Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

pioppo

Italy

3.93/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

A - Turbid gold with a very fine and very persistent white foam.

S - Banana over all but also a sweetness like vanilla. In the final ovviously come out some yeasty aromas.

T - Again flavour of banana, there's no bitterness and alcohol sensations.

M - A big body but mainly a great smoothness!! This contributes with the crisp of wheat to make this beer not only a drinking but also an eating!!

D - After one of this you are full but immediately you begin to think the way to take it another!!

Serving type: can

02-06-2011 10:37:07 | More by pioppo

ThePaintedGrey

Pennsylvania

4.71/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

11.2oz brown bottle poured into Weizen Glass.

A: Cloudy, pale orange-yellow color. Dense, creamy, and glorious head starts out thick and lustrous, but eventually fades to about an inch, leaving marvelous white lacing down the glass.

S: Sweet yeast and malt upfront. Lemony citrus hits the back of the nostrils. A very light, airy scent overall.

T: Man, oh man... This one is lovely. Clove is very apparent as the beer touches your tongue. Leaves as quick as it arrived. Very yeasty with hints of lemon dancing around, almost as if the yeast and lemon are ballroom dancing in your mouth. Not a whole lot of bitterness from the hops is noticeable. Finishes clean and smooth. Slight twangs of alcohol remain after the beer has gone down.

F: Medium to full bodied. The carbonation is mild and well-controlled. Drinkability on this one is very high. I could knock a few back without effort.

O: I have to admit, I was as skeptical as you could be on this one... There's a local bar that serves German ales and this one is always the one being praised to no end. My skepticism has been put aside. This brew is every bit phenomenal as you hear. A must try, I must say!

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 02:48:36 | More by ThePaintedGrey

parkerti

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -24.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

WAY too much clove. Good color and head. Aftertaste was all clove as well. Some hints of citrus, very low hops flavor, was better ice cold as opposed to the 46 - 52 the bottle advised. 11.2 oz bottle, the six-pack cost almost ten dollars. I would classify it as a good beer, but certainly not the 98 it is getting here. It tastes like a seasonal, flavored offering to me. Maybe around the holidays with all of the other clove type spices and flavors.??

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 20:54:33 | More by parkerti

sommersb

Tennessee

4.64/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On: 06-13-2013
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 500ml brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Weizen glass
Purchased: Single from Craft Brewed, Nashville

A: Massive head of white sits on the cloudy, honey-colored beer, with lots of streaming bubbles seen in the glass. Excellent lacing and superb head retention.

S: Aromas are of sweet malts, banana, cloves and a bit of bubblegum.

T: Light wheat malts make for a somewhat sweet beer, but not overly so. Very light bitterness, with also some lemon citrus fruit notes.

M: Moderate amount of carbonation, with a creamy mouthfeel and medium body. It finishes sweet, crisp and refreshing, with some aftertastes of citrus and banana.

O: Nothing fancy but hits all the high notes for a wonderful overall experience!

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 02:59:35 | More by sommersb

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours a nice golden color with a thick and huge head that dissipates slowly.

S-Yeasty (smells like Belgian yeast), bready, coriander, hints of banana and clove, and lemon zest.

T-Similar to the nose as coriander, banana, clove, and lemon zest stand out along side the yeast.
It tasted somewhat watery, but tasty and refreshing.

M-Kind of thin and nicely carbonated.

D-I could drink this all day. It tastes delicious and its so light and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 01:11:30 | More by thegodfather2701

utopiajane

New York

4.39/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Pours a murky honey yellow with plenty of haze and a cloud like head of foam. In the glass it’s got style and beauty. The nose is bracing and not run away with fruity sweetness. Banana, wheat , earthy yeast, fruits, clove and as it warms a little - some pepper. The palate is immaculate with tall wheat, sweet biscuit and citric hops. It’s clean and civilized. Leaves with a small taste of alcohol and drier and drier as it drinks. A resounding hefe that dares to growl a little in the glass.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 16:45:35 | More by utopiajane

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured in the Weihenstaphan spiraled tall 0.5 L glass
It pours a hazy, cloudy gold color with a puffy, fluffy white head.
Smells of dry hay, earth, citrus zest, malt and mild gin blend and mingle.
The flavor is at first sweet citrus. A taste of buttery biscuits and mixed citrus follows close behind. The tastes expand into many minor yet noticeable directions. Sweet crisp apples, spices, cut grass, minerals and a mild boozy vodka taste all add to the complexity.
This is one very gulpable hefe! The spritzy effervescence dissipates rather quickly, and for my personal tastes, it improves as it rests. It's one fluid and smooth brew.
My favorite Hefeweizen!

