Weihenstephaner Vitus - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

GregoryCoe

New York

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Light in colour, a bit of a light amber, poured into a glass. Two finger width head which collapses into a thin film in 45 seconds and leaves excellent lacing on the glass.
Smell: Bold and very crisp, with a subtle hint of banana.
Taste: Subtle orange, citrus, bananas, make up a well balanced wheat bock. The high alcohol contact really adds to this beverage. It brings out the flavors while adding an acute punch.
Mouthful: Medium body, crisp and welcoming. Has a very tangy feel to it.
Overall: Brilliant beer this - World Class! Its no wonder Weihenstephaner has been around for millions of years.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 02:32:58 | More by GregoryCoe

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16.9 oz. bottle into a Weihenstephaner Vitus chalice.

Vitus pours a dark and cloudy golden straw color. A frothy off-white foam matures gracefully as I pour the bottle, never quite reaching the cusp of the glass.

The nose on this is like an imperial version of their hefeweizen - bold and crisp (at least by 500 year old German brewing standards), with a bouquet of banana, clove, and light fruity esters. No dark fruit in this Weizenbock, though.

Banana sweetness and clove spiciness really dominate the flavor of this beer. A syrupy honey sweetness comes into play first, with the banana and clove coming in next, and then there is a long, slow finish as the beer tries to diminish the sweetness. The finish is a bit drier than the start, but it is still a rather sweet beer.

There is a light and crisp feel to the beer from the carbonation with a little bit of syrupy sweetness on the back end. Overall the mouthfeel is very clean, though. There is no residual sweetness on the lips or tongue after each sip.

I think the regular Hefeweizen is the better beer; it still packs a flavor punch but has a lower ABV and the mouthfeel is a bit superior. Still, it is not surprising that this beer is quite drinkable. I could have a few glasses of this anytime.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 05:24:15 | More by KickInTheChalice

Doomblivion

California

4.23/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful pour, my favorite shade of gold. Mouthfeel is delightfully lacking in tartness like most weizenbock's. The taste was better than I'd expected; not too sweet, with a richness that comes out over time (Definitely one to savor). So far I would say this is the most impressive of Weihenstephaner brew's.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 03:16:14 | More by Doomblivion

brureview

Massachusetts

4.41/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured in a Weizen glass. I turned the capped bottle upside down several times, then turned it around on a table horizontally a number of times, to mix in the yeast.

In the weizen glass, I poured 2/3 of the beer slowly, then shaking the bottle slightly, I poured the rest in over the top of the glass.

The result: a beautiful 4+ finger head. The color was apricot honey.

There was a strong and luscious apricot, spice and clove aroma from the head. The consistency of the head when tasted is like meringue.

The mouth feel is pleasantly carbonated and finishes well on the back of the tongue.

The taste is intense apricot, clove and spice. Sometimes it is difficult to discern different tastes and aromas because of the intensity and the incredible balance in the beer.

Overall, a brilliant wheat beer- one of the best in the world.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 02:01:55 | More by brureview

raynmoon

California

4.53/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: orange, cloudy, nice head, stays around, never goes away. Doesn't really get any better.

s: Banana Bread, just banana bread. Some vanilla, nuts, oats.

t: just like the smell but a little stronger. This is liquid Banana Bread. Delicious.

mf: creamy, high carbonation. Works great.

Overal, very, very tasty. Has a nice banana character to it, but then fades a little quickly. No alcohol detected.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 06:37:38 | More by raynmoon

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Weihenstephaner Vitus @ 7.7% , a Weizenbock served from a 500 ml bottle purchased for $5.30

A-pour is a light hazy gold with a off white head that has a tight fine lace leaving a solid film along the weizen glass

S-banana , wheat , some hints of citrus in the background

T-sweet tasting , very complex

MF-ok/good carbonation , medium body , easy drinking beer even with the 7.7% ABV

Ov-a classic beer from the worlds oldest brewery , yes I'd buy again

sampled alongside 2 other Weihenstephan beers (Hefeweissbier & Hefeweissbier Dunkel)

prost LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 04:23:05 | More by LampertLand

Luiz0930

California

4.66/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 5

In my opinion Weihenstephaner makes some of the best wheat beers of the world. You are looking at a high ABV on this, however you do not taste it (unless warm). Tastes like banas,oranges, citrus but well designed wheat Bock. Refreshing, tasteful and if the right glass is used, and it is well poured a great experience. overall an interesting beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 05:38:01 | More by Luiz0930

stella77artois

New York

3.38/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

12 oz bottle poured into pint glass.

