction for most people out there. I drank this one with some non-BA friends and they absolutely loved it. Kudos to SN for putting a beer out there that will undoubtedly please the masses and, I think, impress the beer geeks out there as well (me included).

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2009 21:08:12 | More by gford217

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. A hazed yellow in color with no head or lacing to speak of.

Aroma full of hefeweizen scents, spice, sweetness and fruit notes.

Solid hefeweizen characteristics, funky yeast lends notes of banana/bubblegum. Distant clove. Munich style malts. This could have very well came from Germany, as all the flavors are quite authentic.

Medium bodied and fairly smooth going down.

A very well crafted hefe'. Its quite good and a nice departure from the usual hoppy offerings from Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2009 17:22:43 | More by Stinkypuss

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy and hazey amber color with a very qick head and no retention for a hefeweizen.

Lovely yeast aroma of banana nut bread, cloves, some bubblegum, and sweet toasted wheat bread.

You get some bubblegum upfront after each sip. Then the bananas and other standard yeasty malt goodness runs its course through your mouth. Bananas, cloves, sweet tasted wheat bread. But add to that a semi gypsum dryness and grainy grist of a palate. And you have a damn good hefe.

This is an easy and enjoyable session hefe. This is something you drink while sitting on a chair on your front porch shootig the breeze with someone important to you.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2010 23:02:29 | More by scruffwhor

ZAP

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Looks the part...glowing golden color...nice frothy white head..

S-More wheatiness than easters...mild bubble gum and cloves...aroma is weakest part of this beer..also detect a sublte rotten egg smell but it is very light

T-Nice flavors...not great...bubble gum..cloves...a little vanilla and banana...some lemons as well...everything is balanced and never prominent by itself.

M-Perfect weightiness...not too big to drink a couple thirteen fourteen but also not so light it feels like Mich Ultra....exactly how a hefe should feel...creamy texture..

D-This is the third time I have had this...the first time was in a 3hefe blind taster and I had this third behind Dancing Man and Schells....thought it was good but not as good as those....the second time I had it was the next night by itself followed by Schells and I thought this was much better....today I am kind of in between...it's good...I don't know that it is great...I will drink again and possible change this review when I have a cleaner palate if it is necessary..I love the fact a quality brewery is doing a nice hefe...I just don't think it is top of the class like some do

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2009 22:27:56 | More by ZAP

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

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

I picked this up at Outlet Liquors and wine in Rehoboth beach DE. Poured chilled into my Monterey wheat glass

A - A fantastic cloudy light golden shade like cake batter after the yeast is swirled in the glass as directed. A pillowy regal whipped cap of 3 fingers crowns the ale. Lace collects in spots, the cloudy appearance doesn't hide the multitudes of bubbles rising to the froth

S -A pleasant aroma of banana bread w/ baked spices and wheat notes w/ a nice fruit ester creating a tropical and nut blend of odors. Lots of yeast gives a creamy aroma

M - Mostly creamy and full for the strength w/ mild carbonation for the style but very crisp and gives a nice sweet malt w/ breadiness coating the mouth and residual spice in the finish w/ an overall clean texture

T - I can only think of one other hefe w/ this amount of taste and it is brewed in the country in which the style originates. The wheat and yeast are seamless w/ fresh creamy and full banana cake-like taste which is not overly sweet w/ a mild spice element and nutty taste of wheat. The malt is as smooth as the yeast finishes on the palate w/ mild inoffensive w/ sufficiently banana without coming off as an artificial taste or overboard. The malt and yeast synergy is the magic of this ale. So well blended IMO the flavor has a lemony like refreshing taste at the end of the glass which is still creamy/nutty and wheat flavored it is a quick taste since I found it quenching.

D - A great Hefe, just totally refreshing and easily one of the best American takes on it w/ more German character. This is up there w/ weihenstephaner to me -really refreshing w/ a great fresh yeast flavor - I need to get a case of this although Hefes are great this surprised me since they aren't a style I get into that often. A perfect beer to sit and chill out w/ on a warm summer evening - Well Done Sierra Nevada!

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2009 21:39:56 | More by Slatetank

dirtylou

Washington

3.95/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, scooped a sixer at Steve's on University

appearance: poured into a tyranena imperial pint glass, hazy orange body with a nice white froth and decent lacing left behind

smell: light yeast, a load of pale wheat, sweet citrus whiffs...a little jumbled. there is a bizarre sulfur aspect as well that others appear to have noticed - odd

taste: a little on the sweeter end of the style -juicy citrus, banana, clove, pepper, pale wheats. enjoyable, but doesnt hold up compared to the dancing man wheat thats also in the fridge

mouthfeel: medium body, sweeter and thicker than the norm

drinkability: good

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2009 21:10:43 | More by dirtylou

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.35/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Purchased as part of a mixed 6 pack.

After being chilled for about an hour, it pours a hazy straw yellow colour with lots of foam. The glass is about 2/3 beer, 1/3 foam. Lots of bubbles streaming up from the bottom.

The smell is nice and spicy and fruity but not overly so. Good light cloves with some bananas and a nice overall wheat nose.

The taste is more assertive and very tasty. The banana is there with the clove giving me a nice spicy sweet fruity taste. Underlying it all is a solid wheat base that the other flavours bounce off of and I'm really starting to dig this beer.

It has a very good medium mouthfee, especially for the style and all the bubbles I saw only translated to the carbonation being lightish and that works very well here. And...head retention was excellent and there's lots of nice lacing.

