Weihenstephaner Kristallweissbier - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

moosiz

Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a big bottle into a 0.5l Weihenstephaner glass this brew looks amazing! A 1"+ billowing white head sits atop a crytal clear golden tower of steady carbonation. A couple drinks leave a nice heavy ring of lacing.

Smells much like the original style with some banana, citrus, and clove. But this one is very clean with not as much funk to it. If that is good or bad is up to the drinker.

Tastes great too! The flavors mingle together seemlessly and provide a nice thirst quenching punch followed by a slightly drying finish.
Yeasty/bready, little citric kick with cloves and peppery spice.

Very solid feel with a sweet crispness, finishes dry.

Quite drinkable. This one could be a pounder.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2009 23:20:18 | More by moosiz

seanyfo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.6/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- poured in my tradional weissbier way - pour slowly, then roll the remaining inch of weissbier in the bottle to mix up the brew and pour on the head. Produces a stunning thick 3 finger head blossoming just above the rim of my Tucher Weizen glass. Pale golden body, with lots of lively beading. Head remaing all the way down with lots of brussels lace. Fantastic

S- Fresh bread with bananas, typical weizen notes, smells super fresh,

T- Banana is beautifully strong in this beer, fading into a dry crisp finish, no watery finish which i have experienced in some hefe's.

M- medium carbonation, the first few drinks from the glass, include a lot of foam aswell, making a delightfully creamy mouthfeel with a fresh crisp finish

D- No alcohol apparent here at all, could drink this all summer long, so refreshing and crisp while retaining all the good weissbier character. This is definitely the benchmark for Kristallweizens everywhere. This beer is one of my first memories of getting into the world of better beer and its probably my all time fav summer day beer. Prost!

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2006 13:02:18 | More by seanyfo

wschumac

New York

4.6/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from bottle into .5 l Paulaner Weissbier glass. unsure about how the filtered weissbier would taste, this is my first.

A - Clear nice golden amber color. Poured with 4 finger head but did not last too long.

S - Typical weiss smell aroma a bit lighter not as fruity but definitely citrus and yeasty.

T - Excellent weissbier taste. Not too overpowering and very refreshing. sweet malts and not too overpowering.

M - smooth and very light mouthfeel. Not heavy at all.

D - excellent choice for summer day

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2008 23:37:39 | More by wschumac

kshankar

District of Columbia

4.6/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Gold/straw color, clear and pale, since its filtered. Fluffy head with good retention, and some lacing.

Aroma: Banana is apparent, but there is also some form of biscuit aroma from it. Good scent of wheat and yeast as well...really outstanding.

Taste: Everything is subtle. The banana, the wheat, the yeast, the spices, the citrus.

Mouthfeel: Thin, and light. The feel at first is pretty creamy on the tongue, almost like a buttery roll (which comes from the biscuit scent). Going down is crisp and refreshing

Drinkability: I could keep going with this, its really good. I'm highly impressed with this. Refreshing, subtle flavors and the lightness of a wheat create a very drinkable beer.

Overall, a great kristallweizen, and a great example of the style. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2008 08:30:21 | More by kshankar

dgilks

Australia

4.63/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Crystal clear, gold colour. Big white head. Good retention.

Lots of banana in the aroma. Some clove and a hint of vanilla. I would like a touch more clove but there is good balance. Some wheat comes through too.

Big banana and clove yeast esters. Crisp, refreshing wheat. Realy well balanced. A hint of bubblegum.

A creamy, silky medium body flows into a light, spritzy finish. Classic weizen and it really works.

A great beer with lots of really nice flavour. I prefer the hefeweizen but this is still something special.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2010 02:27:48 | More by dgilks

TheHammer

Ontario (Canada)

4.65/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Clear pale close to sickly yellow colour but it makes up for it with ample carbonation and two fingers of solid head that produced ample lace and retained decently, but needed a little more push to make 5.

Smell: I've experienced unfiltered, full on hefe's that have a weaker nose then this, so top marks here. Banana up front with cloves, wheat malt and orange peel in the background. Didn't need a lot of warming to come out either. Not overpowering and something that entices you to drink.

Taste: Starts with mild wheat malt with a slight banana backing that slowly takes over as spicier cloves and fruity yeast come forward as a mild dusting of herbal hops finishes us off, although sometimes those hops fall a bit lame and offer a slight seltzer tone which stops it short of a perfect score.

Mouthfeel: Clean and crisp with excellent carbonation, superb transitioning, a nice light wheat, banana and clove aftertaste that doesn't get out of control. There's nothing bad that I can say.

