Live Oak HefeWeizen - Live Oak Brewing Company

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.46/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

64oz, filled 5/6/13 consumed 5/12/13
Doom glass

***900th BA review***, seems fitting to tick off another Top 250 brew

A: Pours hazy bright yellow color. Really pretty looking brew for the spring and summer. Full two fingers fluffy white head. Still carbonated, despite the leaking growler. Leaving some lacing bits on the glass.

S: On the nose, really bright banana character. Clove. Bright citrus. Hops. Really nice wheat smells. Fabulous.

T: Big banana and citrus up front. It's more pronounced than any other Hefe I have ever had. You get some clove and spice character in the mid-palate. Those yeasty esters. Nice crisp and clean finish. Deliciously refreshing.

M: Light medium bodied due to the wheat additions.

Serving type: growler

05-17-2013 15:44:26 | More by inlimbo77

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.68/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Body is a very cloudy, very yellow wheaty color, almost seems to glow; looks amazing. The head is pretty small for a hefe but sticks around for a while, and the smaller head is probably due to being in a growler a few days anyway. (EDIT: I gave a much more aggressive pour for my second glass and the head was a lot better.)

Smell is intense yeast, lots of sweet banana, cloves and light peppery spice. Got to be the sweetest most intense nose I've smelled on a hefeweizen.

And the taste is just as good or better. So much banana! So much yeast. Just a reall intense and delicious wheat character, mild pepper and clove and mild tartness to provide balance. Truly delicious.

Mouthfeel is incredibly creamy, very well carbed, very full and rich body. Excellent.

This is definitely the best hefeweizen I've had. I was 't sure what to expect or what was supposed to make this beer exceptional but now I get it; it's really a classic hefe taste but just so intense and perfectly executed. Heavy on the sweetness and banana, light on the spice and tartness. Fantastic beer.

9.4/10

Serving type: growler

04-07-2013 19:53:14 | More by AlexFields

Johnnyramirez

California

4.94/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Got in a growler thanks to Tofuspeedstar. Been wanting to try this for a while.

A-completely unfiltered. Opaque. Amber with a 2 finger fluffy white head. I've had other unfiltered hefe's but this one looked best from all I've tried. Lots of carbonation which was expected.

S-bananas, cloves, some pepper, citrus notes. Some wheat bread notes. Yeast tartness.

T-just like the smell. But better. More citrus than the smell, tad bit less banana. Nice clove and wheat flavor. Tart yeast balances it all out. Completely refreshing. Perfect beer

M-this is the only time I wish it was 90 degrees outside. The mouthfeel is perfect. So light and refreshing. Perfect carbonation. This in the middle of summer would be perfect.

O-my wallet is thankful this isn't available to me. I'd buy it year round. I drank a 32 oz growler way too quick. Sessionable as hell and just perfect. This may be the best beer to come out of Texas.

Serving type: growler

04-07-2013 15:50:50 | More by Johnnyramirez

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served from a growler into a Newport Storm pint. Thanks channels321!

Appearance- Pretty typical unfiltered heffe. Cloudy yellow with thin white head.

Smell- Spicey. Coriander, banana, lemon, wheat bread, grassy floralness. Again fairly typical of the style.

Taste- Lemon, yeasty bread, funky earthyness, green apples. Very crisp and refreshing.

Mouthfeel- Nicely carbonated. Smooth, crisp, clean. Would be great on a hot summer day.

Overall- This is a damn fine Heffe. Not a fan of the style normally, but this sets the standards for now on.

Serving type: growler

04-06-2013 16:10:50 | More by Seanniek91

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

DanzBorin was generous enough to send this bad boy up to me! Thanks man!!

Poured out as a beautiful hazy golden color with a fluffy white head on top. The retention is very good with a minimal lacing. The smell of the beer is very fresh very inviting with some soft banana aromas. The taste is soft also, excellent flavors of wheat and banana, the clove is hidden which is interesting. The mouthfeel is very smooth also, almost creamy. Overall this was a killer beer. Really easy and refreshing. Very glad I got to try it.

Serving type: growler

02-10-2013 23:49:19 | More by Knapp85

cavedave

New York

4.53/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to Crusian for this Texas treat, finally get to enjoy it, and with a homebrew partner too. From notes.