A - Average yellow color, with lot's of head! Actually spilled some over the top. Stuck around for just a bit, then disappeared. Lot's of bubbly action going on all over the place. Nice looking brew.

S - Not much going on. Lot's of wheat noticeable, and also lot's of dark fruit. A little sour for my "taste". Not a bad smelling beer, just not anything special.

T - Not bad. This is the 1st Weizenbock I've had in quite some time. Could just be I'm not a huge fan of the style. A strong amount of wheat is immediately noticeable, as is the fruit. Upon the aftertaste, the sourness of the dark fruits is tasted. Not a bad tasting beer, just not really my style.

M - Again decent, but nothing outstanding. Not dry, but even with the amount of carbonation seen after the pour, seemed a bit flat and dull once I got about halway through.

O - Not knocking the beer, as it's a good beer, just not really my style. I won't buy in a bottle again, but would like to try it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2013 13:53:01 | More by stella77artois

RickS95

Indiana

4.68/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 500 ml bottle into a Weihenstephan glass

A bit disappointing as the color is a golden straw yellow that you can find just about anywhere. Slightly hazy, but not overly so. However, the head is a killer. It's as thick as you want it to be, with brilliant white bubbles creating a frothy, foamy, meringue-like head. Retains forever. Edit...the appearance improves when you get the sediment into the glass.

Very wheaty nose. You can almost smell the tang. Cloves are present and you get the classic bubble gum scent early on. Faint alcohol presence and a bit of lemon or some other kind of citrus.

You can't improve upon the taste. With just a couple sips, this became one of my favorite tasting beers. Malty and yeasty, a bit of citrus, wheaty twang, and somehow, a kick of dark fruits put it over the top, with a splash of pepper in the finish. Exceptional taste.

Medium bodied, the wheat does a number on the palate with it's tangy feel. Lots of spices. Fruity with both sweet fruits and citric fruits. Just a pinch of heat from the alcohol and pepperiness.

Overall, I can't wait to buy more. Weihenstephan has been around for a million years for a reason, they make excellen beer. This was truly amazing.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2013 02:44:27 | More by RickS95

Andonato

Texas

4.48/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Pours a lovely golden straw color with a little haziness.
Pristine white head is lush but dissipates quickly. My girlfriend commented on how beautiful it looked. I agree
The aromas of banana, clove, citrus, wheat, and earth jump out of the glass.
Much of the aromas translate to the palate as well. Candied bananas, honey, wheat, earth, and baking spices are pronounced and lovely.
Incredibly smooth with light carbonation makes this a very easy drinker at 8%
Very highly recommended if you want a classic Weizenbock. It has been a while since I had a good German beer, can't imagine a much better way to get back into the lovely brews of the Rhineland than with this Vitus Weizenbock. Very pleased

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 04:18:06 | More by Andonato

Vixie

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy straw yellow color with a white head that dissipates fairly quickly.

Smell is very lemony, with a hint of yeast and mown grass.

Taste starts out with citrus, more lemon than anything. Also picking up banana and clove notes. Has maybe just a hint of pepper at the finish.

Smooth as silk feel to this, with the carbonation giving just a little bite on the tongue.

A very nice, very drinkable beer. Goes down smooth and easy, and has a lot of flavor to it. Very much a summer beer, it is light and flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 19:54:01 | More by Vixie

lighthabit

Oregon

3.49/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

thanks to cm for the bottle. stored with my stash, i suspect it should have been opened a couple months ago.

good head dies down to thin layer all across the top. minimal straggling of lacing. light golden color, sort of a deeper version of the color of pear flesh, small bit of haze. nose has a nice scent of pears, but there's also something there that makes me think of soap, which is a bit off-putting. tastes of pears and cloves (hint of banana as it warms), and the soapy smell thing isn't apparent on the tongue. feels good, better than i expected . . . i was expecting something thinner, and thought obviously not a stout (my preferred style), it has a good feel. oh, and the soapy smell issue seems to go away a bit as it warms . . . feel free to comment if you have more info on that.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:33:53 | More by lighthabit

yamar68

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to BobZ for this one!

Gorgeous. Glowing, hazed honey gold stuffed with steady beading. A creamy two finger head swells to fill the glass, leaving behind thick sheets of white lacing.

Bright, semi-sweet wheat aromas explode from the bottle as soon as it's cracked. Honey, clove, so smooth and mellow... like a bowl of Cheerios.

