Ayinger Bräu Weisse - Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying

aspect

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Great looking beer, nice gold colour with a thin head that lasts for some time, lots of carbination visible.

S- Some citrus notes, ripe fruits - melon, pineapple, banana, - it does smell very good. The banana is most noticeable, which is very nice.

T- Bannana taste is very present, with some wheat and some spice as well. Its nice and sweet but not overly sweet, very good flavour profile.

M- Soft on the mouth, very creamy, medium body with a decent amount of carbination.

Very good beer, very well rounded and full of flavour, real smooth and enjoyable. One to try for sure

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 01:07:52 | More by aspect

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: 1/2" white head over cloudy straw liquid.

S: Lemon, grass, sourdough bread and clean yeast.

T: Lemon, sweet cereal, grass, earth, wheat and clean yeast in the finish. Very crisp noble hop presence.

M: Medium viscosity and a medium to high level of fine carbonation.

O: The best straight-up Hefeweizen I have ever had. Extremely drinkable, I bet this would pair well with chicken or pork.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 05:08:57 | More by DaftCaskBC

augustgarage

California

4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 500mL bottle into my Ayinger weizen glass.

Golden stil de grain yellow body is luminous yet quite cloudy; a fist of active ivory merengue is held aloft above. Superior retention - incredibly dense tendrils of lace.

Sweet, clean, faintly grainy wheat aromatics are subsumed by the distinctive yet gentle phenols from the yeast.

Tart palate entry is joined by a dough-y complexity in short order. Brisk, faintly sweet tastes dry out in the finish with hints of winter fruit and the slightest pinch of coriander and clove. Faint bubble-gum notes in the aftertaste, though the balance is such that it is difficult to nail down the character of the flavor profile. Ice cream bananas and hints of fresh cream emerge as the beer warms.

Soft full and creamy mouthfeel - nearly perfect.

Incredibly well crafted with balance in mind - one of my first forays into good beer - after many years, this has held up well and continues to be one of my very favorite examples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 20:30:11 | More by augustgarage

seanyfo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4.08/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

50cl bottle poured into Weihenstephan Weissbier glass.

BBE May 2012

A- Cloudy blonde body with a 4 finger creamy head sitting on top, excellent retention, medium lacing. Lively beading

S- Typical banana/bubblegum, a suggestion of a biscuity graininess.

T- Lots of banana and hint of clove which i didnt get in the nose. Hint of grainy sweetness toward the semi dry crisp finish.

M- High carbonation, medium body/mouthfeel

D- Expected it to be lifeless considering age but it held up well. Excellent sessionable summer biergarten stuff! Off to Munich for Oktoberfest so will stop in at Ayinger am Platzl and re-review a fresh version.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 21:01:11 | More by seanyfo

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a lightly hazy medium golden yellow in color with some moderate to heavy amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a three finger tall dense foamy white heads that has very good retention and very slowly reduces to finger tall cap in the center of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of bananas with a lighter presence of clove - smells like what I would expect for the style.

T: Like the smell, the flavor of this beer is also dominated by the flavor of banana and the lighter presence of clove. The beer is sweeter than I expected with the wheat flavors coming through in the finish.

M: Slightly heavier than light bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation.

O: Extremely easy to drink, refreshing, and sessionable - one of the easiest beers to drink and pairs nicely with food. I could easily have many of these in a session and would enjoy them all.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 12:03:20 | More by dbrauneis

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Bottle from the LCBO, 500ml into a weizen glass.

Unfiltered yellow, with an almost greenish tinge to it. Good retention and lace. Nose has banana, wheat, some herbal hopping qualities. A tad sweet and drying. Taste has more banana, wheat, gentle hopping leaving a light bitterness and slightly drying light body. Full flavoured, and very easy drinking. I'd put this behind Weihenstephaner, but I'd stock this regularly if I could.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 20:40:09 | More by liamt07

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours out a hazy golden straw color with a four finger fizzy head that dissipates in 20 seconds without leaving any lacing behind. Medium-light body and carbonation levels.

Smells of banana, medium amounts of clove and vanilla, and a touch of yeasty bread. Tastes of the same elements but also contains a little garnish of fruity esters and earthy hop tone on the back end of the sip. Keeps semi-dry throughout, in fact, a touch drier overall than most other hefes I've had.

