Gordon Biersch Hefeweizen - Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

JayQue

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very nice hefe. Served in a weizen glass (no orange slice, this is a beer place!) Straw colored, hazy, big white carbonated head that dies down quickly. Minimum lacing. All the good hefe attributes: astringent, carbonation, cloves, banana, bubble gum in a crisp, very nicely balanced beer. I had a couple with dinner and they went down very easily. Nicely balanced, rich mouthfeel and very drinkable. A very nice representative of this style.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2007 02:38:34 | More by JayQue

jbsteiny

Hawaii

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This hefeweizen poured a cloudy gold -- decent color -- but thin head for the style and virtually no retention. Sweet smell -- banana esters with a faint wheat. Not much in terms of yeast or phenols in the nose, but the spice emerges on the tongue early on, fading to allow the esters and grain to flavor the finish. It's not as light or as crisp as I'd like from the style, but it's got a nice body and certainly goes down easily.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 1 Aloha Tower Dr Ste 1123, Honolulu

07-29-2007 00:39:44 | More by jbsteiny

wcdoyle

Florida

3.18/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

What I enjoyed about G.B. is that use different glasses for different beers. I'm not a beer snob, by any stretch, but I appreciate that the make the effort.

Gold trending toward amber color and slightly cloudy. Head was modest. Smell was a combination of grain and slight crisp-sweet fruit. Flavor was light, mild with perhaps a touch of citrus coming through. I'd should add, however, that there wasn't anything "off" about the beer either. I just wanted a bit more flavor to come through. Mouthfeel was light-to-medium with a nice touch of crispness. Solid drinkability, but nothing really stands out with this beer. This is a decent by-the-numbers beer. I preferred the G.B. Schwarzbier for having a touch more of everything and some really nice flavor.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 420 S Mill Ave Ste 201, Tempe

07-19-2007 19:43:20 | More by wcdoyle

bosco7

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a massive head due to overcarbonation. Cloudy orange in color.

Over ripened banana dominates the nose. Some pear aromas tucked in their as well.

Tastes like it smells; lots of ripe banana upfront that leads into some twangy pear. Suprised that there are no clovey flavors present. Finishes with a lot of tartness. Really one-dimensional.

Decent mouthfeel very creamy and smooth. Fairly drinkable. I rather drink something else though.

Serving type: bottle
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 420 S Mill Ave Ste 201, Tempe

06-22-2007 03:42:54 | More by bosco7

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

An excerpt from the Gordon Biersch website:
"This traditional German wheat beer is left unfiltered to bring out its sparkling, yet subtle notes of banana & clove. It was once reserved for Bavarian royalty but evolved into a breakfast or after church beer, a testament to its refreshing palate.

Original gravity: 12.5° Plato
Alcohol by volume: 5.50%
Bitterness units: 12"

With a middle-of-the-road mentality, this Hefeweizen hits all the moderate marks of the style with all of the signature wheat, yeast, fruit, spice, and drinkability that the style demands. Somehow, Gordon Biersch makes it seem too easy.

The quentessential appearance of froathy straw, creamy weight. Very well headed with a fluffy white blanket of froath that retains excellent and laces very well from the wheat additions.

Moderately malt aromas are a mix of pilsner soft scents with bready wheat. Lightly grainy with a sweeter nose, the aromas are amplified by fruity notes of of banana, apple, lemon, and pear. Complementary notes of clove, white pepper, and mint also help the cause. All engulfed with a doughy, bready, and rich scent, the beer keeps a well melded scent throughout.

Flavors are a very direct correlation from aroma: malty sweetness of powdered sugar, sweet breads, wheat, and sugar cookies are balance by herbal flavored hops, clove, lemony acidity, minty-fresh alcohol, and white pepper. Exquisite in balance, the beer keeps all of these characteristics in harmony, but also in restraint.

Moderately textured to the palate with an airy, creamy start. Rolling off of a vanilla-like silkiness at mid palate, the beer turns pleasantly acidic and then with an evaporative minty warmth that acts as a crispening agent in finish. Malty-dry late with a linger of wheat malt, this beer is a very classy version of Hefeweizen!

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 420 S Mill Ave Ste 201, Tempe

06-13-2007 16:22:25 | More by BEERchitect

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Color is cloudy and yellow-brown, rather like honey; head is thick. Aroma has a strong citrus overtone and some wheaty scent. Taste is a very strong and pleasant hefeweizen taste, quite lemony with wheat and hoppy components. It goes down easily and is very pleasant to drink, with or without a wedge of lemon.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 420 S Mill Ave Ste 201, Tempe

05-26-2007 18:42:56 | More by Cyberkedi

bunnyhustle

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +25.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This is a great example of a hef in my humble opinion. Poured from 12 oz. bottle to a pint glass. Golden orange in color, formed a thick, aromatic head with a somewhat dominating banana smell. Cloudy like a hef should be, head stayed much longer than with many other hef's I've had. Great taste, good amount of carbonation, not so much though where it gets in the way of taste. Thin, light mouth feel leaves me wanting more. Tried one more with an orange slice, say what you will about adding fruit slices but this helped to enhance the already great flavor.

