Arbor Brewing Bavarian Bliss - Arbor Brewing Company

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.53/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: an orangy yellow. quite hazy. small foamy head that fades slowly

Smell: bananas are very strong and just about dominate the beer. some slight spiciness to it.

Taste: again the bananas are strong but on the backside there are some clove and spice flavors

Mouthfeel: good and lighter

Overall: a middle of the road hefeweizen. not great but not bad. it has some good flavors but it is neither complex nor unique.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2013 13:35:22 | More by SportsandJorts

neenerzig

Ohio

3.94/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A 12 oz bottle poured into one of my weizen glasses. This beer pours a clear medium golden color. Much clearer than I am used to beers of this style being. The nice white head is about an inch thick when first poured and settles to a decent foam layer about 1/4 inch thick and ten eventually to a nice medium size ring lining the inside of the glass. Little lace though. Aromas are a bit of citrus, toasted bread, and banana clove. Has a good citrusy, slightly toasted bready malt flavor along with banana clove spice. Rounded out with a touch of hop bitterness on the back end of the tongue. Very tasty. Has a slightly crisp, but malty smooth medium bodied mouthfeel with light to moderate carbonation. A pretty decent beer overall and flavor wise pretty much spot on for this style, but I feel it could have benefited from a bit more carbonation.

Eric

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 06:04:25 | More by neenerzig

jsisko01

Michigan

3.63/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours a cloudy, light orange color with a centimeter-thick head that disappears somewhat quickly.

Smell - I definitely smell the banana, along with some clove, and the lemon. I can't really point anything else out.. just some unknown spices lol.

Taste - Strong banana flavor, clove and other spices, and lemon zest. A somewhat bitter aftertaste.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodies with medium carbonation.

Overall - Not a bad beer but it it doesn't taste like a wheat ale I was expecting. I guess I'm just not familiar with this style of beer

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 02:44:25 | More by jsisko01

oline73

Maryland

2.38/5  rDev -30.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy amber color with just a little off white head that goes away.

Smell: Standard hefe spices. There is some banana and clove along with some citrus notes.

Taste: This beer is fine until you start to drink it. It tastes like a normal hefe right off the bat, but those good flavors of fruit and spice fade to watery and then a bit sour. Light malt, but the off taste takes over. The finish is bitter and a bit sour.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with tingly carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: Not a very good beer. Definitely won't have another.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2011 23:03:08 | More by oline73

mactrail

California

2.35/5  rDev -31.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

This reminds me more of a Berliner Weisse. Vinegary aroma, thin body, and an acidic flavor. It's definitely not any kind of German-style Hefeweizen. It's hard to tell if there is just something wrong with the stuff, which may be one reason reviews for this beer vary so much. Bitterness is rather pronounced, like a Pilsener, and the body is about that light. Any hint of malt is lost somewhere. It may simply be that whatever bacteria got a start here has been eating the sugar and leaving a strange bitterness behind. Strikes out after a few thoughtful sips and is heading for the showers.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 02:37:02 | More by mactrail

PhillyStyle

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The beer appeared a very nice hazy orange with a huge big white head that was well retained and left some nice lacing. The beer gave off a very pleasant wheat aroma. Not great, but better than some American made Hefeweizens. The taste of the beer was good wheat flavor, but it was light on the banana and cloves that a good Hefe would have. The beer had a lighter feel to it, super easy to drink and very enjoyable. Overall, a quality brew and one that I hope to enjoy again.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 23:32:28 | More by PhillyStyle

lurpy1

Minnesota

1.1/5  rDev -67.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Bought at Big Ten in East Lansing and swilled straight from the bottle.

Well, attempted to swill. Once the cap's off, it's obvious there's trouble, as a foul, bitter, college slumming-beer stench hits me. As bad as that is the taste might be worst: Acrid, rotten, fermented soggy bread. Remember when as a kid you first stole a sip of your dad's beer and wondered why the f*ck anyone would drink something that vile? This is the impression I have of Bavarian Bliss. I run to the sink because I can't wait to get this stuff down the drain.

This isn't the best rated beer on the site, but nothing to suggest THIS, so something must have gone wrong with the bottle. Not to mention, Arbor is a small brewery, no doubt working hard to make good beer, and I'm out here telling the world they made something worse than MGD? So while I feel guilty about the review, I stand by it, and hope I just got a bad, bad bottle.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2011 21:38:36 | More by lurpy1

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -26.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into TH Weizen glass

Pours only 1/2 finger of off-white head. Fades down a bit leaving no lace. Color is a hazy golden orange. A lot of active carbonation bubbles in the glass.

