Weihenstephaner Vitus - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

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

Massachusetts

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

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Pours a moderately hazy light golden yellow in color with some heavy amounts of visible carbonation and some medium yellow + hints of orange highlights. The beer has a five finger tall dense foamy off-white head that very slowly reduces to thick film covering the surface of the beer with a medium thick cap towards the center of the glass and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of wheat, banana, clove, and spices with a lighter amounts of yeast and bubble gum.

T: Moderate to strong flavors of banana and clove with moderate flavors of wheat and yeast. Light hints of bubble gum. Minimal amounts of bitterness, almost lightly sweet.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with slightly more than moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: I'm shocked that this beer is 7.7% ABV because it drinks much easier. Very enjoyable and refreshing, a top class weizenbock though not as strong as some others.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 22:45:41 | More by dbrauneis

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.38/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle purchased from Steve's Cool Booze in Kingsford.

Pours a lovely, long hazed golden yellow colour, a heller weizenbock indeed. Head is a frothy, slightly creamy white, but surprisingly lacks some persistence. Body is quite light, but it holds very fine carbonation when tilted. Looks good overall.

Nose is very potent, and full of phenolics and esters. Big banana and bubblegum, with a pungent pear character coming through strongly as well. Some pepper, but not a huge amount of spice: very minimal clove, for example. There's also a slight vegetative, or herbal character to it, it reminds me a little of lavender: it's not a character I believe I've smelled in a wheat beer before, but it goes nicely. Overall, it's really big, and very flavoursome.

Taste is also good, and surprisingly smooth and creamy. More of those pear characters, which become a bit more like pear skin towards the back as they meld with a little booziness. Clean phenols through the centre of the palate and a slight bite of heat on the back, moderated solvent and a suggestion of earth. Despite all of this, it's quite smooth, and maintaining the illusion of sweetness without being too thick or chewy. It's quite a masterfully done thing.

Overall, yes: this is excellent stuff, a timely reminder of how good Weihenstephaner are. I love experimentation, and crazy craft formulations, but we should always remember the more traditional extreme beers. This is a fine example of how to make something big and exciting, but also keep everything in balance. Love it.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 06:46:52 | More by lacqueredmouse

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.06/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a murky burnt orange with a large thick white head. Left no lacing.

S - Clove and bubblegum are the forerunners on this nose. Some creamed corn-ish type scents come through as well. Coriander and floral scents finish out the nose.

T - Bubblegum and goney are the major players as soon as the beer hits your lips. The clove and honey quickly become prevelant and hay also makes a noticable cameo. Wheats tops the cesspool off nicely.

M - Medium bodied with heavy carbonation. Fits. Nicely.

O - Overall, it was a solid german beer although nothing spectacular. Would make a good summer beer. I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 04:07:13 | More by SometimesIfart

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

4.55/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: poured from a 550 ml bottle into a weizen glass, golden colored with a huge fluffy white head that dissipates leaving some lacing, cloudy

S: banana heavy up front, clove, coriander, spice, yeast

T: banana and clove again, yeast, grain, spice, sweeter

M: quite creamy with heavy carbonation, slight alcohol

O: an excellent weizenbock, heavier flavors than the heffe with more of an alcohol presence, the banana flavor is most pronounced

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 17:43:38 | More by M_C_Hampton

dar482

New York

4.56/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It comes with a hazy three finger head. The color is dark gold color that is very hazy. Up against a light, it’s a wonderful cloudy wheaty yellow.

The aroma reminds me of a strong hefeweizen. It’s in your face of lemon, wheat, and banana. There’s bready light yeast in there. The aroma really stands out as exceptional.

The taste is really refreshing. There’s a tart lemon flavor at first, there’s big banana bread and clove, then a smooth malt backbone. The first sip tingles your senses with some alcohol as it’s 7.7% ABV for a wheat beer. Later on, the fruit flavor is more of cooked pear than anything very citrusy and fresh. There's even a pink bubble gum flavor in there.

It’s an amped up hefeweizen, with huge similarities. The carbonation makes smooth and give it a medium body. Clean finish. While I would recommend Schneider Weisse Aventinus, this is still exceptional. It’s actually a different animal as it doesn’t have the dark color and roasted malt of Aventinus.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 03:04:27 | More by dar482

garymuchow

Minnesota

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

Gave this one the Reidel beer glass.
Huge white head covers a surprisingly lightly colored yellow cloudy body. Head doesn't last forever and not much lacing, but that could be my glass too, I suppose
That fantastic aroma from Weihenstephaner yeast. Banana and clove. So yummy. Nice wheat base. No hints of the drink being heavier that a hefe in the aroma.
Oh yummy, is that's so good and clean. Just enough bigger than their hefe. Unusual in that it's not very "bock". Most grain is wheat and bread like. A little tartness and citrus flavors.
Smooth and creamy feel.
This one leaves me begging for more. This would be dangerous on a hot day. So easy to drink and offering thirst quenching qualities. Great flavors and well rounded. Deserving of it's top 250 status.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 18:49:45 | More by garymuchow

WunderLlama

Massachusetts

4.49/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle poured into pub glass

Hazy golden color

Clean, crisp, fresh smell

Banana's with a hint of cloves. Light to medium mouthfeel

Delicious with a small hint of alcohol on the finish. Sweet with banana and slight clove taste. Definite repeat , delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 03:46:27 | More by WunderLlama

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

500mL bottle into tulip.

A: a slightly hazed body. way more blond than I thought this style was supposed to be, but I could be mistaken. head is bright white and BIG. retention is great and spotted plumes of lacing left behind.

S: aroma is similar to a hefeweizen. a lot of coriander, lemon, and yeasty esters. a little bit of grain behind all this fruity smell.

T: starts with some serious sweetness. plenty of spice as well, coriander and mild pepper. some clove flavor in there. body remains mostly sweet and finish remains that way.

M: plenty of bubbly carb. medium body.

D: a good beer, but I really am not sure of the difference between this and a hefe...slightly bigger body, but I am not getting the bock presence I expected to get. regardless, still a good beer, just misleading.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 14:12:38 | More by Jimmys

mmmbirra

Italy

4.21/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Standard wheat beer appearance, though a little less hazy that most. Big fluffy white head.

Lots of spice, lots of clove on the nose. Perhaps a touch of acidity.
Vitus is crisp and refreshing, and unexpectedly dry for such a strong weissbier. The slight acidity comes through here too, and makes it even more refreshing.
Doesn't have the flavor profile of a 'big beer,' but is absolutely wonderful in it's dryness and crispness. The spice, the acidity, and the lack of residual sugar are a great combination. Dangerously drinkable at 7.7% abv.
A pale weizenbock that I find myself comparing to Gutmann Weizenbock, but Gutmann's version is far sweeter and heavier, which puts it one step below Vitus.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 19:39:15 | More by mmmbirra

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Golden straw opaque with a thick 3-4 finger head that is frothy and bubbly.

S: wheat, peppery, and a nice bubble gum backbone.

T: Definite bock flavours present with maltyness present. Bubble gum of the German wheat beer comes through and compliments well. There is a slight pepper flavour also.

M: Well carbonated, creamy on the palate.

O: This is a great weizenbock. By far one of the best I've had.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 19:13:43 | More by Kremlock