Drinkability? This is a *very* quaffable Hefeweizen! I wish I could get it here in Casper..

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2009 19:26:19 | More by Bitterbill

Tone

Missouri

4.08/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy, yellow color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Good retention and decent lacing. Smells of yeast, clove, sweet malt, slight hop, citrus (banana), and a hint of tart malt. Fits the style of a Hefeweizen. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of yeast, sweet malt, slight hop, clove, citrus (banana), and tart malt. Overall, a good body, blend, complexity, and aroma.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2009 03:09:35 | More by Tone

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

TurdFurgison

Ohio

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

Six-pack purchased in Columbus for about $8-9. This is my 3rd bottle, these are going down easy (4.8% ABV).

The beer is hazy and pale yellow, with a ridiculous amount of foam, I can't pour the bottle into a pint glass in one go, no matter how gently I approach it. The foam leaves lacy vestiges as it recedes. The smell is classic bananas and, I guess, clove. Same with the taste, much delicious. Easily competitive with fresh Bavarian stuff. Medium-to-chewy body, I like this beer a lot.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2009 00:18:29 | More by TurdFurgison

DefenCorps

Oregon

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

It's 90 degrees here, and I need something fitting.

A: Hazy yellowish orange with a 4-finger thick snow white head, this is a pretty good looking beer. Plenty of carbonation, this looks like the real deal

S: Smells like it too. A big aroma of banana with some clove and sweetness. Bready and doughy with a sweetness reminiscent of ripe oranges, this is excellent

T: Opening up with a combination of citrus and wheat, this is very refreshing. The banana character follows through and is surprisingly muted given how prominent it is on the nose. The mid palate is a little disappointing in that it's slightly watery, but a dry, citrus finish is excellent

M: A little lighter than I'd like (maybe I've gotten used to some decoction-mashed hefeweizens?), this beer is also not as crisp as I'd expect it to be. Great finish, though.

D: The low ABV and excellent flavors make for one very drinkable beer, ridiculously so.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2009 00:26:32 | More by DefenCorps

nickfl

Florida

4.18/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - One finger of white head on top of a dark golden body with a cloud of hazy yeast spreading throughout from the swirl. The foam settles quickly and leaves little lace.

S - Musty yeast with spicy wheat notes, vanilla, and a bit of clove.

T - Spicy wheat and smooth yeast notes of clove and vanilla. The wheat becomes a bit spicy in the middle and then gives way to yeast for the finish with more of the vanilla notes, a little banana, and some spicy, slightly lemony, hops.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a semi-dry finish.

D - This beer is very drinkable. It is a bit more subdued than some German wheat beers but still has good yeast character and a lot of zesty wheat. This is a refreshing, simple, and very enjoyable beer that I could drink all night.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2009 04:32:06 | More by nickfl

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Sprecher Weiss glass. Numbers on the bottle but no distinguishable dating system. Poured with sediment.

A - Hazy golden yellow with ample carbonation flowing to a large white pillowy head. Very fantastic retention and moderate lacing down the glass.

S - Strong but soft banana with a touch of clay earthiness and a lingering yeast aroma. Wheats were my first impression that quickly went to the background. Lots of clover and spice upon smelling more.

T - Heavy clover spicing begins the flavor of this light beer. A small dash of pepper is included with just a spritz of citrus and mellow banana and clay finish it out complimenting the wheat in the background. Delicious and complex!

M - Smooth and creamy, this beer refreshes as it goes down leaving a dry touch to the mouth.

D - Delicious and easily consumable, Kellerweis is a great summer hefe that I could enjoy any time.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2009 01:00:06 | More by BeerFMAndy

twiggamortis420

Texas

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

Finally got this beer down in Houston after what seems like the rest of the country has been enjoying it all summer. Pours a hazy medium golden color with a billowing cap of white head, certainly just as impressive as it's weizen counterparts from the land of lederhosen. Leaves a little bit of lace on the glass as well.

Smell is delicious as there is plenty of both bananas and cloves here, if I had to pick a side I would say the banana wins in a photo finish. There is the smallest bit of metallic aroma that keeps this from being one I could sniff on all day long.

The taste hits all the right notes for a hefe, the usual banana, cloves and crisp wheat...but it feels a litttle thinner than some of the finest examples of the style. I would like a bit more creaminess and viscosity. Those are minor complaints though and I think this is one helluva American hefe, second only to Live Oak. This certainly is an upgrade over Sierra Nevada's old wheat beer and I am very excited to have such a quality hefe available in bottles year round locally. Also great to see SN do some new, non-hoppy offerings.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2009 22:45:55 | More by twiggamortis420

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

FosterJM

California

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

312th review on BA
bottle to weizen

App- A hazy flowing from dark to light, orange to yellow. One finger quick receding head. A little minimal cling.

Smell- Big of spice of clove with yes I did get the banana after reading the bottle with a little seemed to me funk.

Taste- I don't normally like hef's but this was good. Big, spicy and well done. Balanced flavors with a kick.

Mouth- Medium bodied with a medium carb level. Very resounding clove after taste.

Drink- I'd have this one again. Good beer, refreshing and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 05:01:12 | More by FosterJM

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle. Pours a cloudy light orange with a small, foamy white head. Aroma of clove, banana, wheat. Typical hefe but not overly spiced. Light and a touch fruity. Flavor is sweet initially, light and fruity, with a tangy spiciness and citrus. Top notch hefe indeed.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2009 00:53:54 | More by LilBeerDoctor