Drinkability: Refreshing in extreme, way too easy to put down although surprisingly heavier then you'd think in your stomach. Part of that I think is the high carbonation, but part of it is just that's it's not as light that the crispness would have you believe. Still, very few complaints here.

Final Thoughts: Weihenstephaner markets itself as the world's oldest continuously operating brewery, which may in fact be true. Regardless of that though, it is easily one of the best brewery's around. This stuff is an incredible beer and practically the perfect example of the Kristalweizen. This is another exceptional beer brewed by the undisputed kings of Wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 01:35:50 | More by TheHammer

GermanHero

Vermont

4.68/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

The first beer I bought when I turned of age! Couldn't have asked for a better choice!

Smelt good, light but nothing too strong.

Tasted like the beer that was brewed in the little German village I stayed in when I went! Brought me back!

The feel is good, it fills your mouth but not the the point of over filled.

Clean and solid finish!

Defiantly drink again. Always in season and never a bad pairing

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2010 19:15:12 | More by GermanHero

CopeTech

California

4.68/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

What a nice beer, An excellent wheat beer, very light and fruity. Gentle banana and othe rwheat esters. Slightly over-carbonated, but that's to be expected from the bottle.
Crystal clear, with a nice white foam. Easy on the mouth a crisp and refreshing gentle giant.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 03:35:25 | More by CopeTech

BeerTaster

New York

4.7/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance clear golden yellow in color with a huge white head that went down to a thin layer that left a nice lace. Smell bannana clove and and lemon. Taste no bannana in the taste to my suprise hints of orange and lemon zest with firm malt bread and a bit of sweetness. Mouthfeel mediem body and high carbonation. Drinkability with out a doubt an outstanding beer for a summer day buy the pool or at the beach.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2008 00:41:12 | More by BeerTaster

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.7/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Appearance - bright yellow with a 2.5 inch head. Very carbonated.

Smell - This thing smells like a Hoegaarden on steroids. Strong smell of banana accented by cloves.

Taste - typical spiced wheat beer, except it has a stronger banana flavor. Very light body typical of a weissebier.

Mouthfeel - The light body hits the tongue and dissipates quickly. Aftertaste contains all fruity tones.

Drinkability - Maybe its just me and weissebier, but this thing is drinkable. The fruit flavors hit the tongue nicely while the lightbody makes this a nice session beer.

A comment on the style, the extra carbonation add to the flavor of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 01:25:27 | More by VncentLIFE

hwwty4

Missouri

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured a 16oz bottle into a Chimay Chalice. Pours a straw yellow with a billowy creamy head. Aroma is very light. Wisps of banana and vanilla come to the nose. Taste is sweet throughout with notes of banana and vanilla. Very straight forward. Extremely tasty. Mouthfeel is full bodied, yet light finishing with dryly. An exceptionally drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2008 21:43:31 | More by hwwty4

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

16.9oz bottle purchased at McKinnon's in Salem, NH. Pours a crystal-clear straw-yellow body with nearly two inches of rather persistent white head. Fruity, nutty and spicy aroma. Banana, lemon, nut, and clove bombard the palate leaving a fairly dry and clean finish with a hint of nut. Light bodied with effervescent carbonation. A super easy drinker and it went away too quickly. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 00:47:18 | More by MrHurmateeowish

BostonBiosafety

New Hampshire

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is an amazing beer that has a refined taste that few beers can match. This is a benchmark for the style...which I guess it should be since they pretty much invented it.

I like to let it sit a bit to allow some of the carbonation to pass. The overall mouth feel coupled with the aroma equates to one of my all time favorite beers. It is almost close to perfection.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 00:44:22 | More by BostonBiosafety

Offa

California

4.75/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I find this every bit as good as their hefe-weissbier.

This is gold with a huge, dense white head that is hard to control and long-lasting, shrinking only slowly to a permanent smaller head, leaving nice lacing in even rings.

The aroma is very perfumy but light, with light grain, pine, herbal, with a minerals.

The taste is similar, with strong, persistent, but it's light and crisp. There is a hint of minty bubblegum in the middle, before a crisp finish and a long, mellow grain aftertaste. It has light bitterness. This is delicious and full of flavour but refreshing and highly drinkable, light and crisp.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2008 17:25:35 | More by Offa

Fenrir088

New Mexico

4.78/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - Pours a Crystal clear pale gold, has a beautiful creamy white head that dissipates moderately quickly, the carbonation looks great.

S - Bubblegum is the dominant aroma with banana following close behind. clove and spice aromas are a little subdued bringing a sweet biscuit like malt smell just behind the foreground There is also a very faint floral hop smell somewhere in the background.

