Pyramid Hefeweizen - Walnut Creek Alehouse (Pyramid)

kojevergas

California

2.56/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 2.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Acquired as part of Pyramid's spring seasonal pack at a Vons grocery store in Los Feliz. 5.2% ABV confirmed. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with generic label and branded standard yellow pressure cap served into a conicla Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are average given the brewery. Enjoy by: 06/08/13. (MM/DD/YY).

Served cold, straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 2 finger beige colour head of okay cream, bad thickness (i.e. it's thin), and average (2 minute) retention. Body colour is a murky hazy dull orange. Pretty pathetic looking for a hefeweizen; this style demands a vibrant, fresh, appealing as hell appearance. This is weak. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Light pathetic lacing.

Sm: Clove and rotting orange. Inexplicable brown sugar. No yeast is really detectable, nor is any alcohol. Not the fresh orange-and-yeast aroma you want from a good hefeweizen. Downright wrong for the style, actually. A mild strength aroma. Not inviting.

T/Mf: Weak banana and clove notes. A bland wheat body. Not at all crisp and clean like the style demands. Doesn't come off fresh or refreshing. Smooth and wet, but not quenching. I barely get any orange notes at all - and even then they're artificial rather than juicy and citrusy. Simple yet poorly balanced. There's some sort of brown and/or unrefined sugars here too; they really disrupt the build. No yeast character comes through. No alcohol is noticeable. Carbonation is merely adequate. Poor body. Poor presence on the palate. This has severe issues.

Dr: Pyramid is out of their league with this one; a good hefeweizen requires a mastery of subtlety and careful attention to nuance. This is quite subpar, and hugely disappointing. The price is okay for the lack of quality, but I wouldn't get this again. A failure at the style. Hides its ABV well, and it'll get you drunk, but beyond that I have little good to say about it. Below average. Bland and boring. Uninspired. Misses the mark.

Low C-

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 04:00:28 | More by kojevergas

Stranger5582

New York

2.45/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75

The taste of this Hefeweizen is more like a filtered American Ale (Bud) than an unfiltered Germanic Ale. The aftertaste is actually not bad, but also not great, and doesn't stand out too much. When it's in the mouth, it's not terrible, but it leaves a dry sensation after the fact; almost clammy.

A bit stronger flavor may have fixed both of these issues for me. Although, I don't remember disliking it this much, so it may have been the bottling process as well. The first time I had it, it was tapped from a keg and had slight hints of fruit. I didn't taste anything close this time around. Although, I will say I remember the aftertaste and the after in-mouth feel to be very close to my past experience with it.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 01:12:29 | More by Stranger5582

BoFoSho

Washington

3.75/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Ok, here's what you got to do. Grab some buddies on a mid-Winter's rainy day, play some tackle mud football, then run back home for some chilled Pyramid Hefeweizens. This classic has minimal foam with a stunning nectarine color. You won't need an orange slice with this bad boy, as the citrus scents fill the air. The unfiltered wheat beer hits your muddy lips with the utmost refreshment, flowing down your throat like glacial melt. The whole team is now satisfied and looking for more.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2013 06:44:09 | More by BoFoSho

mjurney

Texas

2.94/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance:
Golden to burnt orange color, cloudy. Good amount of bubble rising up to the top. Small off-white head that dissipate really quick.

Aroma:
Sweet bread, yeasty, a little citrusy.

Taste:
Mostly bready throughout the taste, doughy, raw malts. There's faint citrus and tartness. Finish is very chalky. Body is light-medium, dry aftertaste that lingers, carbonation is almost flat.

Verdict:
Not much going on with this Hefeweizen, very bland and boring. Some what drinkable. It's average.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 00:59:56 | More by mjurney

turnerk3

South Carolina

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

A: Pours a murky golden color with about 1/4 inch clean white head. Unfortunately, the head dissipates exceptionally fast leaving just a cloudy beer with no sun in sight.

S: Not quite what one would expect from a wheat ale. The malt comes through, but it's a struggle to find the banana-clove aroma associated with most wheat beers.

T: Surprisingly the taste is noticeably better than perceived from the smell. The flavor still doesn't have a noticeable banana or clove taste, but the carbonation helps to deliver a pleasant effect.