Aroma: Cloves and sweet spice notes. Seems to have some ginger. Wheat and banana flavors. Maybe a random touch of coconut.

Taste: This one is way off. The flavors are so muted here. Wheat and grassy hops. A small amount of bananas. Maybe some cloves. But all so light.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and creamy. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends with a bland aftertaste that I am not enjoying.

Overall, this one just didn't hit the spot for me. Not too many solid flavors in the taste. Just seemed to be off. I don't really want to finish the rest of this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2010 00:35:51 | More by mothman

jrallen34

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this at the brew pub as part of a sampler. A definite middle of the road beer for them, below average craft beer...nice look to this beer, very cloudy neonish color yellow. The aroma is a little too clovey and is the downfall of this beer. The taste balances things out with a little sourness that is unexpected. Bring down the clove and I'd give it another shot.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2010 00:00:10 | More by jrallen34

Skitowneric

Michigan

3/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Poured fast down the middle, but very little head.

Classic smell of bannana and cloves.

Very light tasting. Thin.

Tastes and smells like they used the proper fermentation temperature and yeast...but did not use the proper grains to achieve this style of beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2010 01:23:09 | More by Skitowneric

icetraxx

Michigan

2.63/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A: Comes in a Weizen glass with a nice 3 finger head that remains through most of the beer. Some lacing is noticeable. The beer is hazy and sort of true to the style, but I find that this beer is a bit whitish/pale for the style.

S: Smells like citrus and clove. Possibly some malt and banana in the background. Why is there any citrus in here? The tart/banana/clove/fruity aromas are so muted they are almost absent. Smells suspiciously like a standard american-wheat, which isn't bad, but this beer fails to emulate the style properly and thus remains average at best.

T: Citrus and wheat malt. A touch of clove spicyness and no hops. No complexity and no authenticity. Even forgetting that this is supposed to be a robust hefe, this beer remains a rather bland american-wheat beer at best.

M: Overly carbonated and average.

D: No authenticity, no flavor, no deal. Next beer please.

O: A very bland Hefe-Weisse that fails to have any resemblance to the Bavarian beers to which this one was named.

Other Thoughts: There are better beers at ABC, get their Belgians instead (which are quite tasty).

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2010 02:44:56 | More by icetraxx

buschbeer

Ohio

2.1/5  rDev -38.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I made a vigorous pour to achieve very little head. It is golden in color. It has a cider smell to it. It doesn't have much taste up front, but it finishes sour. It is watery. I thought I may have gotten a bad batch, but other reviewers have had similar conclusions. I may have to try this one fresh from the tap next time I'm in Ann Arbor to give it a second chance.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2009 19:11:36 | More by buschbeer

alkemy

Ohio

2.78/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Hazy gold pour with no discernable head. Bready sweetness and citrus scents. Citrus dominates the flavor. The bready yeast and banana is there, but really overpowered by the orange/lemon zest. Just a little too much citrus for me. Has a very sour finish. Thanks to buschbeer for seeking this out to try, but I won't be having any more.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2009 23:34:56 | More by alkemy

civilizedpsycho

Michigan

3.78/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured bottle into mug.

Appearance: Golden and semi-transparent. I had almost no head on mine.

Smell: A pretty strong wheat aroma.

Taste: Frankly, I was expecting more. I enjoyed it, but it didn't have quite the flavor that I was expecting. It had some wheat flavor with not much hop in the background, but it was there. No banana or clove flavor typical of Hefeweizens.

Mouthfeel: Had some body, but not much. It was pretty thin.

Drinkability: To be honest, I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong: I liked this beer, I thought it was good. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like a Hefeweizen to me. It seemed more like an American Pale Wheat Ale. For that, it was good, for a Hefeweizen, it was not so good.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2009 03:42:38 | More by civilizedpsycho

WakeandBake

Michigan

2.8/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

A a hazy off yellow color pour with a thin foamy white head, slight lacing left, light carbonation. Aroma of wheat,light clove and bananna. Flavor is somewhat watered down, very light, some wheat malt a little yeastyness,light clove and bananna, oily mouthfeel,light body, undercarbonated , sessionable , a very light spice in the finish,lightly sweet , an odd brew , sort of misses the mark, nothing offensive but lacking in many areas for me to buy again .

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 19:09:03 | More by WakeandBake

straybeer

Michigan

3.43/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle to a weizen glass.

A: Pours an intensely cloudy, golden, yellow. Very little head and no lacing.