Beautiful look, like, take a picture, dark straw in color, rocky 3 finger white foam head, and stupid pillows of lace.

Smell is sweet bready wheat and delicious tart yeast, a hint of lemon, spice, a bit of banana too, Like perfume, man, really tasty here for real.

Man, the taste is somewhat different than the aroma hints. It is less spicy but holds hints of cloves, less banana but it is in there, the grain takes on a dimension of delcious, combined with the tart of the yeast, that is just so yummy I can't exaggerate. Most complex of style? No. Most full flavored of style? No. Could I drink this in preference to all I've tried? Yes, I wish I had a place to get this, it would be in the fridge always.

Mouthfeel is the shining star here, for refreshing, at the end of day, is what this style is about, and this is as refreshing a hefe as I've had. I have a feeling it lost a bit of carb on the road to me, but other wise this is perfect, the archetype, for clean flavors in a perfect viscosity and balance.

It would be nice to think I may yet try a better one than this. "Til then hope to taste this one again. Highest recommend. YOu lucky Tex. folk who can get this regularly. What a great beer.

Serving type: growler

11-18-2012 22:26:46 | More by cavedave

mdaschaf

Washington

4.48/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to Lee for sending this my way!

A: Pours a hazy straw yellow color with a one finger white head on top, nice retention with minimal lacing.

S: Lots of wheat, banana, and cloves in the aroma. Lots of spice on the back end, Belgian spices, a little bit of bubble gum.

T: Lots more banana mixed with bread and wheat. Plenty of yeast which comes through as some cloves, nutmeg, and faint pepper. A bit of bubblegum comes through at the end.

M: Light to medium bodied with medium carbonation. Extremely smooth and easy drinking.

O: One of the best hefeweizens I have had. Great flavor profile and easy drinking. If only it was easier to get outside of Texas!

Serving type: growler

11-10-2012 05:12:29 | More by mdaschaf

Treebs

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

64 oz. growler served in a Hacker-Pschorr weiss glass. Huge, huge, huge thanks to cfh64 for the growler and hitting a long time top want. Thanks Brad!!

A: Pours a perfect hazy golden color with a little amber mixed into the body. A thick and fluffy pure white head forms on the pour and it recedes slowly to a thin film. Soapy lace is left down the glass.

S: Great hefe smells. Cracked wheat, some banana with clove and other great phenolic yeast sweetness. There is a nice citrus hop profile in the background as well. As it warms a touch of bubblegum starts to come out of the nose.

T: Nice fruity yeast flavors with a little clove. Some minimal citrus hops with a nice strong wheat backbone. There is a stronger flash of bubblegum-like yeast in the taste than the nose. The flavors mesh incredibly well and it just tastes great.

M: Medium to light bodied with a little bit of yeasty heft to it. The carbonation is just a little low, but it didn't lose much in the growler.

O: This is a great American Hefe. I truly enjoyed this and the subtle hops gave this hefe another layer that made it very enjoyable.

Serving type: growler

10-24-2012 23:22:44 | More by Treebs

ehammond1

California

4.15/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Growler

Thanks for opening this long-time want with me, DarthKostrizer!

Slightly hazed golden and yellow with a moderately-sized, big-bubbled off-white head. This isn't as cloudy as some other hefeweizens I've had, but all in all, this is quite pretty and appropriate.

Balanced, expressive aroma of wheat, some juicy citrus flesh, clove, banana, and orange rind. Well balanced and appropriate.

The flavor is very nice as well and incredibly drinkable. Good amounts of wheat, sweet (citrus), low to moderate bitterness, banana, and some clove come together nicely.

Medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation.

Perhaps the best American-brewed hefeweizen I've ever had.

Serving type: growler

09-19-2012 17:43:29 | More by ehammond1

kevanb

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Cory for popping open the growler, glad I was able to get an ample pour of this. Reviewed from notes.

The beer pours a really nice golden straw color, slight hazy, nice amount of bubbles zipping around the beer. A light fluffy white head, about a finger high, looser soapy bubbles, fine retention, good lacing. The aroma is really well balanced, good showing of wheat, clove, banana, mild citrus with good sweetness. The flavors are a bit heavier on the wheat and malts, good banana, light citrus, hints of clove. This was wonderfully refreshing and extremely easy to drink, but very full flavored, nothing watery here folks. The body is spot on, light, crisp, great carbonation, very good finish, not too prickly as it goes down.