M: As stated previously, this is nicely carbonated helping to give a nice smooth feel.

O: This brew isn't one I would look for, but if it's offered it isn't a bad beer to try. After all, it's easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 23:32:33 | More by turnerk3

gcamparone

Rhode Island

2.53/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Samuel Adams pint glass. Purchased at Wakefield Liquors in Wakefield, RI

A - Hazy golden-orange fluffy 3 finger head with heavy retention. Nice thick lacing. Looks nice.

S- Soapy, corny, slightly malty and citrusy. Uninviting.

T- Unfortunately it follows the nose, minus the soapy part. Taste is lacking. Some spice and wheat notes, but they're very faint.

M- Medium-high carbonation, medium body.

Overall, I was unimpressed by this brew. It looked nice, but quickly turned disappointed with the first smell. Not really a hefeweizen in my opinion. Not worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 21:17:04 | More by gcamparone

rdacey

Connecticut

3.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Aroma: wheat, slight pils malt, no esters or diacetyl, but is lacking of the phenolic profile expected of the style

Appearance: Hazy, golden color; thin white head dissipates almost immediately

Flavor: slight spicyness from the wheat, but it is lacking of the phenols (clove/banana) that are characteristic of the style, no hop flavor, yeast provides a slight tartness

Mouthfeel: Medium to light bodied, medium to low carbonation

Overall: Drinkable, but lacking of the phenolic characteristic represented by the style

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 03:22:21 | More by rdacey

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

2.53/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Brown bomber into wetted pint glass served cold.

A: hazy pale color with what is easily the most pathetic excuse for head ever to be on a beer. Fizzed out soda like bubblea with absolutly no retention at all. Looks sub par.

S: pale ale plain and simple, and not even a good one. Slightly fruity though and a hint of wheat muskyness.

T: yeasty more than anything. slightly sweet pale malt. A little astringent. Not much hop presence, a bit on the finish but not bitter.

M: medium feel, smooth, and a little carbonation. The best part is the mouthfeel.

O: a pretty sad brew, not something I would get again but I don't hate it I guess.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 05:53:46 | More by N3rdM3t4l

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

2.18/5  rDev -33.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A-Pours a dark gold color. Off-white head.head is slight but it hangs around throughout.

S-Not appealing. Has a bit of a skunky quality. Wheaty And grainy but there isa coppery aroma as well. Just not good.

T-More of the same. Metallic twang. Bits of spice and banana. Bitter to a certain extent. A crude Hefe. Harsh and the flavors combat one another.

M-Lighter bodied. Not very crisp. Muddled. Didn't even finish the glass.

O/D-Hated it. Just not a fan of this beer. I don't really like to bash brews but this one really left me a bit annoyed.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2012 05:47:59 | More by VelvetExtract

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

3.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours hazy medium gold with a fizzy white head that does not last. A little spotty lacing.

Sweet grain and some wheat notes. Quite lean here.

Not a hefe. Pure American pale wheat. Light malt, some bread sweetness, mild bitterness on the back. Going to drop a lemon in this after I review - it needs it.

Lighter bodied, good carbonation.

Not bad, but nothing you'd reach for again.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 19:22:37 | More by OtherShoe2

buschbeer

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle
Served in a pint glass

A - It pours a hazy golden color with a brief off white head. I've had it on tap several times, and the keg version seems to have more suspended yeast.

S - I get some yeast and wheat. Not a lot going on in this area.

T - It is pretty bland. Nothing offensive, yet nothing that stands out.

M - Moderate

O - It looks a lot cooler on tap. It is an average beer all around. In bottles I think it is less than average.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 01:05:05 | More by buschbeer

julian89

Georgia

3.78/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From bottle to pint glass.

Appearance: A pale hazy orange yellow. Opaque. Head of about an inch with no lacing, poor retention.

Smell: Light wheat, herb, and small amount of spice. Light malt as well. Smells like fresh bread.

Taste: A typical hefe but not as surprising. Ligh hops taste on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with good carbonation.

Drinkability: A decent hefe. I like it and I have high standards for beer.

