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

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.78/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had this on tap at the brewery on 7-3-10. The beer was a cloudy yellow with a fairly nice sized head on it. I drank this without any fruit added. The beer probably would have been pretty good with a wedge of orange in it but I got the beer and that was all. This beer was a pretty standard hefeweizen. Couldn't honestly tell that it was an imperial in some way.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2011 23:58:03 | More by Knapp85

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a slightly hazy, honey amber color with OK head retention and pretty good lacing. The nose is impressive, though a bit puzzling. I get a considerable amount of smoke and bacon fat, which is not what I was expecting at all in an imperial weizen. The beer also shows a slight clove aroma. On the palate, this beer is outstanding. The flavor profile replicates the nose in this moderately sweet weizen, with the beer showing plenty of clove, allspice and nutmeg. Also, I don't know what ST did to get this in the flavor profile, but the beer has just enough spice and clove to give the beer a dry sensation in the finish, which is something I normally only see in "real" German wheat beer. Mouthfeel is rich and full; this wheat beer is a real presence on the palate. Drinkability is good, though I would still recommend that ST tone down the alcohol a bit. There was just a bit of heat in this otherwise impressive wheat beer that was a bit off putting. Otherwise, this is clearly one of the better "imperial style" beers I've encountered from ST.

Count me impressed, I'm definitely a fan.

Serving type: on-tap

05-28-2010 21:44:23 | More by johnmichaelsen

MrIncognito

Virginia

2.88/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Nice copper body with lively carbonation. Big white head that retains very well in its fluffy state.

S - Big wheat presence with a strange sweetness I think from the alcohol. Slight citrus hop aroma adds an odd mix to the nose especially with the maltiness in the air. Overall kinda smells like fresh cut hay with a touch added citrus.

T&M - The flavors just don't mesh well with me. This has the oddest flavor but I can't quite put my finger on what it is... but bubblegum is the only thing that comes to mind. At first sip it is nice and wheaty, which I like. Then the warm alcohol comes into play with some sweetness but the citrus hops are bitter enough to make the wheat and alcohol get thrown off balance. Then the bready malts come in and takes this in another direction. Kind of all over the place IMO. The mouthfeel seems fine to me. Moderate caronation yet more wet than I expected.

D - I really had a hard time drinking this one but I really wanted to finish it to see if it would improve. It was more tolerable towards the end as it warmed a bit but I just think the flavors are all over the place and don't blend well.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2010 13:22:13 | More by MrIncognito

david18

New York

3.15/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Southern Tier does this a lot. Many imperial style versions of beers not typically imperial. Chocolate beer with real chocolate. Black double ipas. A lot of them are successes and a lot of failures. I think this one is a success. It should have been served in a typical heffe glass rather than the bar/mixer glass that I got but this is good and hides the alcohol well.

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2009 21:04:49 | More by david18

BuffaloTapHugger

New York

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

A: Cloudy haze of orange, a little white head and some lacing trying to get out, but just couldn't budge.

S: Orange zest, yeast, maybe even the wheat in there a tad.

T: It packs a little punch of the gate. I like the fact its a heffy with some bite. Its your typical wheat beer with all the trimmings but amplified. Smooth and laid back with some alcohol hints on the withdraw.

M: Medium bodied, nice carbonation, honey notes sticking to the palate.

D: Drinkable? This is a session beer, so thats out of the question. Its refreshing. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2009 05:36:28 | More by BuffaloTapHugger

selecter70

Massachusetts

3.48/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I was bit let down with this one, as my other Southern Tier experiences have been excellent. This isn't to say that this ale was not worth it, or that I wouldn't have another, only that I thought I was going to get a more interesting weissbier (especially as an unfiltered). The pour was a bit cloudy, which thrilled me, the head minimal along with the lace. The aroma was not too perfume-y or extreme, which was good, and gave off a lemon-dusty clove scent. The flavor had a diminished powdery yeast with medium body & lemon. There was hinting at un-ripe banana and trace spices...white pepper? Definitely a bit lackluster and not "imperial" other than it's alcohol (which is not discernable to the palate, but definitely drinkable. I think I'd still choose a draught Harpoon UFO, but am glad to have options.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2009 22:43:50 | More by selecter70

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

3.48/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Draft at the Southern Tier Brewpub (The Empty Pint).

Pours a cloudy, almost opaque orangey gold with a creamy slightly off-white head.

Aroma is huge banana, bit of clove, yeast.

Taste is clean, almost candy-and-wheat sweetness up front, banana, with a big spicy yeast presence, leading to bitter clove on the finish, with noticeable alcohol.

Mouthfeel is a bit syrupy, heavy bodied.