Verdict: I'm sold! Definitely one of the better American made Hefeweizens, can easily compete with the better German Hefeweizens as well. Refreshing, flavorful, light and effervescent, what else can you ask for in a Hefe?

Serving type: growler

09-16-2012 21:40:50 | More by kevanb

claspada

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light pale straw color with plenty of cloudiness and a fluffy white head.

Aromas begin with the traditional banana and clove esters, but not all that intense compared to the authentic German examples. The sourish wheat comes through nicely, as does a hint of citrus.

The tastes begin with the traditional yeasty esters but once again are not as dominant as you normally get in hefeweizens, which I extremely enjoy. The banana and clove are certainly there, but not they don't steal the show. Orange peel and light wheat sourness round things out, with maybe just a bit of lemon.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. Finish is lightly estery and bitter. Probably more hops used than your tradtional styles is the reason for that.

Overall, I can see why this beer is so popular, especially for people down in Texas. Quite easy to drink, light, and refreshing. It is almsot a mix of a Hefeweizen and a Wheat Pale ale which improves the drinkability.

Serving type: growler

08-22-2012 15:14:56 | More by claspada

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to JLindros for sharing this beer. Poured into a tulip.

A - Pours a nice hazy golden hue with a thin sudsy head that faded at typical rate to leave a nice halo.

S - A wonderful hefe aroma explodes upon opening. Tons of banana and clove along with some light orange/tangerine notes.

T - Again, wonderfully done with sweet, ripe banana , bright cloves and Corrianne, nice typical hefe spice profile.

M - Nice lightly creamy, slightly dry finish. Excellent.

O - Overall, this was a delicious hefe. Not sure how easy it is to get these growlers, but I'd love to get some more.

Serving type: growler

08-08-2012 16:05:19 | More by rudzud

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to dcloeren for this interesting beer. I'm not usually a big Hefe fan these days, but if I find a really good one I can really enjoy it.

Nice creamy head fades at med pace light lacing very hazy carrot orange color.

Nose typical well done hefe, banana, citrus, tangerine, blood orange, clove, coriander, light creaminess and effervescent.

Taste very nice, again typical but well done. Spices coriander, clove, light esters, banana, tangerine, light clementine and citrus, juicy, very light bitterness. Finish is dry, clean effervescent, tasty.

Mouth is med to lighter bodied, juicy, decent carb.

Overall awesome. A perfect rendition of a Hefe. All the correct flavors and aromas in good portion, effervescent, tasty, juicy, fresh, etc. This reminds me of drinking the fresh Weihenstephan Hefe at the brewery in Freising, and exactly what I meant by really enjoying a well done Hefe in the summer, despite not one of my fav styles.

Serving type: growler

08-02-2012 12:45:25 | More by jlindros

zac16125

South Carolina

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

growler poured into a weizen glass

A big thanks to zadavis for sending this one over in a trade.

A: Pours a light yellow- orange color.  Hazy to the point of being almost completely opaque.  1 fingers width of snow white colored head, which dissipates fairly quickly down to a thin film and outer ring.  Leaves only small subtle patches of lacing.  

S: Really spicy on the nose; tons of clove and cinnamon, with hints of white pepper.  A bit of citrus in the form of orange flesh and rind.  This smells amazing.  

T: Lots of wheat on upfront, some peppery spice on the back end.  A decent amount of clove, touch of bitterness on the finish, a little bit of citrus.  Pretty nice complexity and depth for a style that I generally find rather blasé.

M/D: Well carbonated,on the heavier side of the spectrum, which allows the flavors to hit the whole palate (amazing that the carbonation survived a transit from TX to SC in the summer heat).  Medium bodied, with good drinkability.  

O: This isnt one of my favorite styles, but this is a well done beer.  I love the spice and cinnamon characters but would have appreciated some banana notes.  Id certainly drink this again if I were to ever see it available on tap.  Definitely recommend to those who are fans of the style.  

Serving type: growler

07-17-2012 00:32:15 | More by zac16125

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From 64oz growler to Hess imperial pint glass on 5/30/12
*From notes

-- A big thanks goes out to siege06nd for saving me a good portion of this growler to take home. I really do appreciate it. Cheers, John! --

A: Cloudy and murky dirty yellow. Gorgeous stuff. A good pour yields a white 2.25 finger head. Tons of lacing and a thick, dense collar rim the glass. Some very minor white floaties swim in the glass. If I didn't know, I might mistake this for a Heady Topper.

