Heavy Weizen (Imperial Unfiltered Wheat Ale) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

saintwarrick

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Imperial hefes, what won't they think of next? This brew smells like a hefe, nice lemon zest with a small hint of banana muffins; so all good on that point. The brew looks solid; nice and cloudy as it should be, a little darker than a regular hefe, a dark peach and gold. Head is not as big as it should be, though it keeps a nice white lacing. Taste starts off like a hefe, light and with some clove and lemon cake, then the imperial starts to take over. Where a normal hefe is refreshing, this turns a bit thicker, lending a sweet syrup taste to the brew. Not much alcohol noticeable despite the increased thickness.

A pretty well-rounded brew and a nice departure from the original hefe style, though I would prefer a normal hefe anytime.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2009 03:48:46 | More by saintwarrick

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

05-16-2013 22:22:23 | More by Slatetank

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-15-2013 05:42:15 | More by Kelp

matjack85

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

02-07-2013 00:53:45 | More by matjack85

DmanGTR

New York

4/5  rDev +3.4%

01-30-2013 18:27:39 | More by DmanGTR

DrIPA

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

01-24-2013 02:12:08 | More by DrIPA

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into weizen glass, no bottle dating but this has been retired for a couple years at least. Pours very hazy golden amber color with a fairly dense 1-2 finger white head with good retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing on the glass. Aromas of big banana, lemon, pear, wheat, caramel, honey, clove, bread, orange, pepper, bubblegum, earth, and yeast spices. Pretty nice aromas with good strength and decent balance; the age is definitely apparent. Taste of banana, orange, clove, pear, wheat, biscuit, caramel, lemon, pepper, honey, earth, toffee, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of banana, light fruits, wheat, biscuit, clove, caramel, pepper, and yeast spices on the finish for a good bit. Nice balance and complexity of flavors; good fruity/spicy flavor balance; zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a slick and creamy mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice imperial hefeweizen. Nice balance and complexity of flavors; and very smooth to drink for an 8% beer. Very enjoyable offering, despite the noticeable age.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 04:58:31 | More by superspak

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.4%

09-20-2012 22:41:43 | More by Molson2000

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from 2/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a medium orange gold amber with a thin off-white head with decent retention. Aroma of wheat, banana, cloves and other Belgian spices. Flavor follows, with Wheat, banana and clove elements, almost like a cross between a tripel and a weizen. Has an odd bitter taste in the middle and end. Medium bodied. An odd take on a hefeweizen, but interesting.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 18:44:04 | More by LiquidAmber

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Found a bottle of this in a liquor store in Rehoboth Beach. I now see that its retired. I hope its still good!

A-cloudy gold with a large frothy cream colored head

S-smells like bananas, nectarines, and cloves. very good smelling. strong scent.

T-comes in with a strong and bitter taste of wheat, bananas, and cloves. there's also a hint of alcohol to it. the after-taste has a plasticy bitterness with a hint of the wheat. its an odd and unbalanced beer.

M-creamy with very low carbonation and a watery finish.

O-the idea of a strong hefe really intrigued me, but as i expected it really isn't well done. i have a feeling that if Southern Tier toned this down a bit, that it could be a very drinkable beer, yet never reaching the greatness of the German hefes.I think ST knows this, so they amped the beer up to be an imperial hefe so that it had some sort of allure to it. I'm glad i tried this, i'll finish the bomber with a smile, but i won't get this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 04:20:32 | More by AdamBear

ltdantheman

Georgia

4/5  rDev +3.4%

02-20-2012 23:06:12 | More by ltdantheman

Tyrawlings

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

02-19-2012 01:48:58 | More by Tyrawlings

cratez

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled at Brew Sherpa’s "Beer, Deer & Christmas Cheer" event at The London Club in December 2011. Bottle was purchased at Ryan's Party Store in Port Huron, MI.

Pours an unfiltered and hazy golden hue with amber edges and a sliver of white foam that subsides after a few sips.

Smell is yeast esters, lemon peel, clove, unripened banana, bubblegum, light phenol, wheat husk, melon fruit, and ethanol.

Taste is honey, wheat malt, banana, and lemon upfront; grassy, herbal and leafy hops precede an assertive bitterness with some cantaloupe and liquor on the cough.

Mouthfeel is full-bodied and creamy, brief astringent hop bitterness transitions to a warming alcoholic finish.

Overall, Heavy Weizen is a pretty decent take on a hoppy double wheat ale. In many ways it reminds me of Les Trois Mousquetaires Weizen Impériale (though not as stellar). I was expecting more spiciness and less booze from the palate, but on the whole this beer has solid flavours and aromas that are consistent with the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 23:26:31 | More by cratez

jfcaa193

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

02-02-2012 03:16:15 | More by jfcaa193

schoun

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.4%

01-07-2012 13:49:31 | More by schoun

animal69

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

01-03-2012 01:44:32 | More by animal69

logicalparadox

New York

2.5/5  rDev -35.4%

12-22-2011 04:18:46 | More by logicalparadox

dowen44

Georgia

4/5  rDev +3.4%

12-21-2011 17:42:01 | More by dowen44

mylar

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +29.2%

12-13-2011 23:38:47 | More by mylar

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.4%

12-12-2011 20:14:18 | More by djrn2

rab53

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +29.2%

12-09-2011 04:01:38 | More by rab53

patmcd

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.4%

12-08-2011 19:31:45 | More by patmcd

zipyth3pinhead

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +29.2%

12-06-2011 06:13:37 | More by zipyth3pinhead

JohneHoodlum

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%

12-06-2011 00:43:34 | More by JohneHoodlum

THECPJ

Delaware

4/5  rDev +3.4%

12-05-2011 15:59:56 | More by THECPJ