Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

barczar

Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy medium golden with apricot tones and a dense, puffy two inch ivory head that lingers indefinitely. Leaves sheets of spotty lacing.

Orange, lemon, and coriander form the initial aroma, supported well on a backbone of wheat. Tangerine and apple and banana yeast esters add complexity. Clove becomes evident as it warms.

Flavor is fairly yeasty, with a bready, slightly dry toasted malt finish that cuts things a little short. Underlying esters of bananas and bubblegum accent the citrus notes of tangerine and orange pith. Coriander and clove are somewhat subtle.

Body is moderate, with fairly high carbonation and slight alcohol warmth.

Good yeast esters and a surprisingly bready backbone. Fairly complex, but wish the flavor lingered more.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 00:18:09 | More by barczar

Rast

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottle off the campus of UVA with some architecture grad students and my beautiful bride & unborn bambino.

Pours like a liquid orange. Appears as such, for sure. Intricate lacing on the head. Now to the real draw. I may just as well have a mouth full of caramel. Richness and depth rules the day. I profess being impressed at a beer I hesitate to swallow, o but I do. Citrus, the richest, creamiest citrus in all the land. King among wheats.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 18:01:08 | More by Rast

iannutter

Colorado

5/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

What can I say that others haven't? This is Weihenstephaner. If you haven't tried it and are a lover of Weissbier, this is a must.

The appearance is beautiful, great head retention, good carbonation, and a beautiful, pale orange color to the body.

The smell is like sweet bread, overall not overpowering: just like a Weissbier ought to be.

The taste is very similar to the smell, but with light banana and vanilla flavors as well.

The mouthfeel is extremely smooth leaving you wanting more.

There are many Weissbiers in the World today and it still very clear to me why the State of Bavaria chose this Brewery to be their official representation of the style. Absolutely wonderful.

Prost!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 07:28:54 | More by iannutter

DentistDave

Iowa

4.64/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from one pint, 0.9 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

I was very excited to try this given it's sparkling reputation.

A: Pours a hazy deep golden color, almost orange with a 3 finger thick white head that is well retained, slight to moderate lacing. Certainly a beautiful beer to look at.

S: Strong on the banana, clove and bubblegum with a little peppery spice and citrus fruit as well. The aroma is very appealing.

T: Yeasty- wheat, with banana and clove (although not a strong as in the smell), some citrus fruit with biscuit-malt at the end. The taste is very well balanced, nothing dominates...a special experience in my mouth.

M: Light to moderate with good carbination. A lot going on in there...beer is popping around on my tongue.

O: Truly an outstanding hefeweizen - it did not disappoint. While this isn't my favorite style, the goodness cannot be denied and the drinkability factor is very high. I may have just found my go-to beer for the upcoming summer months.

GO HAWKS!

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 20:15:48 | More by DentistDave

Sludgeman

District of Columbia

4.21/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - Three fingers of white rocky head, well carbonated, little to no lacing.

A - cloves, peppery, a little farmyard funk

T - Bready and a little fruity

MF - A little fizzy, smooth

O - Refreshing, definitely not your run of the mill hefe. A wheat beer at the top of my list.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 02:46:10 | More by Sludgeman

urbanvets

New York

4.36/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours yellowish brown with large frothy head in Large chalice

Smells like orange peeel, banana cinnamon and clives

Taste follows the smell cloves dominates with sibtle banana and wheat flavorsvery tasty

Overall very smooth and easy to drink. Favorite wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 00:03:07 | More by urbanvets

admiral1

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

What a wonderful change from my full speed ahead IPA's & DIPA's. Wife saw case and said spring for it and it is quite delightful. Rarely do I spurge on such good beer but I have been dying for something alittle mellow so went for it. Nice rich color with a thick foam head and the smell of cloves and banana's very nice. Great, great desert beer, but still holding that beer geek flag high!!