S: Banana peel, cream, cool caramel, hints of raw vanilla batter and as it warms, I get a pronounced amount of cinnamon.

T: Very subtle. A bit acidic up front, followed by overly ripe banana and maybe a touch of yeast. Hints of cracked cloves hit next, yet it's not as in your face as some in the style. This is much more balanced. The finish is slightly fruity and quite creamy. As it lingers, it displays a slight tang.

M: Not great, but I'll credit that to the already opened growler loosing some of it's oomph on my way home. It's fairly light bodied for a wheat based ale, though it's also a tad watery, too. I'd like to see a bit more finesse, yet I enjoy how easy this is to quaff.

O: A very well done Hefe. I can't say it's better then Weihenstephaner's, which to me is tops in-style, but for an American interpretation, this is really very good. Easy on the palate, yet complex enough to hold my attention for the long haul. Well done. I can see why this is such a highly regarded brew. Thanks again, John!

Serving type: growler

05-31-2012 16:45:10 | More by Rhettroactive

siege06nd

Virginia

4.53/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to atxdelivery for this growler from the great state of Texas!

A. Pours a very cloudy straw gold. A huge two and a half finger eggshell white head at first, slowly settles to a half finger but lingers very nicely. Lacing and retention are very good.

S. Banana, apple skin, candied sugar, white pepper, and a very faint peach-like quality. Outstanding.

T. Follows the nose exactly...banana, apple, peppery notes, grape skin, and yeast. I still detect some peach flavors as well. A touch sweet, but this is really good stuff here.

M. This growler was filled a week and half ago, but I'm guessing this is exactly how it drinks on-tap. This is light-bodied, very crisp, and extremely refreshing.

O. One of the best hefeweizens I have ever had. For an American-produced hefe, it's between this and New Glarus Dancin' Man Wheat for the "Best Damn Hefe in the Land" honor. This is a very hard style with which to make an impression, but Live Oak has certainly made an impression on me with this one. Very enjoyable, I would absolutely crush this were it readily available in my neck of the woods.

Serving type: growler

05-31-2012 00:21:42 | More by siege06nd

sukwonee

Washington

4.38/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thank you Daniel for bottling this from Texas and sending it to me as an extra! So much appreciated and I think most aspects of this beer made their way into the bottle! Big Thanks!

A: Very very pretty looking haha. Hazy yellow. two finger head. Good amount of lacing.

S: Clove, yeast, banana, sugar? some sweetness can be detected on the nose.

T: It starts of like your typical German Hef - clove, banana, yeasty, and then finishes off very sweet and maybe... orang-y & lemon-y. Has longer after taste... and it's a bit sugary.

M: Smooth, low carbonation. Medium thickness.

O: Best hef from America. I still prefer Weihenstephaner but this one is quite awesome.

Serving type: growler

05-01-2012 21:10:18 | More by sukwonee

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

this beer pours a slightly hazy golden coor with a nice white head. the smell is yeasty with a nice balance of banana cloves and yeast. the taste follows through with the same balance between the bana and cloves form the yeast and the wheat. the mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with good carbonation. overall this is the best hefewiezen i have had.

Serving type: growler

02-20-2012 00:24:46 | More by rowingbrewer

birchstick

Missouri

4/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big thanks to jckp64 for the growler share!

A - pours a straw yellow without too much of a head (maybe a little flat)

S - nose is lots of lemons and wheat malt; banana and clove are also in the mix. However, the biggest scent in the aroma is bubble gum.

T - starts off with some soft malts that fade to a really nice bubblegum flavor. Mixed in are some lemon flavors. A spicy clove finish wraps up the flavor profile on this.

M - soft, creamy, and full - nice body!

D - really nice American Hefe. I still think the Germans own this style, but this is the best American take on it that I have tried.