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2013 00:17:30 | More by BeerResearcher

Smurf2055

Washington

4.56/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured murky golden. Lots of head.

Sweet honey wheaty smell.

Great Weizen taste.

So insanely drinkable, perfect carbonation. World’s Oldest Brewery obviously knows what they are doing.

Edit: Revisited as part of a blind test against Ayinger. Pour was murky yellow, hazy. Very sweet gum and banana smell. The head was taller and fluffier than Ayinger. Sweet, good carbonation, smooth, clean, and crisp. Overall, still a delicious and prime example of a German Hefe.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 07:51:26 | More by Smurf2055

Andrew041180

Massachusetts

4.74/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A - The beer arrived in a pilsner glass with two inches of creamy foam atop a gorgeous hazy blonde pillar of goodness. Retention lasted all the way to the bottom and the lacing was excellent.

S - What the? I'm a newbie here, so I did not expect the Belgian smell from a German Hefe. Smells fantastic!

T - I'm floored. The full flavor is there, but it doesn't hit like a truck, it's more subtle and long-lasting. I don't yet have the vocabulary for a proper review.

M - Bubbly pillows. This beer is medium-bodied, but with the strong carbonation it still feels lively in my mouth.

O - This is way more than I expected when I ordered it. The only reason I didn't put up 5's is my lack of experience. This beer is going to be like Heady Topper was for IPA's - it's going to set me out on the hunt for beers like this one. I wonder if I'll find one.

Serving type: on-tap

06-10-2013 01:42:11 | More by Andrew041180

pjkelley82

New York

4.65/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Best Heff beer I've ever had. Says world's oldest brewery on the bottle and guess what... all that time Brewing has done them some good. Perfectly balanced. Nice nose and mouthfeel. Very smooth. I like banana and this is prevalent in this beer. Although banana is typically in heff beers. I bought my bottle for a little under $3 and it's the best $3 I've ever spent. I've seen other on tap but have not tried and want to. Do not pass this beer up. It's the perfect sunny day brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 01:00:19 | More by pjkelley82

Roguer

Connecticut

4.51/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Beautiful, pale gold, translucent, with a huge head as white as snow. Head retention was solid.

S - Strong banana notes waft out, mixed with milder lemon scents. A beautifully mellow and sweet aroma. Slight floral notes.

T - A fantastic blend for a Weissbier. First, those banana notes are strongly present on the tongue. Just enough hops and citrus balance it out to keep it from being overly malted. Some yeast and wheat flavor provide a backbone. Fruity and slightly bitter without sourness.

M - Extremely smooth, very easy going.

O - This could easily be a daily Weissbier, if it were more accessible. I really don't have any complaints or suggested improvements; it's just a well-rounded, balanced, sweet beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 00:41:22 | More by Roguer

gr0g

New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hazy, straw-colored, with a large, fluffy head. Foam clings nicely to the sides of the glass. Characteristic chalky, yeasty aroma. Clove is present as you'd expect, while a citric hop note adds some nice complexity.

Flavor is dry with a cracker-like malt profile. Clove and a bit of banana, plus a mild bitterness throughout. Clean, dry finish. Carbonation is vigorous while remaining quite soft and smooth. A bit of overall citric character. Exceedingly refreshing and "drinkable."