Serving type: bottle
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 420 S Mill Ave Ste 201, Tempe

05-17-2007 22:42:20 | More by bunnyhustle

Westsidethreat

California

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Southwest terminal at LAX. Seems to be the only place I drink Gordon Biersch

A: Golden pear on the dark side of the spectrum. Very cloudy and unfiltered. Head started very nice and full, a creamy mass of light tan bubbles.

S: Wet grass, biscuit and jasmine

T: Starts with white corn, vanilla and some yellow squash. Floral hops take shape leading with jasmine nectar, dandelion and lemon grass. Banana comes next, not aggressively but more along the lines of banana bread. Finishes with lingering banana, cloves and nutmeg.

M: Medium body with just a touch of carbo tingle.

D: This is Gordon Biersch’s best traditional beer by far. Quite good.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 420 S Mill Ave Ste 201, Tempe

05-08-2007 14:49:18 | More by Westsidethreat

ghostmech007

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap.

Nice soft golden color with a bubbly white head. Left some lacing on the glass. Wonderful to look at.

The nose had a strong note of spice. Cloves and corriander and fruits. A great aspect of this brew.

Nice crisp and light body. Right off you taste the wheats and some hops bitterness. Mostly however you taste the spices. Cloves, corriander and fruits. This was a great brew. Definitly getting it next time.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 900 F St NW, Washington

03-12-2007 00:42:22 | More by ghostmech007

rkuhnel

California

4.47/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was from Safeway. This tastes exactly the same as the Trader Joes Bavarian Hefe; Wonder if it is the same brew in a differerent bottle. Poured a nice gold color with a bit of haze and left a nice creamy head and nice lacing. Big nose of wheat and banana. Mouthfeel very nice, and flavors true to what a real German hefe tasted llke when I visited there last year. Nice example of the style.

Serving type: bottle
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 900 F St NW, Washington

02-27-2007 23:37:11 | More by rkuhnel

flexabull

California

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

Had this after a mountain bike ride. Fairly refreshing. Pours a bright gold, with a bit of yeast haze... but not as much as I like.

Aromas were faint but pleasant. A hint of banana and yeast.

Flavors followed the aromas. A bit of banana, and a bit of a yeast like quality, but the flavors are somewhat subtle. I was yearning for more.

Mouthfeel was very average for a Hefe, but the beer was certainly drinkable. I wouldn't turn one down, but I wouldn't buy another one either.

Serving type: bottle
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 900 F St NW, Washington

12-01-2006 01:41:59 | More by flexabull

alysmith4

District of Columbia

3.05/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This was the best of the ones I tried from this place. Had a good full color to it, with a hazy redish tint with a decent head. Smell was of honey and bananas, but the taste was mostly bananas. It was fairly low in carbonation as well. Fairly typical hefe.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 900 F St NW, Washington

11-14-2006 03:01:38 | More by alysmith4

aquatonex

New York

4.33/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My second beer from San Jose's Gordon Biersch...

Pours cloudy light orange with a nice creamy head, very carbonated. Smells of yeasts, lots of banana, and malts. Very inviting. Taste follows well with a good blend of maltiness and yeastiness, not too sour, and the bananas and light spices make this brew one of my more favored hefes.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 33 East San Fernando Street, San Jose

11-10-2006 21:36:59 | More by aquatonex

watermelonman

California

4.05/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This poured to a dark yellow with a small head that lasted well. There was no real lace.

The smell is of wheat with a light hint of yeast. The taste also has plenty of wheat. Esters dot the flavor nicely. The mouthfeel is medium, while drinkability is very good.

Serving type: bottle
@ Gordon Biersch, 33 East San Fernando Street, San Jose

11-02-2006 04:34:11 | More by watermelonman

Grundle20

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance:
Poured a crystal clear yellow into a hefeweizen glass. There was a bountiful head with good retention but minimal lacing.

Smell:
Rich smells of ripe banana and minor nutty notes. Quite a potent nose.

Taste and Mouthfeel:
The beer drinks damn smooth, like liquid banana bread. For an instant I thought I tasted salted pork chops but it was a momentary thing. I was really surprised by this beer. It's pretty standard around here and doesn't get much respect in the area, but I thought this was a pretty solid showing of the style. There wasn't much yeast in the pour which leads me to believe the flavoring may be artificial, but that really doesn't matter to me because it was surprisingly good. There's a minor detergent aftertaste but that's my only complaint.

Drinkability:
If this beer is this tasty come summer, I see this being in my fridge quite a bit. I'm not really feeling wheat beers in the winter but you are still faced with a good tasting average alcohol brew. Pretty damn poundable.

Bottom Line:
Terribly underrated beer. I have been lead astray and for that I shame you Columbus beer community. There are far better hefeweizens out ther but this is a stupid good grocery store/standard bar beer.