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 21:25:02 | More by admiral1

ChugMan

Washington

3.28/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Food Pairing - (1) Fried eggs with steamed spinach on an asiago cheese bagel played well with the beer. (2) Medium-cheddar cheese was ok, wish I had some sharp cheese though. (3) Fresh banana was a surprisingly poor pairing, and gave the beer a powerful kale taste/sensation in the nose which was, not surprisingly, unpleasant.
A - Cloudy gold/yellow-orange. Glorious fluffy head left its mark after each swallow & never completely disappeared.
S - Nothing remarkable for the style, but certainly nothing off-putting
T - Similar to the taste, I was impressed by how seemingly unremarkable this beer is for the style- clove, wheat, yeast, all expected- with the exception of the fact that no one flavor dominates. There's a good balance here.
M - Sense of balance is especially present here. Nothing is out of place. Finishes a bit dry, but not parching, encouraging further tasting. Easy to drink.
O - I was excited to try this beer. Heck, it's the #1 rated Hefeweizen on the site after withstanding thousands of reviews. I can understand why, for this style, many consider this to be the best of the best: clearly there's an artistry to the elegance of this beer's execution. It's just very unfortunate that I don't find that terribly exciting.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 23:36:04 | More by ChugMan

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This is a very good beer to me for a wheat beer. Lovely aroma. Nice rich head a murky brown orange brew. The taste represents the genre well. It's almost a little sour, but this beer has a more malty sweet and citrusy undertone of flavor that enriches this beer into something special. I find a little alcohol presence and medicine like flavors reminiscent of this genre. A little too fizzy for me.

This beer pairs will with sounds of Gunter Sommer on his with the group Poire_z on either cds entitled + or Q.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 00:53:07 | More by frankiepop

zrbeer1579

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Cloudy golden straw with two and half fingers white head.

Aroma: Mostly banana. Some clove and bubblegum. Hints of wheat.

Taste: Banana, bubblegum, clove, lemon, and some cracked pepper. Bits of wheat throughout. Pleasant wheat biscuit aftertaste in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Median- light with carbonation a over median. Very prickly on the tongue. Just a slight dry finish.

Overall: While this is only my second hefeweiess, I really enjoyed this one. Always available and cheap.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 16:12:44 | More by zrbeer1579

ko21361

4.81/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I don't have much to say about this beer outside of what top advocates of it have already said. If you have not had this beer, you're missing out. If you have had it, I'm sure you are like me and jump out of your seat a little every time you find it at a bar or restaurant.

Truly art.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2013 01:22:13 | More by ko21361

lsiberian

Texas

5/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A-The color is a beautiful light brown with the perfect foamy head you'd expect from this type of beer.

S-The smell has a perfect balance of banana and cloves. The alcohol is not overpowering of the scent either.

T-The flavor matches the smell. It's light with that banana clove flavor that is perfectly balanced with no overpowering characteristics.

M- It refreshes the entire mouth with the perfect balance of carbonation and feel.

Overall this is my current favorite beer. I've yet to match it. If you need a nice refreshing beer that's easy to drink I recommend this one. It is an excellent introduction to finer beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 17:31:20 | More by lsiberian

delta490

Virginia

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

Poured a 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams glass. Appearance is a cloudy gold with a big creamy white head that lasts well into the beer and leaves nice lacing. Aroma is wonderful, with notes of banana, bread, and other fruity esters. Taste is great with all the wonderful aromas present. While the carbonation is visible in the glass, it doesn't overwhelm the beer and it's thinner mouthfeel. Overall a great weiss beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 05:40:26 | More by delta490

screamking

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

16.9 oz bottle poured ino a snifter.

Appearance-pours a hazy gold, with large off white head, a little lacing. 4

Aroma-very fruity, loads of bananas, classic bubble-gum, some orange, clove, dried pineapple. 4.25

Taste-banana taffy, bubble-gum, green apple, ground pepper, cantaloupe, wheat bread 4.5

Feel-medium bodied, middle of the road carbonation, slightly drying, you can feel the yeast in this one. 3.75

Overall-probably the best German beer I have ever had. Weihenstephaner claims to be the oldest brewery and I don't doubt it with this brew. This beer tastes like its been perfected over the last couple hundred of years. The price isn't to bad and it should be available in most markets, this is going to be my go to German brew. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 02:29:18 | More by screamking

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.7/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a murky straw gold with two full fingers of pure white head. The foam settles very quickly, leaving a solid ring of tiny bubbles along the edges of the glass. There is spotty lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is sweet with notes of banana, clove, lemon, and mild melon. This beer smells great.