While Weihenstephan's hefe is very highly regarded, I wasn't really blown away by it, but then I admit to the style not being one of favorites. Still, it's as good as or better than any other hefe I've yet had, and it's something I'll be revisiting during the warm weather months.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 22:59:52 | More by gr0g

DavidS88

Massachusetts

4.76/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier is the 108th different beer I've had and I'll be perfectly honest: if I had to try all 107 again just to get back to this beer, I would in a heartbeat. I was reluctant to give Weihenstephaner straight 5s because I don't think a perfect beer exists, but this came damn close. Poured out of a draft, Weihenstephaner pours a beautiful pure gold, almost like a cartoon of a gold bar. It had about 2.5 fingers of bubbly white head that dissipated kinda quickly but still stuck around a good long while and provided a fair amount of lacing on the glass as I drank it. There were also a decent amount of bubbles streaming up from the bottom of the official 0.3 l Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier glass. The smell was the "low" point of the beer for me with scents of wheat and citrus fruit. Nothing was too overwhelming in particular, but it was easily one of the best smelling beers I've ever tried. The taste followed the nose, with lots of wheat, sweet tangy citrus fruit and maybe a slight hint of nuttiness from the yeast; wheat and fruit definitely stick out the most and blend perfectly for a delectable flavor. Overall: 5/5. It's a beautiful, wonderful tasting beer that puts pretty much every beer I've had to shame. After one glass of this, you can easily see why the oldest brewery in the world is still in business. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2013 22:56:42 | More by DavidS88

MustaPekka

Norway

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

One of the better Hefe Weizen I have had. Needs to be cold with nice foam. Easily availble both in bottles and on tap. In my opinion one of the better standard Weizen available. Standard yes, but still not so standard as the "big ones" (Franziskaner, Paulaner, Erdinger etc)

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 17:26:15 | More by MustaPekka

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier @ 5.4% , a Hefeweizen served from a 500 ml bottle purchased for $5.30

A-pour is a hazy gold in color with a big off white head that is leaving a streaky lace film along the weizen glass

S-banana , alot of floral/citrus also

T-sweet tasting , bit mild on the palate

MF-ok/good carbonation , medium body ,

Ov-very easy drinking beer , another classic

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

prost LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 04:55:24 | More by LampertLand

mrchrisray

New York

3.74/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

a) golden orange in color and cloudy, think head with good retention meringue like, bubbly at least then quick to die down

s) strong florals with a hit of citrus and some toasted almonds

t) citrus in taste with less florals on the tongue

m) very light in the mouth and effervescent with average carbonation

o) a good heffe, well balanced flavor, a little bitter upfront and super smooth going down.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2013 00:31:46 | More by mrchrisray

Beric

Michigan

4.84/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Serving: 500mL bottled poured into 500mL Hefeweizen glass.
Served: April 2013

Appearance: Magnificent, opaque golden yellow that just looks smooth and inviting. Poured slowly into the glass to avoid the monster heads from the wheat and yeast in Hefeweizen. Head settled to a healthy two and a half fingers and very slowly dissipated over the course of drinking the beer.

Smell: Fresh, banana-y, clean, welcoming. A lot of people smell/taste clove in Hefeweizen and I'm definitely not getting any of that. The banana smell, though present, is subtle and not overpowering.

Taste: Like the smell, it tastes just slightly banana-y, from the yeast used. The yeast adds a nice, somewhat bready backbone to the beer. This beer is made to let the yeast shine- there is very little, if any, hop presence, and the malt backbone is light, allowing the yeast's flavoring effects (banana, 'clove') to come through the beer. I could drink this one all day, it is simply so refreshing- simple, but still noteworthy in its ability to so perfectly balance its flavors.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and fuzzy from the yeast and carbonation. Makes it all the more refreshing.

Overall: This is probably one of the best beers I've had, and the gold-standard for the Hefeweizen style.

Other: This style is pronounced "HAY-fuh-vai-tsehn" in German, not 'HEH-fuh' as many Americans say.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 11:36:38 | More by Beric

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

4.71/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

This just might be my favorite beer of all time.

Poured from a 1L bottle I purchased at RSVP for $2.50.

The beer pours with a HUGE head that just wont quit. It is creamy, off-white and sits on top of a bright, straw-colored body.

Nose is slightly banana-clove like, but not in an offensive way. Even stronger than the banana-clove smell is an incredibly strong yeasty/bready note, it almost smells like loaf of bread dough.

