Weihenstephaner Original - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

lacqueredmouse

Australia

1.5/5  rDev -62.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Very pale yellow colour with a rocky, loose-bubbled head of white foam. Not much retention or lacing. Some bead, racing through the very thin looking body. Can't say it looks terribly appealing.

Metallic, funky yeast aromas on the nose. Definite notes of barnyard, bread yeast and rotting grains. Really quite offensive. Can't say I like this at all.

Taste is very flat - a thin, watery sugar character with a late belt of fungus encrusted metal. Very weak, unpleasant and offensive, bordering on undrinkable. Mouthfeel woefully thin and flat.

Quite certainly a very unappealing and unpleasant beer. Devoid of all but the most offensive characters, leaving it like a rasp across an open wound.

I can only say that either this bottle was off, out of date, poorly stored or brewed under license by unhygienic fishmongers. I can't understand how my review is so out of whack with the general opinion, but truly the bottle I had was appallingly bad.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2009 07:40:06 | More by lacqueredmouse

oelergud

Virginia

1.98/5  rDev -50.9%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Very pale straw colored body, head starts out big but dissipates quickly, almost no lace and very little carbonation.
Grass grain and bread makes up the nose of this brew.
Very little taste to this one and almost no aftertaste at all. Some weak wet bread flavor mixed in with a faint astringency.
Thin body and hardly any coating, very bland and boring.

-Oelergud

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2004 00:07:42 | More by oelergud

Dogbrick

Ohio

2/5  rDev -50.4%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Not very impressive. you'd think in 1000 years they could have come up with some better qualities. Golden color with medium carbonation, thin head and bland lager flavoring. Finish was somewhat weak as well, and there was hardly any flavor left by the end of the glass.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2002 07:33:21 | More by Dogbrick

laituegonflable

Australia

2.15/5  rDev -46.7%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Pale appearance, not weizen-pale but not English-ale gold. Pours with a very generous, slightly off-white head, but that dissipates very quickly. Slow bead of carbonation. Slight lacing. Nice, but not great.

Slightly rich, earthy hop aroma and a slightly sticky honey at the back. A bit of sticky yeast lingers. Standard lagery nose really, fairly aromatic without being pleasant. In fact it's unpleasant.

A fair amount of honey throughout the palate, not really desired. Slight yeasty/hoppy bitterness on the back, a bit of a sticky mouthfeel; body is quite thick and slow, with very little carbonation upon drinking. This is overly sticky, and quite unpleasant. When I'm drinking a lager I expect some sort of gas. Having said that, the palate is not very nice, yes, but it's fairly well balanced. This is drinkable enough and it's what I would expect given the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2009 22:48:35 | More by laituegonflable

jamesdergen

Minnesota

2.23/5  rDev -44.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Appearance: Pours a slightly cloudy golden color with a foamy white head that dissipates rather quickly.

Smell: Slightly spicy/grassy hop aroma with some sweet grainy malts in the background.

Taste: A letdown after the decent aroma. Very mild hop profile thats overshadowed by the dominant plastic-tasting overly sweet maltiness that is reminiscent of some weaker porters. Kind of a chemical aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Too carbonated and kind of syrupy. Too thick for a lager.

Drinkability: Mouthfeel is too heavy and the taste a bit too offensive for me to finish.

What a disappointment. I grabbed this bottle thinking it was the famous Hefeweizen (label is very similar) and figured this would be similarly tasty, but I was woefully mistaken. I would recommend avoiding this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2006 02:21:10 | More by jamesdergen

grannaniwa

Massachusetts

2.25/5  rDev -44.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Aroma is not great. Little bit of a stale beer smell. A little bit of the interesting smells of the hefeweisebier hiding under there.

Taste not doing much for me. Reminds me of an Indian beer I might get with dinner sometime. Little bit of bitter taste, pretty flat flavor over all.

Other good reviews are not changing my mind. Either the bottle was no longer at its best, or it’s just not a beer I enjoy.