T - Not as intense as the smell, crisp and surprisingly clean malt flavours with a pleasantly fruity taste that lingers.There is also a slight citrus like acidity that is quite nice. a small amount of hop bitterness that balances perfectly with the sweet wheaty malt. overall it has a very light body, but definitely not lacking in flavour.

M - exceptionally smooth and silky with a nice bite from the carbonation.

D - I could drink this stuff from dusk till dawn no problem.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2010 19:44:11 | More by Fenrir088

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.8/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 16.9oz bottle into a weizen glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color with a large white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is full of yeast, wheat and bananas along with lemon, light malts and a touch of hops.

T: The taste starts with a strong flavor of yeast and wheat, which is quickly followed by a nice bite of spice and hops. Flavors of bananas and citrus are also present throughout each sip. The malt character is light but provides just the right amount of sweetness. The after-taste is bready and slightly sweet.

M: Very smooth and very crisp, light-to-medium body, medium-to-heavy carbonation, finish is very clean.

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not filling at all, decent kick, it’s the first Kristal Weizen that I’ve tried, but this beer has certainly made me look forward to trying more of them. This is a nice refreshing beer that I could drink several of, no matter what the situation. I’m also looking forward to trying more stuff from Weihenstephaner since I’ve now had two excellent beers from them.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2007 22:40:35 | More by TheManiacalOne

dfillius

Michigan

4.8/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Moderate pour yields 1.5 fingers of head that eventually goes away. Crystal clear light yellow liquid. What makes it clear? I guess filtering.

S: Banana and clove, wheat malt. Nearly perfect for a weiss.

T: Hefeweizen flavor all the way. Delicious and solid for that style, I suppose it's spot on for this one too since this is a fintered Hefeweizen. I would say this has perfect flavor

M: A bit thick/chewy? Not bad at all, this beer is smooth as well. The thickness could be from the creamy soup I'm enjoying it with.

D: Strong.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2008 19:37:41 | More by dfillius

drabmuh

Maryland

4.8/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I'm going to start this review by saying that if you haven't had this beer on draft in the summer on a hot day, you haven't drank a beer yet. This is one of my favorite beers of all time, a complete homerun.

This is one of the best session beers available on the planet, especially on a hot day. I've had this beer both of draft and in the bottle and draft is better so that's what I'm reviewing today.

Beer served on draft at a local beer bar, served as 0.5 L in a Weihenstephaner wheat beer glass. Beer is CRYSTAL clear, get it? Light yellow, super clear, nice steady moderate carbonation of medium sized bubbles. Tight white head forms over the beer and falls away leaving lacing behind. It looks like a light pilsner or something, its just so pretty. It belongs in a commercial.

The aroma is the only place that I can think of decent criticism. This beer does not really smell much of anything. There are subtle tones of banana esters, some sweetness, some wheat. Its not its strong suit.

This beer is thin, easy drinking, light, finishes cleanly, has nice sweetness on the front and carries to the back with the wheat flavors. No hop bitterness or aftertaste at all. Drinkability is as high as a beer can beer. It is excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2009 20:52:12 | More by drabmuh

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.8/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500 ml bottle poured into a weizen glass.
5.4% ABV, Store dark and keep cool 46° - 52°F, 8201 on the back, "Brewed under the purity law of 1516"

A - LOOK OUT! We got a gusher! Kristall pours -whaddya know?- crystal clear pale yellow straw with abounding carbonation (shit, it almost looks like a Miller Lite!) feeding a four-finger, snow-white head. The dense bubbles even sparkled like snow. Fantastic retention was only slightly hindered by the tip of my nose barely touching the overly fluffy top. No lace left over from the head until I took a sip, at which point thick clumpy lace remained caked to the glass.

S - Despite the beer's clarity, the nose is full of weissbier aromas; big banana Runt yeast esters, dry, soft wheat, pale malts, and the crisp clove spiciness with a light citrus pinch to it. Dare I say, "orgasmic"?

T - The flavor begins very wheat and pale malt driven. Dry and crisp with a light honey-like sweetness complimenting the flavors, it progresses quickly to a yeasty flavor that's bold but not overpowering. Clove spiciness and bold banana Runts blend with clay and white pepper earthiness.

M - Though there is heavy carbonation, it's a smooth drinking beer with a fair level of crispness to the finish. Looks can be deceiving; this one is medium-light bodied despite it's shimmering straw yellow color. Filtration has removed some of that softness the wheat imparts into the mouthfeel, but I'll be damned if this beer doesn't remain smooth as hell.

