Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier Hell - Würzburger Hofbräu AG

yesyouam

New York

3/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Julius Echter Hefe-Weiss Premium Würzburger Hofbrau is what it says on the label. I hope this is the right one! It's a cloudy, dim yellow beer with a soft white head. It has the expected banana-clove aroma-- really big on the banana. It has a reasonably smooth and crisp medium-light body. It has a mild flavor with a slightly bitter finish. There isn't as much flavor as there is aroma here. It is fruity, wheaty... a very good example of the style-- a solid Hefeweizen.
(rated Aug 4, 2008)

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 16:08:32 | More by yesyouam

aerozeppl

New York

3.05/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a nice cloudy straw color with fingers of billowy head. Lacing that etches the glass.

S: Smell is a little off on this bottle. Musty almost. Wheat is in the back but no hints of the yeast.

T: Think this is a bad bottle. The yeast is muted and the wheat is faint as well. Definately had better bottles of this.

M: Nice mouthfeel despite everything.

D: I am going to have to review this again in the future. This is the bad thing about getting German heffs. 1 in 10 is a bad bottle. Freshness date was till June 08 so probably got suck in a warehouse somewhere. Too bad they make a damn fine beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2008 20:34:58 | More by aerozeppl

dwarbi

New York

3.08/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

An ever-rising pure-white head with lots of large bubbles. The beer is cloudy orange-yellow. Not much of an aroma. whiff and whiff - but there is not much there. Tastes ok. Again - not much there. tastes clean and refeshing like a wheat, but less than a good wheat does. Pretty bland for the most part.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2003 18:04:42 | More by dwarbi

ybnorml

Rhode Island

3.08/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A slightly hazey golden yellow beer> Has a big creamy white head. There is astrong yeasty character to the aroma. With a light citrus background. The mouth fel was very watery as opposed to the normal thicknees found in a hefe.The flavor seems to suffer from having a lack of substance to wrap it self around. There are just hints (ghosts accually) at clove and citus in the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2005 22:33:07 | More by ybnorml

Naes

New York

3.13/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This weizen pours a pale golden color with a tall white head that laces and retains quite well.
The aroma is of yeast, a bit of citrus and has a slight graininess.
The flavor is mostly of lemon citrus and a bit of pepper. The wheat and yeast are there, though they seem to take the back seat.
The mouth feel is light in body and it seems to go down easy.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2006 00:49:34 | More by Naes

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from Chevy Chase in DC. Served in a weizen glass.

Pour yields a somewhat dark for the style brew. Dark gold and very, very hazy with a good white head and really nice lacing as it goes down. The nose brings forward a bit too much bread and not enough yeastiness. What is there is pleasant, but this needs to be more yeast-forward. There isn't really any clove, just a bit of banana and some bubblegum. The flavor is bready with a touch of wheat plus some mild yeast. Medium body and a bit chewy. Overall, not bad, but not something I'd really seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 01:54:09 | More by Thorpe429

mikeg67

New Jersey

3.15/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

500 ml bottle. Pours hazy-golden hue with a huge, long lasting, white head and a lot of lacing. Aroma is of yeast, wheat malt, banana and hint of spices. Light, almost smooth body. Taste is of yeast, fruit wheat malt. Nothing special, simple, but refreshing brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 13:50:17 | More by mikeg67

BierStein711

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle poured into weizen glass: freshness date: Feb 2012

A: Looks like a weissbier, thick three finger head

S: Smells like wheat and barley

T: Tastes like a regular pale lager rather than a like a hefeweizen.

M: Feels like a weissbier, it has that moderate mouthfeel

Overall, this is a most forgettable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 21:18:31 | More by BierStein711

geexploitation

Indiana

3.18/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours fairly clear for a hefe, with an unpleasant yellowish tint in the body and an exquisitely thick, creamy, bone-white head. The aroma is a bit flat and tired, especially by the lofty standards of the style. What is has are some blunt banana notes and a tad of spice, but no citrus elements or any apparent malt character. On the palate, some acidity first off, accompanied by a bit of lemon flavor and a weak banana finish. The middle is pretty flat and uninspired. Most of the element of this beer are tuned down from normal hefe standards. A middling effort, at least compared to the stellar beers in its category.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2007 22:34:57 | More by geexploitation