S: Strong citrus, yeast, and dough. Mild aroma of clove and banana.

T: Lots of citrus, hints of banana and clove. Finish is spicy, slightly sour, and a little dry.

M: Mild carbonation and light body.

D: Enjoyable. Interesting how citrusy it smells and tastes. Not a bad hefeweizen, but I prefer others.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2009 23:12:55 | More by straybeer

Smithj86

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Great beer. Good mouth feel and rich, smooth beery goodness. No aftertaste whatsoever. Could be a bit stronger, but very flavorful. Nice cloudy tan appearance. Apparently, I drank it wrong, though--you're supposed to pour 3/4 into a glass, swirl the bottle few times, and pour the contents into the glass with the rest of the beer. At any rate, this is a very rich hefeweizen, with slight fruity flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2009 02:58:55 | More by Smithj86

Harfatum

Michigan

3.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

What a spicy beer! I don't know if I've had one as spicy as this. Take an orange slice and drop it in a barrel of spices - this is it. As others have noted, this is a fairly cloudy brew. Not quite as drinkable as some other wheat beers like Oberon, but for those who enjoy a spicy and slightly more bitter wheat beer this is worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2009 07:50:28 | More by Harfatum

david131

Michigan

3.45/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- One of the cloudiest beers I have ever seen. This looks like orange milk. The head is thin and white. For once, I think a beer is a little too meaty.

S- Bananas, clove, bread. Aromatic and about right for the style.

T- Very flavorful with lots of banana, clove, bread, and a lot of yeast. Not bad, but it almost has an itchy quality to it.

M- Very smooth in the mouth, but slightly itchy on the tail end. Maybe a little undercarbonated.

D- A yeasty beast. I anticipate my intestinal microflora having fun with this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2009 04:48:29 | More by david131

tmoneyba

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Draft at Arbor Brewing.

Poured cloudy golden hue with medium head that diminished slowly with fair lacing. Good aroma of citrus and spice. Light body with smooth texture. Complex Hefe flavor with a good citrus with a sour finish of short to moderate duration.

Above average for style.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2008 15:29:43 | More by tmoneyba

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on tap at the Arbor Brew Pub.

This one poured a medium and cloudy yellow color with a small sized white head. Aromas of cloves, wheat, spicy, and lemons. Tastes of bananas, wheat, and lemons. Tastes a tad bit of a let down vs. the aromas.

Notes from 05/06/06.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2008 19:13:09 | More by hopdog

beerad666

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +10%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

I drank this from a 12oz brown bottle. When I first opened it I was surprised it didn't smell as yeasty as you would think for a Hefeweizen, it did have the yeast smell just wasn't overpowering. I enjoyed this beer a lot, it had some citrus flavors along with a touch of bite from the hops. The Bavarian Bliss finishes very soft, leaving a slight refreshing aftertaste but quickly vanishes and does not leave much aftertaste at all.

This beer wasn't anything super interesting but it is very drinkable. All around a nice beer that's a little above average.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2008 02:46:01 | More by beerad666

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

On-tap at the brewpub, served in a weizen glass.

The aroma is spot on with spicy cloves and a hint of banana. On the palate, however, this beer is a beer is too dry and the water is too hard, it even tastes a little salty. The wheat malts and yeast character is still there in the flavor, but the mouthfeel and that dryness really detract from an otherwise tasty hefe.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2008 13:31:48 | More by tempest

drxandy

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap, 8/5 @ Old Chicago in Okemos, MI
25oz mug for the price of a pint, yesss - hazy golden amber shade, light white head fades

smells of wheaty citrus, belgian yeast (clove, banana), sweetness

taste is bitter, crisp, a nice belgian take with a hop kick at the end, spicy, good flavors, not bad, not my favorite hefe

mouthfeel is bitter, easy drinking, nice and sessionable - good flavors

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2008 18:14:27 | More by drxandy

GRPunk

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap poured into a weizen glass.

A- Classic hazy golden-organge with a 1/2 off white head that left some good sticky spots on the side of the glass.

S- Decent aroma. The banana and clove scents I would expect were definitely there, but just slighty overpowered by the lemony-citrus aroma.

T- Similar to the scent. The citrus was just a tad heavy-handed for my taste. It masked the banana and cloves that I really look for in a hefe.

M- Great feel. Slightly grainy texture that I consider true to the style.

D- An easy drinker, especially on a warmer day. I could really see myself putting a few of these back while sitting on the deck this summer.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2008 15:37:05 | More by GRPunk