Serving type: bottle
@ Gordon Biersch, 33 East San Fernando Street, San Jose

10-28-2006 04:07:13 | More by Grundle20

Boneheadmx

California

3.35/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours out to a hazy golden amber with a large head that subsides quickly. The smell is of malt and caramel, very sweet. The taste is actually very sweet as well. I agree with another reviewer in that the taste reminds me a lot of bubblegum. I expected a bigger hops taste. The mouthfeel is a bit thin, and the flavor of each sip subsides rapidly. The drinkability is fairly good, and it refreshes quite well, but this is on the sweet side for me.

Serving type: bottle
@ Gordon Biersch, 33 East San Fernando Street, San Jose

09-29-2006 07:08:47 | More by Boneheadmx

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I had 1/2 pint from the Gordon Biersch booth at the Columbus Microbrew Festival 2006. I didn't expect it to be as good as it was, they did a good job. The aroma and flavor was all bananas and cloves, the only real drawback was that this seemed more watery than it should be. Still, it was good.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 33 East San Fernando Street, San Jose

09-16-2006 21:59:10 | More by TurdFurgison

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.18/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this at the Co Springs airport outlet on a rainy summers night

Pours straw colored & clear with a 2.5 fingers deep white head. Some lacing & okay head retention

S: Huge bubble gum notes & hints of lemon

T: Bubblegum & honey up front, fruittyness follows. Finishes fruitty with hints of band aids & pepper

MF: Medium body with good carbonation

Drinks very easy, this is a hefe that would pass a german, no problem. I enjoyed this

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch, 1 West Flatiron Circle, Broomfield

08-27-2006 05:02:58 | More by russpowell

BeerManDan

California

4.43/5  rDev +21%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

When poured, the color was hazy golden yellow, with a medium amount of foam and nice lace on the side of the glass.

The smell of spices and yeast filled the nose with a pleasant aroma, with just a hint of fruit.

The flavor was of yeast and spices, with a hint of banana. What a pleasant surprise from Gordon Biersch. This to me is there second best bottled beer!

Serving type: bottle
@ Gordon Biersch, 1 West Flatiron Circle, Broomfield

08-24-2006 22:51:12 | More by BeerManDan

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presented as a cloudy yellow beer with white puffy head. Smell is appropriate for the style with strong notes of spices (cloves, corriander) and bananas. Very weel done. Taste follows throufgh on the smml with bananas, cloves, and bubble gum dominating. Very good example of the style, very refreshing.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 900 F St NW, Washington

06-11-2006 19:24:24 | More by tgbljb

xduderx

Tennessee

3.1/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Sampled on-tap at the Yard House in Long Beach, CA.

A = reminded me of a cloudly amber lager. pretty light for a hefe.

S = pretty mild with obvious clove and citrus aromas

T = very mild with no strong flavors that really stick out.

M = very thin and watery.

D = this is drinkable, but there are so many better hefe's around, I don't see any reason for ordering this.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 900 F St NW, Washington

02-23-2006 14:42:53 | More by xduderx

drewmprs

California

2.5/5  rDev -31.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

It had potential before I tasted it. Nothing particular to praise about this beer, tasted like it had banana syrup poured into it. Something chemically that made it hard to finish. Sometimes gordon biersch goes on sale with the ralphs club card, but i've never been happy with his brews.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 900 F St NW, Washington

12-12-2005 03:24:12 | More by drewmprs

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On draught at the brewpub, served in a gold-rimmed Weizen glass. Hazy dark amber/golden color with a thick and fluffy off-white head. Thin and sticky lacing. Aroma of yeast and bananas. Medium-bodied and slick with flavors of wheat, banana and yeast. The finish is clean but kind of watery, with wheat and a bit of spice aftertaste. Above average overall, and honestly better than I was expecting.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 900 F St NW, Washington

06-01-2005 02:49:46 | More by Dogbrick

Redrover

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The Hefe was a nice cloudy yellow with a very good head.

The nose was as expected. Lots of banana & clove scent with a bit of wheat malt as well. It has a nice earthy aroma.

The taste was not quite as good as the smell. It reminded me a bit of those banana bubble gum cigars that you got as a kid. The beer, while not terrible by any means was a bit out of balance.

The mouthfeel was nice and slick and the carbonation was perfect for this style. It was easy to drink and if they could tone down the banana fruit taste a bit and up the malt for balance, it would be a very fine beer.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 200 Poydras St, New Orleans

04-27-2005 15:29:40 | More by Redrover

surfmeister

California

4.25/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pleasantly surprised!
Beautiful hazy golden color topped with a disappointing lack of the usual thick frothy Hefe head, had to ding on points big time here, otherwise had all the fruity, banana-y, clove smells and tastes one expects from the finest Hefe's, went down smooth, I could quaff many, now if they could just do something about that head?

Serving type: on-tap
@ Gordon Biersch Brewery & Restaurant, 200 Poydras St, New Orleans

09-14-2004 16:26:07 | More by surfmeister