I think it's evident that the higher standards I hold for a beer and the wow factor it gives me directly correlate to the length of my rating.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 01:11:16 | More by julian89

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +31.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Nice hazy orange glow with a big white fluffy head. Tart lemon on the nose, a bit of musty basement some underlying clove, a touch of coriander and tropical fruit.

Slightly low in carbonation but heft body that thins out a little on the finish. Sweet tropical fruits up front flow into a flavor that connects with these fruit and gives a slightly marmalade flavor. Breadfruit and a bit of nuttiness on the back end of the tongue. Slightly spicy finish but cuts the other flavors with just a lingering soft tannin quality.

A really complex and well layered hefeweizen. Pretty unique and interesting. An american twist on this classic style.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 02:11:31 | More by jtierney89

Carlton1964

New York

3.7/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a cloudy mellow yellow. Nothing real inviting looking.
Not much head....about 3/4 inch, and it did not last all that long.

Tastea was very pleasent though....creamy feel with nice fruit hints. Mouth feel was equally as nice with no aftertaste. After reading the reviews...I trple checked to make sure we were talking about the same brew.

Maybe I got a "good batch". Very smooth and tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2012 00:06:10 | More by Carlton1964

rob119

2.85/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Tastes like a corona...
Waste of money but hey, live and learn. Im just upset it was sitting RIGHT NEXT to sierra nevadas hefe and I chose the pyramid.

Appearance is nice, pretty dark and somewhat opaque. But it just tastes like a smooth somewhat fruity cheap lager. Aftertaste resembles a bud light. A little watery and flat. The lemon and good malt balance are reassuring though. No lacing.

I threw a lime in it and plan on enjoyin em on my back porch.

Would not buy again, but its so nice out I dont even care.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 00:52:03 | More by rob119

PacNWDad

Washington

2.95/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured out of a 12oz bottle into an ale glass.

A: Blonde color with a bit of amberness. Decent head with very little Brussel lace up the side of the glass. Bubbles die down quickly.

S: Not much of an aroma. A tad smokey. Some fruitiness like green apple and pear.

T: Roasted malt and wheat. Some smoke and grain alcohol. A bit of sourness on the finish.

M: A refreshing and drinkable beer. Well-carbonated.

O: A decent hefeweissen. I enjoyed drinking it.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 05:53:42 | More by PacNWDad

Hojaminbag

Colorado

2.68/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pyramid Hefeweizen has a dull gold body that is a touch hazy, but doesn't quite have the full-on cloudy appearance that I would expect from a hefeweizen.

The aroma is a little bit muted, but the fruit presence is definitely the strongest component.

There is a whole lot of sweetness here, with a slightly cloying fruit characteristic to go along with it. The fruit flavor is somewhere between banana, bubble gum, and sweat. There may even be a hint of sourness hanging out around the edges.

This one has a very light, insubstantial body.

I now notice that this one is classified as an American Pale Wheat Ale instead of a hefeweizen, which makes the appearance and mouthfeel a little more appropriate, but it doesn't do anything to make Pyramid “Hefeweizen” a better beer in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 04:19:49 | More by Hojaminbag

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.25/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Milk Bar in San Francisco.

Pours a hazy light orange colour, with a fine but filmy head of white. After a while, the head stops forming, leaving only a thin filmy gauze. No lacing, very light body. Looks rather generic.

Very minor nose, without a lot going on anywhere. Slightly buttery with a hint of banana esters and a slight carbonic acidity. A bit crisper than your usual hef, but that's not necessarily a good thing.

Smooth palate, but very light on flavour. Buttery characters again with a hint of sweetness and a grainy corn character coming in late. Finish gives off a slight lemony acidity. Very light for a hef, and not that impressive.

It's decent enough for what it is—a faux-craft readily available alternative to the big name American brews. But it's not a great Hef, and not huge overall.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2011 04:47:45 | More by lacqueredmouse

Fatheranderson

Texas

2.05/5  rDev -37.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Appearance: cloudy dark gold in color. A bit hazy.

Smell: citrus, bread, a little bit of hops.

Taste: Okay, so maybe it's just this batch, but the one I just drank tasted like a mixture of lemon, wheat, blood, and aluminum. That was not only surprising, it was downright unpleasant. Again, I'm 99% sure that it's only this one batch, but I figure it's worth mentioning.