Serving type: growler

02-19-2012 03:55:55 | More by birchstick

superspak

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this from a friend who lives in Austin, thanks man! 22 ounce Fischer swing top bottle into weizen glass, growler fill date of 2/12/2012. Pours super hazy golden amber color with a small 1 finger dense white head with good retention that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty lacing on the glass, and a fair amount of carbonation streaming up from the bottom. Aromas of huge lemon, orange, clove, banana, bready wheat, light pepper, and yeast spices. Nice and well balanced aromas with good strength. Taste of big lemon, orange, banana, grainy tart wheat, clove, light pepper, and yeast spices. Lingering notes of citrus, banana, light clove, wheat, and light spiciness on the finish for a bit. Great balance of flavors with good complexity. Good amount of sweetness with no cloying flavors. Medium carbonation and body; with a very nice creamy and slightly slick mouthfeel. No alcohol presence at all as expected for the style. Very smooth to drink. Overall this is an excellent Hefeweizen with a lot of flavor and nice complexity. I probably got it at lower carbonation than normal due to the packaging option in the trade; but I really enjoyed this offering and would have it again.

Serving type: growler

02-17-2012 03:44:40 | More by superspak

HopsKeepDroppin

Texas

4.88/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from 64 oz growler into Saint Arnold pint glass.

A- Pours a hazy straw color with 2 inches of creamy white head. Tons of lacing.

S- Wheat, a little banana and clove but they are well balanced and not overpowering.

T- Light banana and clove flavor that follows the smell. This is the best American-made hefeweizen I've had by far. Every flavor that should be there is there.

M- Nice creamy mouthfeel that really fits the style.

O- Flat out one of the best hefeweizens I've ever had. I would think this brewery was located in Munich before I'd assume it was located in Austin. Well done Live Oak!

Serving type: growler

02-16-2012 09:46:56 | More by HopsKeepDroppin

jimmy82063

Connecticut

4.33/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler as part of a trade...thanks Lady of Much Beer! Poured into a Brooklyn Brewery snifter...Brooklyn meet Austin!

A) Nice cloudy lemon and orange...head quickly dissipates.

S) Bananna and cloves.

T) I fell in love with this style last summer, the combination of the clove, banana and bubble gum is pedominant as it should be. There is a nice bitterness at the end which quickly goes away.

M) Probably a little less carbonated given the travel this guy had to take.

O) I can see the popularity....need to get to Austin!

Serving type: growler

02-10-2012 01:50:06 | More by jimmy82063

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler (Thanks Josh): Poured a hazy lightly dirty beige color weizen with a nice foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of light bubblegum notes with some what notes and some light cloves makes this a very interesting drink. Taste is also a good mix between some bubblegum notes with some light cloves and light banana ester. Body is quite full with good carbonation. Well brewed though I usually prefer my weizen with more banana ester but glad to had a chance to try this beer.

Serving type: growler

01-23-2012 20:24:06 | More by Phyl21ca

cbeer88

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 64oz growler in SA Perfect Pint glass. Long-time want, and huge thanks to raffy313 for filling it with the unsolicited Christmas present!

Appearance: Body is cloudy golden white in color. Head is fluffy white but not terribly long lasting, and the lacing is minimal. From the appearance I'd think this to be a wit instead of a here, but it's a nice color.

Smell: Quite a bit going on in the nose. Banana and clove as expected from a hefeweizen are there, but there's also a powerful sweet (candy?) smell, and some wheat.

Taste: Basically tastes like it smells, with the addition of some nice vanilla notes.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, adequately carbed, and no alcohol taste at all.

Drinkability: All night long. This would be a go-to tap in the summer if it were local.

Overall: I've been wanting to try this guy for a while and I'm glad I had the chance. It's an excellent hefe, and an excellent beer in general. I don't think it's quite on par with the best German hefeweizens, but it's definitely as good as any American version that I've ever had.

Serving type: growler

12-27-2011 22:43:19 | More by cbeer88

Azurescens

Washington

3.95/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

64oz growler poured into Hair of the Dog tulip reviewed on 10/21/11.

A: Pours a pale hazy straw with white head that dissipates rather quickly and leaves some lacing around glass.

S: Pale malt and wheat with yeast, banana and clove notes. Aroma is pretty typical to a Bavarian hefeweizen.

T: Very light with wheat, pale malt and similar banana and clove esters as the aroma but not as strong.

M: Thin light body with lots of carbonation and dry finish.

O: One of the best Bavarian style hefeweizens that I have had from the US but still not as good as many of the true ones from Germany.

Serving type: growler

11-18-2011 02:48:32 | More by Azurescens