O - Another Weihenstephaner winner, Kristallweissbier removes the "unsightliness" of the yeast sediment and wheat proteins but keeps the core essence of the beer intact. Plenty of yeast characteristics have been infused so deeply into the beer they can't be taken away; earthy spice and boat-loads of bananas. While the wheat still plays a roll, the pale malt is more pronounced in this crystal clear wheat. Fantastic to the last drop, just make sure it doesn't erupt all over your table!

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 22:36:49 | More by BeerFMAndy

inebrius

Michigan

4.83/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Like Weizen-crack. Everytime I lay my eyes on a Weihenstephaner my mouth goes to slavering and I imagine myself sinking a hatchet into the melon of the beer store guy and running off with the lot. Profoundly balanced between the sweet malt and phenols and small dose of bittering hops. Each swig has your buds wailing for more. Peppery nose with the slightest hints of strawberry and banana. As tasty a Kristall as has ever been produced. When the Pope is not kicking out stained-glass windows it's likely he's kicking back with some serious German Wheat beers. Get some.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2002 06:13:01 | More by inebrius

lubcha

New Jersey

4.83/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

serving type - snifter (not by choice but it was very enjoyable this way)

appearance - very clear golden color with not so much head

smell - it smelled like banana, and not the candy banana flavor...like REAL banana

taste - very good, a little of the banana carried over into the taste as well, not bitter possibly a little alcohol taste but it was very enjoyable

mouthfeel - i didn't feel like i had to swallow it immediately

drinkability - i could see myself drinking this very frequently
i have been very partial to Hacker-Pshorr recently but this is definitely a new winner. German wheat beers strike again!!

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2008 02:08:11 | More by lubcha

bfree

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: very light golden color with a nice thick head
S: bananas, bubblegum, spices (clove especially)
T: same as the nose, and it is delicious...it is basically weihenstephaner hefeweissbier but spicier and lighter in the other ingredients
M: well carbonated and light bodied with a crisp finish
D: i love weihenstephaner and once again they did not disappoint despite my high expectations...it would be a tough call between this and their hefeweissbier, both are fantastic

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2010 03:35:51 | More by bfree

DogFood11

California

4.85/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I used to drink these on my lunchbreak when I was in the Air Force(only 1 but always wanted more) stationed in Bitburg, Germany. Loved it then, Love it now. What a quality brew from start to finish. Kristall style is somewhat hard to find but well worth a try as it is unique and a great daytime brew.

Appearance is exactly what it says on the bottle....Crystal Clear with lots of fine carbonation and a small consistent head. thats pure white fizzy almost. depending on the pour. I've had an aggressive pour be chunky and everlasting so its versatile. bonus.

There is a Banana and mild malt type smell. Its a beautifly blended taste that is clean to the point and gone. Drinkable at any time but this strikes me as a great daytime lunch beer. The best Kristal Weizen I've had and would be shocked to find one better.

I've often wondered why this style hasn't caught on at our local brewpubs and breweries. Its a great craft beer that I would love to see made by some local breweries.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2005 03:48:56 | More by DogFood11

lilbuddha

Maryland

4.88/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Note: this is my favorite "go to" beer. I've drank literally hundreds of these.

A - Beautiful and easily identifiable. Clean. Head is thick and lasts.

S - A bit weak, my first impression was that this might not have any flavor to it.

T - Ah here it is. For such a clean look, its got this nice little bite carried on the carbonation, kinda drying aftertaste. This is delicious cold, but I really prefer all the Stephaners just barely cool, and on occasion warm. These really just get better as you get about 1/3 through the glass its lost its chill.

M - Carbonation carries the flavor, smooth

D - For some time i drank these in place of light beer and would get quite inebriated... its just too easy to down these, and I've got a somewhat easily bothered stomach.

Going to update this the next time I have one warm.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2009 01:14:46 | More by lilbuddha

generallee

New York

4.9/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 500ml bottle into a Weizen glass. There is no freshness date on the label but there is a bottle number 0079 on the back label.

Appearance: The body has a clear golden color with lots of beautiful carbonation steaming up to the surface. The pour produced a very tall, aggressive and tight foamy head. It has a bright white color with great retention and lacing.

Smell: Its nose is full of fruity yeast with notes of banana and clove. There are notes of pale beady wheat as well and just a touch of citrus.

Taste/Palate: The flavor is very bright and fresh with plenty of fruity yeast. There are notes of banana, clove and a slight hint of citrus fade into dry crisp wheat malt notes. The finish is very crisp and snappy with some wheat tang and citrus quickly leaving the tongue. The body has a solid medium feel with cleansing active carbonation.

Notes: This was my first Kristalweizen and I was very impressed with the bright clean flavor and good solid yeast flavor. There was much more yeast character than I was expecting in this crystal clear German wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2009 04:25:53 | More by generallee