Overall: C

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 02:37:24 | More by grannaniwa

PEBKAC

New York

2.28/5  rDev -43.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Even from a brewer of this notoriety, this "Premium" labeled beer isn't close to the best I've ever had.

A faded, dull gold color body. Lathery, stiff white head; Defiant. Rings of splattered lace.

Plastic-y banana/pineapple esters & a touch of clove & mint. Doughy/yeasty aspect is way in back. Petroleum & noble hop fumes waft off the top.

The brew lacks some carbonation. Makes it feel greasy. Beer otherwise tastes fine, if a little like their filtered hefeweizen. These are some of the freshest German beers out on the shelf, so I'm probably just not a huge fan of their house yeast(which seems a little subdued to me). Their malt profile is certainly tasty. Anyway, this beer features a sweet doughy front end, sweet orange/honey citric middle(with just barely a tang there), & a sticky caramelized grain finish. Excuse the run-on. I-O-U = hops. Maybe a touch leafy, maybe. Again, this can't be an old bottle, unless the distro is sitting on a mound of it.

This tastes like a generic malty Euro lager to me. At least it doesn't smell like one. Sorry.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2011 05:12:15 | More by PEBKAC

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

2.33/5  rDev -42.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pours a clean deep yellow color with a white head. In the aroma, a small gingerbread like malt and not much of anything really. In the taste, a gingerbread like malt and a note of lemon citrus. A smooth and medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry gingerbread like malt and a note of citrus in the aftertaste. A mix of malt and lemon citrus, eh!

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2012 17:18:13 | More by OWSLEY069

Ellbert

Ohio

2.35/5  rDev -41.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

I was dissapointed with this beer. It tasted a lot like Grolsh or St. Pauli Girl. It had a certain bitterness at the end that I did not enjoy. Everything else about it was okay. A decent head and a nice golden color. Just a bitterness like Grolsh and St. Pauli Girl that I do not like.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2003 17:42:01 | More by Ellbert

BeerNinja007

New Hampshire

2.38/5  rDev -40.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Got a 500mL bottle from Hoosick Beverage in Troy NY for $3.49. Code 3499 stamped on the label. Served cold in a chilled weizen glass.

Immediately up on cracking the seal I get a big dose of skunk. A hearty pour gives a nice 2" of rocky light tan head on top of a clear light yellow brew, leaves good lace on the glass. Nose is a pungent sulfur skunk that dissipates a bit as it airs, allowing some raw grains and silage to pull forward, mostly dry. Taste is a bunch of residual skunk, then grains similar to the smell. I kinda like a bit of skunk but this is way too much, perhaps a very old and/or very improperly stored bottle.

I find the smell and taste hard to rate... kudos for a bit of skunk, but *bleh* for way way too much.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2010 00:08:11 | More by BeerNinja007

xare

Ohio

2.42/5  rDev -40%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

Don't believe the hype. Everybody has different experiences and tastes. Weihenstephaner doesn't live up to my desires.

Appearance was somewhat disconcerting to me. Appeared as a pale, somewhat hazy (yet clear) apricot color with a thin head that disappeared quickly. Carbonation was constant.

Smell was of corn and malt. Rather average with nothing to discern from just the aroma.

Taste was actually worse than Budweiser's. It doesn't rather work out for me because it tasted just like a vienna lager crossed with a macro American lager... except with a slightly worse taste.

Mouthfeel was decent with a very full body but later on with the brew, began to get heavier the more I drank it. Definitely wore on and then the carbonation gave out during the back end. A bit below average in my view.

Drinkability wasn't great. I almost finished the beer but when it went flat during the last eighth or so of the beer, I had no desire to finish off the beer as the taste didn't appeal to me. I have no desire to hunt down this beer to drink, especially when I could spend the same money on a beer I like.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2008 02:00:47 | More by xare

bobhits

Kentucky

2.42/5  rDev -40%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Light straw colored lager. Decent bit of carbonation, thin white head. A poorly carbonated budwiser? Not even sure it looks that good.