T: It's sweet to start with a light malt base, and big banana and clove notes. Those flavors last through to the finish, where I get bit of yeast, but nothing too crazy.

M: Light bodied beer. Silky smooth from start to finish. Super flavorful and exceedingly easy to drink.

O: This is a world class beer. Yup, it's a hefe, and it's damn delicious. Will drink again soon.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 19:39:45 | More by trxxpaxxs

macrosmatic

Florida

4.15/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a pilsner glass.

A: Hazy gold, low amount of visible carbonation, with a one-finger white head.

S: Fruity yeast esters, cracker and wheat malt, and notes of apricot in the background.

T: Follows the nose very nicely. Yeast fruity esters (apricot, pear, apple, banana), nice sweet biscuit malt, all leading to a somewhat dry finish.

M: Light body, good carbonation sensation, low alcohol presence.

O: Not my favorite style but this is example is quite tasty. One of the best hefeweizens I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 05:10:08 | More by macrosmatic

TypicalAshley

4.83/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I first tried this on tap when I was visiting Berlin, and I seek it out whenever I can. The Weihenstephaner is my favorite wheat beer, with notes of banana and bubblegum, and a smooth, clean finish. No need to add a slice of citrus to this beer, as its full of flavor, and requires nothing more.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 22:08:39 | More by TypicalAshley

M_C_Hampton

Georgia

5/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: poured from a 330 mL bottle into a weizen glass, a perfect hazy golden yellow with an enormous white head that lasts throughout the consumption of the glass

S: yeast, banana, clove, fresh baked bread rolls, biscuit

T: banana, clove, cabbage, yeast roll, toast, nutmeg, cardamon, cinnamon, lemon, more flavors keep appearing as the beer warms

M: light, refreshing, lively carbonation, great aftertaste

O: this is the yardstick that wheat beer must measure against, I've had many but none are as good, quite common and quite delicious, treat yourself to a Hefeweizen Mercedes to see why this Bavarian brewery has been around so long, it really is that damn perfect

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 01:28:55 | More by M_C_Hampton

DrinkingWithCruthers

Alaska

2.7/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Disappointment truly is a hard thing to swallow and in this case somewhat literally. As a lover of beer and all that it has to offer, I sometimes find myself at odds with my worldly and often better educated beer peers. While some revel in the rebel spirit, I find more often than not that rebels are simply ignorant of the point and rebel for the simple sake of rebellion. I like to think that with the years I've grown in both taste and the ability to see the positions of others. However in this case, I must simply disagree.

Weihenstephaner's Hefeweizen(for my peers outside of old Europe) is highly regarded and it appears to be seen as a genre defining creation. However I wonder, who defines this genre? Does it change with time? And finally isn't enjoyment ultimately the thing that matters most? Coming from the northwest region of the United States, I find Hefeweizens to be mostly defined as a cloudy citrusy affair with a bright white head. However recently I've found newer breweries bringing back more of those delicious banana and clove tones that I so adore. Which is why I am so disappointed in this genre "original".

Appearance is exceptional for the genre and quite appealing visually with its mysterious orange yellow body and glass clinging white head. The smell is quite good as well if not a bit subdued. When we reach the taste though, this beer goes south immediately with a strangely aggressive carbonation. From there one is reminded somewhat of a pilsner with a lemon wedge on the side and to top it off, it leaves with a hint of iron and bitterness drying your tongue. Where is the banana? Where are the cloves? I want my smooth mouthfeel and delightful characters damn it! Instead I'm left with a mediocre beer that languishes and slowly warms much to my disinterest.

To be fair though, where I'm at is nearly half way around the world from this beers origin and perhaps I may have gotten a bad bottle or two. I've always said, "fresh beer is best beer". Though to play devils advocate, I have had an exceptional hefeweizen from the same area, in the same bottle and stored in the same manner with nary a complaint. I don't know, all I do know is I don't get this beer, I don't want this beer and will not be having it again anytime soon when so many more exciting and satisfying options surround me.