It takes a similar direction on the palate. Faintly sweet honey with a prickly alcohol flavor... fresh wheat and apple... just delicious and easy to drink. Super refreshing after a long ass day outside.

VVV III TTT UUU SSS !!!

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 01:53:17 | More by yamar68

coreyfmcdonald

Georgia

4.19/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

500ml bottle into a tall tulip

A: Pours a hazy golden/orange color with two fingers of thick foam on top. Good retention and decent lacing.

S: Banana, wheat, and clove dominate this beer. A touch of citrus in the background.

T: Similar to the aroma, but much more complex. Banana is quite strong along with a nice caramel sweetness to create a moderately sweet beer. Clove and nutmeg help from this beer ever getting too sweet, though. The spices and sweetness play very well off each other to create a very balanced beer.

M: On the thick side with strong carbonation.

O: A very enjoyable beer. Balanced and complex. I really enjoy this.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 00:35:47 | More by coreyfmcdonald

jhartley

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 1 pint 0.9 oz bottle into a Weihenstephaner glass.
Nice 2 finger fluffy almost soapy looking head with lots of small bubbles with some large ones.
Murky golden yellow body with tons of bubbles coming up from the bottom.

Smells of tons of banana and cloves a nice "fruitiness" for lack of a better adjective with some grassy straw notes

Tastes of banana and cloves and plums. Great amount of carbonation which was obvious from the constant streams of bubbles noted early.

Smooth at first with the carbonation kicking in at the end with a little bit of a pronounced alcohol a slight sourness.

Overall this is a very nice beer, one I wouldn't necessarily seek out again but wouldn't refuse if offered to me. A classic beer from the world's oldest brewery. I would have to say that their Korbinian is still my favorite, with this one a close second.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 22:59:55 | More by jhartley

71CrazyOtto

Michigan

4.9/5  rDev +15%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is the champagne of beers.
I enjoy it most when the weather is warm but do drink it year round.
The only thing I don't like about it is if I drink 3 or more of them I get a hangover.
The nose is in heaven breathing in this jewel of a beer. Citrus and clove paradise.
If Vitus were alive today he would be honored to have his name on this great beer surely.
I'll be watching many a MLB game this summer while enjoying a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 13:14:11 | More by 71CrazyOtto

Louski

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer stole my taste buds when I first tasted it.

A: Pours a gorgeous straw yellow with a fluffy head that's about two fingers wide if you pour it right.

S: Smells sweet and malty with very supple fruitiness

T: Perfect wheat beer flavor. Sweet, crisp and mildly fruity but the combination is done perfectly. You'll want more as soon your lips leave the glass.

M: Perfect on the tongue. Fills the mouth beautifully and leaves the sweetness behind to make you just want more. (Pardon the sexual innuendo but its that good)

O: My favorite beer. Perfectly crafted and can be drunk at any time of year. I've drank it on the beach on the summer and also warmed up with it at Christmas time. I can say I've tasted a significant selection of some of the best beers in the world and this one blows them all away.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 19:57:33 | More by Louski

godlessape

Georgia

4.74/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Pours a gorgeous hazy gold, topped with a creamy white cloud of a head.

This brew is an aromatic three ring circus orgy with all the banana, cloves, honey, cinnamon toast, yeasty wheat bread mixed about with your grandparents hard candy dish.

This reminds me of a pale ale with all the fruitiness, along with all the spicy intricacy of a really expensive Belgian. Everything the nose picked up is here, along with an earthy tobacco barn kind of rawness. We also have a subtle but right on the mark hop sizzle at the very end.

The mouthfeel couldn't be better. Medium to light bodied and refreshing. It glides down the throat like a melted banana split smothered in whip cream.

Overall, Das Bier ist gut.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 01:34:49 | More by godlessape

smooth_aleing

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 17oz bomber into pint glass.

Just great. Weihenstephaner is becoming a real favorite when I'm in the mood for a good German beer, breaking from my craft American kick. Wonderful hazy amber that pours a thick head. Nose suggests citrus and clove, with some coriander. The taste is exceptional, floral and light, with wonderful carbonation.

Really, not much can be the consistency of Weihenstephaner. They're quality is great, and it's a steal given the price. Well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 00:23:43 | More by smooth_aleing

barnzy78

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

500mL bottle, hazy golden colored ale topped with a huge, rocky, white head that holds its retention forever. Malty and sweet aroma with banana, hefeweizen yeast, clove, bubble gum. Bold flavors, bread, banana, clove, hefe yeast, bubble gum, honey, a little nutty. Alcohol is warming at 7.7% abv, some spice on the finish. Huge full body, super creamy and smooth. This is definitely a loaf of bread, but it's so good.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 14:19:01 | More by barnzy78

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

4.3/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A 500ml bottle with a BB of May 2013. Picked up cheap from Booths (sell-off of short-dated stock). Been meaning to grab this one for a while - I've heard good things about it.