Earthy malt dominates here. The hops somewhat mix with it and give this beer a very earthy grainy aroma. Still overall fairly sweet in nature.

Not overly complex. The aromas are all in the taste. A sweet malty beer with a lot of earthy nature to it. The hops are subtle but enough is there to keep this from being overly sweet. That said there isn't a lot going on here.

Very good mouth feel. Carbonation is great in the mouth and very crisp. Moderately clean as well.

A very drinkable and sessionable beer.

A great example of a bad style. On a hot day you might find this pretty nice, if you know water is nowhere to be found. Other wise, I'm not sure why I'd go back to this? Maybe if I wanted something earthy but wouldn't dominate the food? For the style this is near the top, but while I did take style into consideration, I'm not rating for the style.

On second thought talk about a good way to wing someone from macro lagers. Shows that a lager can have character and some flavor. At the same time the beer doesn't have so much flavor or power that it could cause anyone an issue.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 08:01:47 | More by bobhits

Arno

2.43/5  rDev -39.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5

A: straw golden color with a large foamy white head.
S: Can't put my finger on it. Almost like warm milk with dough, quite stale.
T: Better then the smell suggests. Like a pilsener, but then the stale flavor kicks in at the end.
M: Quite bland and low carbonation.

O: Not my beer. It's just like a regular pilsener, but with a little weird but quite a bland taste. I'm just don't get why this is so highly rated.I know many better beers which are half the price. I prefer their white/wheat bears.

Bros: Be more critical so there's actually a reliable rating. And i'm not referring to this beer, but pretty much any review has 90+. You even communicate beer karma rules - so might be worthwhile to consider this yourself as well. Be more detailed in the rating is all i'm saying. 100 means it's perfect. And what's the benchmark? My benchmark is i've never had the perfect beer - so 100 is pretty much impossible, unless i really feel like heaven drinking a beer. This beer made you feel in heaven? You can like it, don't mind me, but be realistic ...

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 22:27:24 | More by Arno

stcules

Italy

2.5/5  rDev -38%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Golden color, creamy and compact head. Lightly veiled.
Malty, delicate, cereals, Hallertau.
Malty taste, delicate, at the beginning. The it becomes more rough, with metallic and astringent notes.
Dry, it left a bitter and grassy hop.
Quite light body.
The hops, not too fresh, modify the delicacy of the first impact.
Hop in the aftertaste, but a little stale. It lowers the drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2005 19:01:56 | More by stcules

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

2.58/5  rDev -36%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Weihenstephaner Original

Appearance- almost clear yellow with a decent lacing head.
Smell- light and sweet malt slight grassy hop. Smelled slighty like a champagne mixed with a pear cider?!
Taste- light and sweet malt. Light peach flavor and watery.
Mouthfeel- clean and crisp like drinking a watered down iced tea.

Overall- a HUGE disappointment. This is beer?! C'mon now, little flavor with no b@lls.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2006 21:39:33 | More by NJpadreFan

kinger

Ohio

2.63/5  rDev -34.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Pour is a pale straw yellow with a tiny film on top and little to no lacing. Aroma is weak and a bit grassy. Mouthfeel is thin and sticky. Flavor is average at best but leaning more towards bland. Overall this beer is a major bummer considering their wheat beers are much better than this offering. Next time I will pass.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2008 19:51:58 | More by kinger

DmanGTR

New York

2.65/5  rDev -34.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - poured clear golden with a white 1" head that disappeared in 2 minutes to leave some lace

S - skunky, hoppy, and lightly malty. If the skunkiness wasn't there it would probably smell much better.

T - very mild taste. Light malts and some hops but rather bland. Metallic tones are somewhat annoying. Clean finish.

M - very light bodied with moderate carbonation. Watery but thirst quenching, thinner than I expected even for a pils.

D - a good thirstquencher but not much in the taste department.