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.23/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A surprisingly sweet hefe. Initially bitter but then overwhelmed by sweet and wheat. Its drinkable, and we kept it as a "dessert beer". Near-cloying. Light colour and good foamy head. Neutral on the aroma. Last days before expirey. Bannana and all that there, but its secondary.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2007 02:04:20 | More by northyorksammy

champ103

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a typical cloudy golden color. A large white head forms with good retention. A fair amount of patchy lace.
S: Not a very strong fruity aroma. Just a hint of clove and banana, and mostly just a yeasty barn ward funk.
T: A sour and tart flavor. Musky, funky flavors and a bit of fruit. Again, typical and nothing stands out. A very muted flavor.
M/D: Thin, watery and over carbonated. A crisp and refreshing summer beer that is easy to drink.

Not much flavor or aroma. I don't think I will get this again, but something for those lazy hot summer afternoons when you want a light beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2008 21:48:19 | More by champ103

goochpunch

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a hazy lemon cough drop color with a huge, rocky, pillowy head that crowns over the rim of my weizen glass. Yeast dominates in the nose with a faint wheatiness. Has an odd smell of rubber bands to it that kind of kills it for me. Heavy banana flavors, and overall, the yeast runs this show. I love phenolic weissbier, but this was just a bit much. Some cracker-like wheat shows up in the background. Mouthfeel has the right amount of carbonation, and has that wheat fluffiness I so love. Moderately drinkable. A pretty hefty weizen.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2006 04:47:39 | More by goochpunch

Onslow

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

One of my first ever hefes, so my review is a tad simple but anyway..."A good golden-orange german beer that is very drinkable. Good taste and an absolutely GORGEOUS head..., not a bad brew at all! " the price is also quite good, under 3 bucks for a bottle!

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2007 15:27:03 | More by Onslow

ZenAgnostic

Texas

3.28/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Cloudy gold body with a white frothy head with decent retention and lacing.

Smell - Over ripe banana.

Taste - Astringent.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with full carbonation creaminess.

Overall - Good, but for the price you might as well get a Weihenstephaner or Paulaner.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 02:07:16 | More by ZenAgnostic

Halcyondays

California

3.28/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

500 mL bottle,

A: Pours a cloudy gold with a medium white head, very good retention, some lace.

S: Wheat malt, lemon, quite fruity and yeasty, banana.

T: Dominated by the wheat flavour with a clear lemony tang. Very light esters, no real yeast flavours, I'm missing those.

M: Light-bodied, crisp carbonation, biting, creamy, nice feel.

O: An OK hefe, the flavours aren't really there, but the overall structure is good.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 03:05:48 | More by Halcyondays

jujubeast6000

Texas

3.33/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed 6/21/2009 (bottle BB End 2009/09):

Pours a cloudy pale yellow colored body. Very big foamy creamy white head, lastingish. Malty, nutty aroma. Some kinda funky aroma. Yeast or something. Light taste, some fruitiness, like banana. Very light tasting, refreshing. Almost watery, but not quite. A little dusty, almost dirty.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 23:29:19 | More by jujubeast6000

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

3.35/5  rDev -16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Spring time. Need to try the hefes again. Poured a translucent and hazy orange, with a very thick and foamy head. That dissolved to form a thin layr on top. The aroma is bananas and cloves (ginger). The flavor is a preety good wheat bread like. Banana also comes through. Very,v ery slight alcohol on the tongue. the mouthfeel is a bit more watery than I prefer, but I am still unsure whether this is common for the style. However, this beer is still very smooth and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2005 19:03:00 | More by MuddyFeet

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

It's a cloudy golden straw color in the glass. As it was served in a typical German wheat beer glass, it had the nice one inch head sitting on the beer. The smell is one of banana and cloves.

Mild in taste, slightly yeasty. It was light bodied with a slight taste of alcohol in the finish.

Seems to be better on tap than out of the bottle. Not a bad representation of the style, but there are so many other makers that do this style so much tastier.

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2003 11:52:10 | More by PatandDavid

mcallister

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

What a German Hefe should look like. Nice cloudy orange with a big thick 2 finger pearl white head and highly carbonated lacing.

