Wintergreen Weiss - Devils Backbone Brewing Company

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewpub last weekend.

Pours a very hazy light yellow color with a booming white head that is quite fluffy and sticks around for a bit. Rings and sheets of lacing on the way down. The nose brings some light bubblegum, clove, and banana, though it's certainly a bit muted. The flavor takes a bit step up from there with heavy bubblegum and light clove, along with some banana as it warms. Light body with good carbonation and a slight creaminess. Very well done.

Serving type: on-tap

07-20-2011 11:25:03 | More by Thorpe429

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Devil's Backbone weizen glass.

If you didn't know about the local geography, you'd think this beer's name indicated some minty freshness. not quite. It pours a hazy pale straw topped by a finger of white foam. The nose comprises wheat, lemon peel, and a healthy sprinkling of coriander. The taste follows closely, holding notes of citrus peel, wheat, cardamom, some black pepper, and a glance of hops. The body is light, with a lightly moderate carbonation and a crisp finish. Not a bad hefe at all, I should say.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2010 21:45:44 | More by TMoney2591

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A-Hazy golden yellow with a thin bright white head that reduced to a film and left spotty lace.

S-Full of ripe banana and clove. A bit of added spiciness and sweet biscuit in the finish. Without a doubt the best feature of this beer.

T-Banana and clove with just a hint of lemon zip. Sweet biscuit in support but overall there seems to be something missing here.

M-Light and actually thin, needs more malt heft to have it fit to style, IMHO. Lacks any kind of mouthfeel at all really.

D-Not a bad beer but....needs some work to improve the overall presentation. I like the aroma but it needs more body and a bit more umph in the flavour profile.

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2009 22:24:19 | More by Deuane

CrellMoset

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Wintergreen Weiss, 4.7% abv and 12 IBUs. Enjoyed at the grand opening of the Devil's Backbone brewpub in Wintergreen, VA.

Appearance: A very pale and cloudy yellow, with a sheen of foam, some splotches of lacing. Lacing is nice on this one, good retention, though the color's a little too pale for the style, lighter than I'd like.

Aroma: Very faint, but with all the right components: banana, plenty of clove, and a pale, honey-like sweetness. Unfortunately, as this one warms, I definitely get a very vegetal note, something almost like steamed corn. Maybe it was the smokiness of the room (someone was burning wet logs ... grand opening, still got a few kinks to work out!).

Taste: Surprisingly good. Spice presence is pretty high, cloves and maybe even something else - white pepper? - overripe bananas, lots of sweet wheat (slightly powdery), and even a faint kiss of yeast earthiness in the finish. This one's good, though perhaps a little sweeter than I'd like.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth and light - crisp carbonation and a medium body result in a nice even, smooth mouthfeel.

Drinkability: A decent and impressive first stab at a German hefeweizen. If they could find a way to ramp this one up slightly and alter the color somewhat, it'd be a really damn good beer. Alcohol is of course nowhere to be seen, so no problems there, either.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2008 02:32:03 | More by CrellMoset

TechTriumph

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes on 04/14/12:
On-tap at Devils Backbone; Poured in a weizen glass.

A - Came with a half inch layer of white head; Yellow wheat in color with a very cloudy appearance; Pretty good lacing left behind

S - Aroma seems faint in some sniffs, but more pronounced in others; Pretty yeasty smell overall with clove, banana, and a bit of spice

T - Taste is similar to the nose, but certainly isn't muted in any way, and is more pleasant; Nice amounts of clove, banana, esters, and yeasty/bready character; A bit of lemon, bubble gum, and spice come through as well; Overall taste is fairly sweet

M - Good amount of carbonation; Light to medium bodied; Body seems to thin out a bit as the beer warms

O - After visiting the brewery several weeks back for just a growler fill, I finally got the chance to have lunch there with my folks to try a few more brews. I'm glad I tried this Hefeweizen as it was very refreshing, super drinkable, and had a pleasant flavor that's very comparable to other popular American varieties within the style. I wouldn't mind getting this offering again in the future, especially since the hottest part of Summer is fast approaching.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2012 14:26:59 | More by TechTriumph