The taste is strongly yeasty and bready, must like the nose. This is a definitely a hefeweizen and a very, very good one at that. The mouthfeel is perhaps the best characteristic of this beer, it is thick and chewy with lots of suspended yeast.

A MUST buy for any hefeweizen lover and something I will be purchasing a lot of, especially at the price!

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 20:32:52 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy

hoppytobehere

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle

A: This beer looks great. Cloudy, pale gold color with huge fizzy white head. Retention is excellent.

S: Yeast, wheat, cloves, citrus, banana.

T: And incredibly balanced hefeweizen. Front of the tongue is lots of banana, spices and sugar. On the back there is a great malt backbone that reminds me of freshly baked bread that you rip apart and devour.

M: Excellent. This beer was made for hot summer days. Nicely carbonated, and drinkability is through the roof.

O: For how good it tastes imported, I can't imagine having a fresh pour from the brewery. An excellent example, and perhaps THE example of a German hefeweizen.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 18:56:12 | More by hoppytobehere

rdilauro

Connecticut

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

Poured a nice Light golden color with a white creamy head. One whif and there was no question about this being a European beer and isolating to a German style. The aroma is always there, not hoppy, not malty, not full of yeast, but a pleasant combination of them all.
Knowing this was a wheat beer, I anticipated besides the cloudiness, all the spices that you normally find in wheat beer, the orange, coriander, etc.
Not with this one, oh, I knew it was a wheat beer, so refreshing, but the spices were down played. Instead the concentration was on the beer itself.
Not one piece, but a sum of its parts.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 13:18:36 | More by rdilauro

Fcolle2

Illinois

4.41/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: pours hazy golden hue with 2 finger white head that has great retention. It also has some really good lacing

S: smells spot on for a great hefe. Really nice lemon zest and lots of yeasty banana clove.

T: the wheat dominate the front half of the beer and the lemony banana clove follows suit. I'm also getting hints of spice but its difficult to distinguish exactly what.

M: very refreshing. light and some good carbonation. What you would expect from a hefe.

O: light feel and a delicious crisp refreshing taste. Perfect beer for summer and at this price point, I think I found my fall back for the summer.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 01:53:10 | More by Fcolle2

Dr_Q

Kentucky

4.38/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very nice Hefeweizen. The color is beautiful, with a orange smell and spicy clove taste. Carbonation is moderate and persists. Very refreshing!

A= Cloudy orange with white head, moderate lacing.
S= Citrusy/spicy with some fruity aroma, mostly orange
T=Clove/allspice flavor. Crisp, refreshing, orange,
M= Carbonated, light but with some body.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 22:05:54 | More by Dr_Q

keeganfrank

Ohio

4.56/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Golden brown beer with a thick, foamy head that leaves thick bunches of lacing. Aromas of fruits and sweet spices. Exceptionally delicious, complex flavor consisting primarily of apricot, apple cider and spice s. Very, very smooth and enjoyable to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 21:44:59 | More by keeganfrank

Knuckles_Nuclear

Missouri

4.55/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My new go-to favorite for spring and summer. Wonderful balance and refreshment, after my beloved quads from the late fall/winter. Glorious pale golden color with just a hint of the wheat haze. Clean and crisp from start to finish, with a bit of banana and freshly-baked bread.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:18:58 | More by Knuckles_Nuclear

MaximalC

Illinois

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

Pours a hazy honey color with a thick cap of fluffy, white foam. Aroma smells cleanly of banana and clove, with perhaps a hint of what smells like coriander. Flavor matches the nose, with banana and clove complementing a refined wheat flavor. The wheat becomes most pronounced in the finish, while the front end remains more juicy. Yeast character lends some nice complexity and texture as well. The mouthfeel is spectacular, with lively, velvety carbonation that caresses the palate and enhances the quintessential flavors of the beer. This is the hefeweizen to which all other hefeweizens are compared. It's supremely balanced, perfectly executed, and possessed of perhaps the most enjoyable mouthfeel of any beer, regardless of style--undoubtedly world class.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 00:13:01 | More by MaximalC