Label - 2
I include this with each bottle/can review because I feel that for the average consumer to even approach an unknown beer, it's the packaging that entices rather than the actual end product. Points and half points are given for Style, Readability, Tasting Note, Brewers Notes and Ease of Bottle Reuse.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 11:13:45 | More by DrinkingWithCruthers

Fusion7777

Virginia

4.49/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Backlog: This was the first truly craft beer that I had ever tried, and I remember it fondly even though I might not have been able to fully appreciate its aesthetics and complexity at the time. I was also an idiot and drank it straight from the bottle but that didn't stop it from being delicious. Bought a single from Wegmans for about $3. My first impressions likened this beer to fresh banana bread with some clove, and it was very smooth and easy to drink. Had a good combination of bitterness and sweetness that was both subtle and pleasant in character. A definite treat and the best wheat beer I’ve tried to this date.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 05:49:59 | More by Fusion7777

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

an outstanding brew, and probably the cheapest highly rated beer here on BA at under 4 bucks a bottle. pours murky orange color, brassy and hard to see through. thicker than a normal hefe, with a huge three inches of lasting bone white head. smells great too, some traditional banana notes, but hardly any of that clove spice yeast aroma. more floral than that, like a dewey spring meadow, clovery, heavy on the malted wheat. flavor also has the springtime essence, slightly floral again, which goes great with the fruity yeast and banana bread malt vibe. finish is a little sweet, a little bitter, a loaded with citrus juice. fuller body for the style is the appeal here, its really soft, but its big for a wheat beer. carbonation is lively, making this an easy drinking beer. honestly one of the best wheat beers I can remember drinking, the yeast is subtle but distinct, and that's what makes it. this is going to become a regular in my fridge for the combination of quality and value. many thanks for this one.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 18:38:32 | More by StonedTrippin

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A- Cloudy, pale orange body with a huge, frothy, slightly off-white head. Body is cloudy, but light does shine through, and you can see carbonation bubbles rising from the bottom of the glass. The head lingers for awhile, but doesn't leave much lacing.

S- Bananas, bubble gum, citrus, wheat, doughy bread.

T- Very nice wheat flavor gives way to flavors of citrus, banana, bubble gum and lemon bread. Subtle, but very nice flavors.

M- Excellent mouthfeel. While light-medium bodied with medium carbonation, the mouthfeel is almost full to the point of seeming chewy. Very nice balance and drinkability.

O- Great beer. I overlooked this one for a while, but it really is exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 18:29:41 | More by stephenjmoore

DoctorJoe

Ohio

4.84/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

If you could only have one hefe in your life, make it this one. I had this with a lovely fish dish at a restaurant on Ocracoke Island, and it has changed me. I always have this available in my fridge. Few other hefe's rival this one; most just look upon Weihenstephaner's work and despair.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 15:42:03 | More by DoctorJoe

tdm168

North Carolina

4.16/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - murky, hazy orangish yellow with a huge, soft, white cap of foamy head that has decent retention

S - bananas, straw, clove

T - bananas, faint bubblegum, straw, mild clove in the finish

M - light to medium bodied, crisp but well carbonated

This is a nice, refreshing beer with a decent flavor profile. The yeast imparts fantastic banana notes and some underlying bubblegum notes. The spice character is also nicely done. I really enjoyed this beer. It was an easy to drink, flavorful, refreshing offering. I'll definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 02:03:45 | More by tdm168

Moose90

Colorado

4.38/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From 500ml bottle into proper glassware

A – Big foamy head, bright chalky white. Very nice lacing is left. Beer itself is a cloudy yellow with some honey-amber darkness to it.

S – Bright lemon zest, some banana as well. Crisp cracker yeastiness to it as well. A little spice, coriander, clove.

T – Yeast, banana, cracker. Lemon zest and citrus. Light malt characteristic, but dominated by the lemon/banana notes.

M – Well balanced, somewhat sweet and sticky; very refreshing. Nice, crisp and smooth.

O – Very drinkable, great representation of the style. Quite impressive that this beer is always top notch. Better on tap, but the availability of the bottles is great.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 01:49:32 | More by Moose90