Mouthfeel: sticky, thick, excellent body, but a little on the thick side. Fairly average for a Heffeweizen.

Drinkability: if it weren't for the blood and aluminum tastes, this would be very drinkable. Unfortunately those two flavors just blow this beer clear out of the water.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 20:58:24 | More by Fatheranderson

gpogo

California

3.5/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Hazy olden color with large white head. Head dissipated to a respectable covering, but left no lacing.

A- Sweet wheaty smell. Slightly sour lemon smell.

T- Wheat malt, slight amount of lemony citrus taste.

M- Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Pretty smooth.

D- Not much going for it. Pretty standard American Wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2010 23:19:04 | More by gpogo

philbertk

Washington

4/5  rDev +22.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pyramid Ales--Hefeweizen--1997-8 12 oz. & 22 oz. Bottle. 5.10% ABV. (3.25 / 5.0) Northwest Hefeweizen--Nice fruity orange color. Good body with restrained fruitiness.

Pyramid Ales--Hefeweizen 1999 Light Bright Blue 12 oz. Bottle. 5.10% ABV. (4.0 / 5.0) Cloudy bright orange golden color. Medium rich floral body with my kind of hefe fruit flavor. Tight pellicle adds richness to body. Nice lingering fruit finish. Sampled 3/4/1999.

Pyramid Ales--Hefeweizen Ale 2001 12 oz. Bottle. 5.20% ABV. (3.75 / 5.0) Clear rich golden color hazes to bright amber orange juice. Malty wheat spice floral front. Mildly yeasty malty wheat body. Creamy light citrus fruit spice yeast end. Sampled too warm. Yeasty laced head. NW Style. Sampled 1/3/2002.

Pyramid Ales--Hefeweizen Ale (Block Logo) 2002 12 oz. Bottle. 5.20% ABV. (4.25 / 5.0) Very cloudy lemon orange color. Floral mild wheat malty slightly hoppy front. Bavarian hints. Rich malty texture. Wheat spice flavor with light citrus notes. Refreshing malty mild citrus end. NW meaty Hefe. Sampled 4/4/2002.
Pyramid Ales Breweries, Inc.--Pyramid Hefeweizen 2004 22 oz. Bottle. 5.20% ABV--20 IBU's? (4.0 / 5.0) Big lacy head. Hazy amber orange color. Mild floral wheat spice hop front. Malty creamy smooth mild fruit ester caramel citrus NW wheat body. Clean mild tart wheat hop end. Mellow tasty Hefe. Sampled 5/22/2004.

Pyramid Ales Breweries, Inc.--Hefeweizen Ale--Judged The Best!--The Great American Beer Festival 2005 12 oz. Bottle. 5.20% ABV--20 IBU's? (4.0 / 5.0 ) Lacy head. Cloudy white bright lemon orange color. Mellow wheat spice hop front. Creamy smooth malty refreshing banana wheat mild yeast ester body. Clean tasty mild citrus end. Malty and Hoppy NW Hefe. Nice. Sampled 6/23/2005.

Pyramid Brewing Company--Pyramid Hefeweizen Ale 2006 22 oz. Bottle. 5.20% ABV--20 IBU's? (4.25 / 5.0) Thin mild lace head. Cloudy lemon gold color. Mellow Bavarian wheat spice hop front. Refreshing NW malty cloying sediment rich wheat mild banana citrus ester body. Clean mild coriander citrus hop end. Sampled 4/9/2006.

Pyramid Breweries, Inc.--Pyramid Hefeweizen American-Style Unfiltered Wheat Ale--Refreshingly Unfiltered--Award Winning Since 1991. 2008 12 oz. Bottle. 5.20% ABV--20 IBU's? (4.0 / 5.0) Huge foamy lacy head. Rich sediment. Cloudy bright orange color. Mild hop coriander banana wheat ester front. Creamy cloying mild sweet mellow malty banana fruit wheat ester body. Clean dry mild hop citrus orange end. Restrained tasty NW Hefe. Sampled 5/13/2008. 6-Pack $7.99.