Grilled banana aromas, cream of wheat on the stove top.

Nothing out of the ordinary taste wise. Very solid performer. Banana, tapioca pudding, wheat, slightly smokey finish. Creamy, and refreshing mouthfeel with a decent finish.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2006 16:54:20 | More by mcallister

PatrickJR

North Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 16.9 oz bottle into weizen glass.

A - Hazy yellow-orange, nice creamy 3 finger head. Decent retention, some lacing, settles into thick white cap.

S - Wheat malt is prevalent, along with some yeast, but the main aroma is phenolic.

T - Decent, but a little bland. Sour wheat starts it off, with a constant overtone of phenols, though not quite as "clovey" as other hefes. Yeast hits mid palate and grows until the finish, with a very noticable hop presence kicking in late palate. Surprised by the absolute lack of fruity esters.

M - A little thicker than most hefes which worked really well for me; also highly carbonated and on point with the best hefes.

D - It's not exactly what I'd reach for if I wanted a hefeweizen, but it's not a bad beer and I wouldn't mind having a few of these. The phenolic aspect is somehow a little different making the beer seem less medicinal than other brands, especially after repeated bottles. It's also a drier hefe than most, adding to it's refreshing quality.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2008 21:33:48 | More by PatrickJR

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Echter- Hefe-Weiss

Says best before Jan 08, 2008 on the label?! Bought at Pennington Super Saver.

A- Bright yellow slightly cloudy. Huge creamy head with a nice chuny lacing.
S- Very faint touch of lemon citrus and wheat. Bits of pepper and spices come through.
T- Sweet lemon citrus with a mild dry wheat taste. Banana and clove flavors are more subdued but the spices; nutmeg and black pepper really come through.
M- Sweet and smooth. A little light on the flavor but refreshing.

Overall- A good easy Hefe to drink. There's more flavorful 1's out there but this would do nicely.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2008 20:05:30 | More by NJpadreFan

tj4288

New York

3.43/5  rDev -14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

poured from bottle into becker pint glass. (only poured about 6oz) split with cousin-in-law

a- cloudy yellow, lively body. head is tight, tiny, dish-soap like bubbles. head "balls up" and lasts fairly long leaving random lacing.

s- smell is average hefe. overripe banana and a hint of grapefuit. slighty spicy and an ever-so-tiny note of fresh, clean yeast.

t- taste is very well balanced. slightly spicy, sour, and light fruits.

m- very silky and smooth. medium body.

d- decent price, goes down easy. overall not a beer to write home about, but a good hefe.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2009 04:12:06 | More by tj4288

Avagadro

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

A: Julius Echter holds a beautiful hazy golden color with the usual froth. Retention is admirable, but lacing leaves something to be desired.

S: There isn't much going on here. The usual clove/banana are present, but at levels far below my standards.

T: A nice cereal base is accented with banana, clove, and a touch of rose.

M: Full body, slight chalk in the texture, and mounds of carbonation. This brew is extremely effervescent.

D: A decent hefe, but there are plenty of better ones out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 20:00:30 | More by Avagadro

BierReise

Florida

3.45/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Not one of my favorite Weissbiers although much better on draught than bottled. Typical appearance of the style, cloudy golden body with foamy rocky head. Head dissaptes rapidly on this one. Aroma is steady spiciness with clove and yeast out front. One of the most effervescent of wheatbiers, really high carbonation and super crisp. Flavor is wheaty and yeasty with subtle spiciness. Not bad but so many are better. The Dunkel is far better.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2003 23:39:36 | More by BierReise

Redrover

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16 oz brown bottle no freshness dating.

Beer pours a beautiful peach/yellow color. One of the darkest weiss beers (non dunkel) I have seen. Massive frothy head. Good lacing. A delight for the eyes.

Beer smells of malt, some biscuits and just a hint of spice. A very light smelling hefe here.

Given the appearance, I expected a little more substance to the taste. Nice sweet/tart combination. Some husky malt, but not enough of the clove/spice taste I would expect. Very crisp and easy to drink. Carbonation is excellently calibrated.

I've had much better hefes, but I would not turn down one of these. It is a solid representation of style. Unfortunately, there is the unfulfilled promise of its good looks.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2003 18:52:28 | More by Redrover