Poured into a tulip pint glass (closest thing I've got to a weissbier glass). Swirled slightly while pouring to suspend the yeast. A hazy golden hue with ultra-fine sediment and good carbonation. Produces a huge head of creamy white foam with decent retention; this slowly reduces to a surface layer. Aroma of sweet, fruity yeast esters with hints of banana, clove, pear, wheat, mild bubblegum, faint peach, earthiness and a twinge of coriander. A whisper of warming alcohol in the background. Superbly rounded - it smells fantastic.

Tastes of fruity yeast esters with a dry, earthy finish. Notes of banana, clove, pear, mild spice, wheat, bubblegum, dry yeast, subtle grainy malt and faint stewed leaves. Slightly sweet yet well attenuated, with a hint of warming booze in the background. A delicate earthiness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and tingly, with pleasant carbonation and lovely body that borders on unctuous. Aftertaste of banana, clove, fruity yeast esters, wheat and earthiness.

Top-notch - an exemplary demonstration of the brewer's art. Looks great, with a fantastic aroma/flavour that is true to style. Yeast esters dominate, yet blend perfectly with the malt and wheat characteristics. Smooth, velvety body. A true classic - it's easy to see why it is held in high esteem. I don't often score beers so highly, but this world-class brew deserves the praise. Add this to your must-try list.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 00:56:52 | More by jazzyjeff13

Greywulfken

New York

4.61/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: hazy straw colored beer with a fat white head in a weizen glass

S: sweet malts and pale fruits, floral and spice elements

T: bread and biscuits with honey, lush pear and banana; clove and spices; juicy maltiness and delicate high points

M: creamy, rich, fuzzy, soft, and smooooth

O: this is an epic beer, full of amazing flavors and with a great mouthfeel - warning: extreme drinkability

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 00:03:20 | More by Greywulfken

bambam2517

Arizona

4.61/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle poured into a pint glass and served at 40F.

A - Translucent and hazy yellow-gold, like hay. Ridiculous amount of bright white head develops, light and creamy. Reduces slowly and leaves a nice trickle of lace down the glass as it is drank.

S - Grassy, bready, picking up the yeast and the hop character in equal amounts. Extremely bright and fresh smelling. Banana esters and brown sugar. A bit of pear ester there as well.

T - A bit of a Belgo influence going on here? Some sweetness, caramel-like, folded in with the banana flavor. Its a bit like bananas foster. Along with that though is a subtle citrus character, along with a nice yeast backbone reminiscent of bread. Excellent!

M - Refreshing, light mid-palate and a remarkably clean finish. Detecting a bit of warmth on the roof of the mouth, but its incredible to me that this is 7.7ABV and is such a smooth finisher.

O - Among the best in my book. I love it, I'd drink it all summer if it were readily available to me. It will be on hand at my place for sure!

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:18:38 | More by bambam2517

alex_hart

Oklahoma

4.33/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

appearance: A hazy, straw yellow with a 1 finger fluffy white head that dissipates quickly. Good carbonation visible.

smell: sweet, wheaty, bready, yeast, and a little bit of spice. very pleasant.

taste: follows much of the nose but the wheat, yeast, and bready sweetness really shine through. it reminds me almost like a lighter, softer belgian pale ale.

mouthfeel: good carbonation across the tongue with a slight lingering in the mouth. still pleasant.

overall: this is one of my favorite brews to date, and at the price point it is a MUST try if you have yet to experience it. easy drinker for both BAs and those who have not yet come over from the dark side of the force. cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 02:38:24 | More by alex_hart

dheacck11

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a lovely hazy golden straw with a hint of orange. Finger and a half of white fuzzy head, fading quickly. No lacing to speak of

Nose is big and full of banana, grapefruit, pear, oat and bread. Delightful

Taste is rich and creamy with lots of bready banana, pear, and a spongy malt. Just the softest hint of spice, maybe coriander.

mouthfeel is surprisingly thick, but also quite astringent. Only thing I don't love about this beer.

Love this brewer and their beers. This is just another excellent example from them. Perfect flavors and balance, though I do like their darker bocks a bit more. Incredible beer for the price.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:14:44 | More by dheacck11