Pyramid Brewing Company--Haywire Hefeweizen Unfiltered Wheat Ale--New Graphic 2009 22 oz. Bottle. 5.20% ABV--25 IBU's? (4.25 / 5.0) Big thick dense sediment. Foamy Lacy rich tight white head. Cloudy bright orange gold color. Mild banana hop wheat ester front. Malty mild sweet creamy mellow wheat mild fruit ester body. Clean mild hop mild dry citrus end. Well made balanced Malty NW Hefe. Sampled 5/25/2009. 4 @ $2.47 Each.

Pyramid Brewing Company--Haywire Hefeweizen--Unfiltered Wheat Ale--New Graphic 200912 oz. Bottle. 5.20% ABV--25 IBU's? (4.0 / 5.0) Big foamy white mild lace head. Cloudy bright orange gold color. Mild banana clove wheat ester mild hop front. Mild creamy mellow sweet malty wheat ester mild citrus orange body. Crisp clean refreshing citrus spice mild hop smooth malty nice NW Hefe end. Sampled 4/27/2009. 6-Pack $7.49.

Haywire Hefeweizen. 5.20% ABV. 18 IBU's. Ignite The Night Seattle Beer Week 6 oz. Taster at Alehouse. Cloudy straw wheat color. Mild head. Mild banana hop wheat ester front. Tangy spicy zesty fruit ester wheat body. Tangy mild hop refreshing end. (3.0 / 5.0) Sampled 5/14/2010.

Pyramid HAYWIRE Hefeweizen--Refreshingly Unfiltered Wheat Ale--2010 12 oz. Bottle. 5.20% ABV. 18 IBU's. (4.0 / 5.0) Hefeweizen Huge loose white pellicle. Big foamy rocky lacy white head. Bright yellow orange cloud color. Orange banana hop hint malty NW ester front. Sweet orange rich creamy refreshing wheat body. Zesty clean satisfying mild citrus NW Hefe end. Classic NW Hefe! Sampled 10/4/2010. 6-Pack purchased at Fred Meyer--Ballard, Seattle for $5.99 on 8/27/2010.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 01:01:48 | More by philbertk

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes
A- Pours a hazy golden with a thin head. Extra points earned for good head retention.
S- Smell is rather non-descript. Wheat and yeast, but weak.
T- Wheat, with some nice, but overly subtle citrus notes lingering throughout.
M- Crisp and sharp carbonation. Light body.
D- This is beer is decent, but doesn't bear many of the calling cards of traditional hefeweizens. As a pale wheat ale, though, it fits the style pretty well. Not a bad beer, and quite a refreshing one.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2010 06:51:03 | More by jsprain1

clayrock81

Virginia

3.13/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured a cloudy yellow, not inviting, with fizzy and quick dying head on top of a very mild, almost sour like acidic citric and lemon-zest aroma with a touch of peppery spices. Watery and light-bodied for a hefe, this is not a bad beer but rather a shoddy representation of the style. Has a thin, light body that contains minor amounts of citric/lemon and spices with almost no wheat twang whatsoever; finishes crisp with a sour sharpness. Not bad, but won't have again.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 10:18:39 | More by clayrock81

Elimination

Oregon

2.83/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

I seem to buy a bomber of this every couple of months, only because it is 2 bucks, and this is a session beer to me

Its a ok hef in terms of the affordability thats it. Like any hef, you want fresh, I have bought a few older bottles and its not that good. But if you get a fresh one, it has the classic slight slight banana, wheat, lemon that you get with most american hefs. But at the same time it doesnt have any wow factor to it.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 02:46:57 | More by Elimination

abecall98

California

3.8/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - dark orange, with a dark white head. Laces nicely. Very cloudy beer from the leftover yeast in it.

S - sweet, but not overly. The beer smells smells of fresh picked wheat, like a bread out of the oven. Slight citrus notes hint at the end.

T - a little malt at first, then the citrus takes over. The yeast is noticable in the finish.

M - it's overly carved IMO. But, it bubbles nicely while you drink it. Aftertaste is malty, and good.

D - this is an approachable hefe. I'm my the biggest wheat beer fan, but I'll drink this from time to time.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2010 23:53:21 | More by abecall98