Overall - I would give this the benefit of the doubt that if it wasn't skunked, then it would be much better. The taste really casts a shadow though, it was very bland. Hopefully a re-review will fare better next time.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2009 06:10:49 | More by DmanGTR

SamN

Colorado

2.65/5  rDev -34.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

22oz. bottle, in standard pint glass.

A- Clear golden, white bubbly half-inch head.

S- Corn, cereal grains, light florals

T- Tastes exactly like a MGD, maybe a little thicker. Clean hops bitterness, more cheap grain taste, mild sweetness. Flatness of flavor, and not much complexity. Dry and boring.

M- Surprisingly full bodied, a nice thickness to be contrasted with the thin taste.

D- Bland, adjunct-esque taste, but with a better mouthfeel. Like an expensive can of Budweiser; why would I buy this again?

Disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2009 23:45:11 | More by SamN

AlexJ

North Carolina

2.68/5  rDev -33.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Accidentally picked this up instead of the Hefe, which looks identical...d'oh. Pale golden blonde pour with a thin but dense head of pure white.

Aroma is somewhat typical German lager, sweetish grain, cooked sweetened corn, musk.

Flavor very average, an overcooked grain note dominates with honey, damp wood, skunky hops bitterness.

Body medium with light carbonation and a slippery mouthfeel. I did not want to finish it.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2008 20:28:55 | More by AlexJ

cbl2

New York

2.73/5  rDev -32.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

16.9 oz bottle. No best by date.

Appearance:

Pours a crystal clear pale pale yellow with just a wisp of white foam on top. A little too insipid looking to be appealing.

Aroma:

Crisp and clean with a hint of citrus in the nose.

Taste/Mouthfeel:

Dry and bitter with an offputting musky flavor to it. Not something I will try again. Weihenstephaner is usually fantastic, but this is more than disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2006 20:11:11 | More by cbl2

Enola

North Carolina

2.75/5  rDev -31.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A very light yellow, almost watery. A thick white frothy head sits atop and leaves behind a small amount of lacing. The smell is corn/rice. The taste is a very light beer with no harsh aftertaste. Refreshing, just the thing a person needs in this heat. Thanks to Wcudwight for the botte.

Edit: As this beer warms it develops a wierd metallic taste. Much better cold.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2007 01:27:51 | More by Enola

pezoids

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -31%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Very clear with a frothy white head of foam. Lightly carbonated. Fresh aroma of earthy grassy and slightly lemony grains. Slight metallic taste, sweet grainy body with a decent bite. Can’t get over the metallic taste. It’s ruining the enjoyment here. Other than that this seems like a very clean and highly drinkable lager beer. Not as crisp as a hoppy pils, but more flavorful than your regular premium American lager. I will have to sample this one again.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2004 22:47:21 | More by pezoids

CrazyDavros

Australia

2.78/5  rDev -31%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours pale gold, large head fades quickly leaving some lacing.
Nose shows hay, cereal and corn. Quite sweet. Some grassy hops. Not much else. Ho-hum. Very "Euro pale lager".
Exactly the same story with the flavours, with a very mild grassy bitterness in the finish.
Carbonation is surprisingly low!

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 05:44:56 | More by CrazyDavros

magictrokini

California

2.8/5  rDev -30.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Going to be tough to get 250+ on this one, because there's really not much to it. Pours clear gold with a bubbly white head. Faint flowery aroma with malt and light hops. Taste is a lager with good maltiness and no bitter metal in the finish. Good, nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2008 17:00:08 | More by magictrokini

samie85

Illinois

2.83/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed from notes; originally 6/8.

A-Pours a slightly hazy, straw color with two fingers of white head.

S-Sweet green apple and light malt notes with a slight herbal hop note.

T-Light malt notes with some green apple but no noticeable hop character here.

M-Light to medium bodied with low carbonation.

D-Very easy drinking, but a little too simple and understated for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 02:20:31 | More by samie85