Close to a weizenbock in feel, though without the subtleties that some of the traditional German breweries use in their takes. The alcohol and the super sticky mouthfeel thi sone good, but not overly drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2009 22:46:02 | More by JohnQVegas

jwhawkins81

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

The beer poured a cloudy golden yellow color with a huge quickly dissipating head that later resulted in decent lacing. The taste had a super great malty upfront that I really enjoyed. However that was followed by a spice and bitter after taste that stuck with me for way to long. Just not what I thought was complimentary to the sweet beginning of this beer. Body was an enjoyable medium but this beer isn't something I would drink a lot of. Probably a good example of a Hefeweizen, just not my favorite style.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2008 01:07:30 | More by jwhawkins81

edbeered

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap into a Chimay goblet, this pours an opaque yellow-orange color, with a fine white head that dissipates slowly, leaving ample lacing on the glass. The smell is sweet and fruity. The taste is full of the usual banana and clove one expects in a weizen. Additionally, there is a delightfully citrussy orange peel flavor that keeps this from tasting too sweet. I don't taste the alcohol at all. The mouthfeel is rich and smooth. This is dangerously drinkable due to the(to me at least)undetectably high alcohol content. I've never previously had an Imperial Weizen and this impresses me greatly. Good one!

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2008 14:19:53 | More by edbeered

DrDogbeer

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Union Brewhouse. Poured into a 9 oz glass. Pours a hazy dark yellow with a small white head. Smells of some lemon and spice and banana. Taste is similar. Lot of flavor for a hefe and it is very filling. Thick mouthfeel. Little tinge of alcohol in the back, but that is to be expected with a high abv. Nice beer and a bit more flavor than a typical hefe.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2008 17:39:51 | More by DrDogbeer

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

On tap, into a nice, footed, pilsner-style Schneider Edel-Weisse glass. Seems a little appropriate.

Clouded, dull straw yellow coloring, big, chalk white head, drifts down to a slim ring.

Aroma: soft banana, cream, and gentle spice. Banana cream pie, with a lemon twist.

Taste: lemon zest hits first, calm, cool wheat malt collects on the palate and promises great refreshment. Let's take another drink: Light spice, prominent citrus zing, then smooth, mellow and lovely. Hardly the hint of the higher alcohol...you know how this goes, though, right?..."no, wait...here it comes..."

8% isn't horrible, but plenty outsized for a hefe weizen. And yet it still captures all the qualities of a great weizen. Just a bit too big to really resemble a classic.

The benchmarks are there, though, they hit them, and they also threw a wrench in there if you want to fly a little higher. I'm still of the opinion that this is a style that should refuse "imperializing". It just should, there's clearly no point. But then again, the spirit of American craft brewing calls out: "if you can do it, ...it must be done."
Just don't make a regular thing of it.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2008 07:26:43 | More by feloniousmonk

TheMistler

District of Columbia

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Got on draft, in a Weizen glass. Poured a cloudy, dark straw color, with a white, foamy head. A good amount of lacing was left behind after the head subsided.

An intriguing nose that I found very pleasant. A spicy banana smell, with some hop crispness.

This weizen has a very chewy bread feel to it. It starts off sweet, banana with some clove. Spice then rolls through with some subtle alcohol. A nice interplay of spice and fruit is left on your tongue.

This wasn't as refreshing as I would have expected or liked (more). As a big Dunkel Weizen fan, I find it surprising that I can say that about a Hefeweizen. Nonetheless, it is a good, intriguing wheat ale with an aroma that I find absolutely intoxicating (for lack of a better term).

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2008 04:29:53 | More by TheMistler

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a nice hazy golden color with a nice white head that went away pretty quickly. Not much in the nose, expecting a alcohol smell or even a banana/ clove but nothing. It is refreshing, but doesn't taste like 8%. It is an easy beer to drink, but after drinking it, I feel that they were going for higher octane not so much the taste.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2007 01:11:26 | More by OWSLEY069

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.43/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap 2/4/07 at Pitcher’s Pub in Cumberland, RI, served in a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light gold color, with a thin white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is strong with wheat & yeast and a little bit of lemon and banana.

T: The flavors of wheat, yeast, banana and lemon are well-balanced and blend together nicely. There’s just a hint of spice as well. The malt character is a bit heavier than most beers of the style, as is the ABV, hence the name. The after-taste is bready and sweet.

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

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not very filling, this is a very poundable beer even with the well-hidden 8.00% ABV. I think it’s a very good representation of the style while taking the style to the next level. I liked it quite a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2007 16:03:30 | More by TheManiacalOne

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

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

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

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big fluffy white head and a body that gradients from pale gold to deep hazy amber. Quite pretty.

Smell is... remarkably pineappley. I don't really smell anything else. As the head dissipates, I kinda get applesauce instead.

Taste is kinda tart, kinda pineappley, and kinda oaky, with tropical sweetness and woody bitterness. A bit like a hoppy pina colada. It's interesting and not really what I expected.

Mouthfeel is thick; carbonation only becomes evident when aerated.

This is... odd. I go into a hefeweizen, I think orange, maybe apple or banana, coriander... pineapple is different. Reading the bottle, I guess I get the Czech hop character, but it's an interesting choice for something this thick. I think I approve.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2011 04:39:24 | More by zaphodchak

rlee1390

Indiana

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A-Cloudy orange, one finger head

S-Orange, wheat, spices, some hops.

T-Extremely malty, sweet wheat, orangepeel, cinnamon. Ends with some bitterness, easily an overhopped Hefeweizen.

M-Medium bodied, some carbonation.

O-Wayy to malty, the hops a flavorful but just do not go with the beer. Southern Tier really needs to kick this out of the rotation and bring back UberSun,

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2011 20:30:46 | More by rlee1390

tdm168

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Pours a hazy orangish-gold with little head. Smell is sweet and spicy like bananas and cloves. Taste is heavy, sweet, and malty. I get bananas and maybe pear or apple. This beer is far more malty than one would expect from a hefeweizen, but it's not a bad thing. Mouthfeel is thick and full bodied. This beer is well put together

It's not what you typically find in a hefeweizen, but anyone who enjoys a malty full bodied beer will enjoy this.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 03:40:46 | More by tdm168

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow this beer got some real hate lately. I happen to enjoy it.

A - A bit darker than one would expect but it is an imperial after all. With a light pour I managed to get no yeast in my 16oz weizen glass. Head is minimal but lacing is awesome.

S - First sniff I wonder what it was since indeed it is spicy. After much thought I figured it must be roasted barley with a touch of wheat, almost like a rye only more spicy. There is mild alcohol of course and a touch of candied banana's

T - Taste starts off sweet with banana's then only for a moment does it get a bit spicy with the cloves and roasty barley but it quickly again turns sweet with candied banana like taste with touches of caramel.

M - Almost surreal as I detect no alcohol in this. Drank like a normal hefeweizen.

Overall I guess I got a relatively newer bottle since indeed it does have a touch of sediment in the bottom but nowhere near enough to become overbearing. With little yeast taste, mostly sweet and very nice spiced aroma's, I do believe ST has won my praise again. A very nice take on an imperial.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2011 01:20:19 | More by DrDemento456

mikesgroove

South Carolina

2.8/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

The pour was nice,light and hazy in color with a nice cap of white hanging over the top of the glass. Nice rich looking head of foam on the top of the glass here now as well, nicely done I have to say. Aroma immediately is a bit boozy with hints of grass, touches of hops, and a light fruit note that seems to pick up the warmer it gets. Interesting flavor profile as well here. Not at all what I was expecting. Hints of grapefruit, a touch of herbal, floral notes and a really nice and well laid out malty background. Quite nicely done I have to admit. Warming seems to bring out touches of pear and apricot and a definite grape flavor finishes it off rather nicely.

Overall a very solid and very strong ale here. Light in body but it packed a wallop. Definitely a one and done for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 01:06:30 | More by mikesgroove

vfgccp

New York

4.72/5  rDev +22%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Cloudy light amber, apricot. Low head for the style. Ok lace.

S - Booze, green raisins, molasses.

T - Brown sugar, caramelized bananas / bananas foster, plantains. Soft malt. Toffee.

M - Medium body, pleasant carbonation. Creamy and smooth. Finishes sweet.

O - Fantastic drinkability for 8%. Delicious and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 19:01:55 | More by vfgccp

Ommy

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Southern Tier's Heavy Weizen shows a great dark golden color and forms a very tightknit head. Quite a bit of carbonation is seen which seems to cause the head to dissipate a little.

The smell does have the hint of banana as promised, and with a flurry of sweetness and hint of orange peel. I get a very faint sense of freshly cut grass along with it.

Upon tasting, the carbonation instantly tickles the tongue and spikes it with a bolder and fuller taste than the usual hefeweizen. The brew engages the tongue wonderfully throughout, and leaves a very pleasant citrus feeling on the finish that lasts.

The alcohol is present, though at 8% ABV it does well to hide it within the various flavors and sensations. The alcohol and the sweetness of this brew gives it sensation quite like mead.

Overall I would say this beer is a nice break from the norm of most hefeweizen and is definitely something I would recommend and will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 23:00:18 | More by Ommy