My only complaint is the lack of head formation, unusually tragic for a wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 01:13:22 | More by WastingFreetime

jimmah120

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Cool looking German style bottle into flute

Look is a very cloudy golden yellow with a small fizzy head that fades very quickly. smell is yeast, clove, wheat, and banana in that order. Taste is bright and crispy banana, clove, apple. Fell is crisp and light, high amount of carbonation

This would be excellent on a hot summer's day.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2012 02:39:53 | More by jimmah120

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

P:  Hazy two toned body that goes from dark golden on top to a pale yellow bottom. Highly aggressive effervescence and crowned with a thick dollop of pure white meringue head that sparkles. 

S:  Fresh citrus, apricots, sun kissed wheat, spices, powdery yeast, saltine crackers

T/M:  Taste follows the nose nicely with additional banana, lemon zest and honey notes. Super clean and fresh.  Coriander and powdery yeast are blended into the fruity sweet and tartness very well.  Soft and delicate mouthfeel that is creamy and leaves your mouth slightly dry. Carbonation is subtle and highlights the simplicity of this delicious hefe-weizen. 

O:  I really liked this beer.  Although  I liked it the powdery yeast almost disrupted the crisp clean citrus and wheat flavors.  All in all a fantastic hefe that I would easily drink multiples of on a nice summer or spring day. 

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2012 23:10:41 | More by Hopswagger

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into small cup, color is gold, with creamy white head that lingers throughout.

Smell is clove and bananas, with some pleasant wheat and bread flavors.

Taste is style defining for the hefe, blend of wheat, bread, clove, bananas - a little thinner than some but the mouthfeel is pleasant as it warms

Overall great brew, and all the better in the sun

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 20:55:17 | More by mvanaskie13

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

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

Appearance: very active carbonation; pure white head with large bubbles that last a few minutes; almost clear, gold like a cider

Aroma: huge spice and fruit - banana, coriander

Taste: light in flavour and body, although flavour could be referred to as subtle - white grape and golden delicious apple are hinted at in the juicy and lightly sweet taste and texture; the sometimes unpleasant bitterness of a weizen is very minimal here, instead there's just enough balance to keep it at once pleasant note; spice is less in evidence than it was in the aroma

Overall: one of the better weizens I've tried; simple but with enough complexity to make it interesting, and quite refreshing

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 00:20:43 | More by BGDrock

BierStein711

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle poured into weizen

Spectacular brew!!

Hazy-straw gold with four finger off-white head, moderate carbonation.

Smells: banana, wheat, citrus, cloves, hop

Taste: Banana, wheat, citrus, and light hop for finish

Mouthfeel: Moderate, a slight bite at a finish.

This hefeweizen was brilliant! I can't wait to explore more of this brewery's offerings.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 16:02:24 | More by BierStein711

Eddxii

Florida

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

As I have joyously lamented before, good German beers are the hardest to review because they are just really damn good and there’s not much else constructive to say. However, I will do my best.

Bräu-Weisse pours a pale golden yellow, cloudy through and through, with a dry sparse foam that dissipates quickly. Under the light the entire glass radiates its color as if illuminated from within. The aroma is bright, flowery, with a soft note of banana hidden among the blooms. On the first taste its wheaty foundation is a delightful sign of things to come. The balance is flawless. It’s a sparkly beer, dry and sweet with a hearty banana bread finish. It is refreshing.

As to be expected, this is most certainly a day beer, one that could easily fill and refill a glass over the course of an afternoon. It is a post-meal beer. Not overly filling, but full-bodied enough to stand in for a summery dessert. Though by no means should you skip the Krapfen.

Though I will always have a preference for the darker side of beer, hefeweizens and other exceptionally-made German beers have given me a reason to see the light.

Finally, I should mention that at $3/bottle in Boston the Ayinger Bräu-Weisse is grand theft.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 01:35:22 | More by Eddxii

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hazy very pale blonde, 1.5 fingers of white head with some lace as well. Smell has lots of banana and baked bread, crisp lemony citrus, malty with a bit of clove and spice and quite yeasty as well. Taste has lots of overripe banana, bready with more citrus and lemon rind, wheaty and yeasty, with a bit of spice and clove in finish with a bit more banana. Solid hefe, refreshing and very drinkable, very well made stuff here.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 16:51:40 | More by peensteen

CanuckRover

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a very pale yellow. Head is a tad thin for the style, but great retention. Oddly clear and a whole lot of bubbles cascading up.

Holy banana! Very strong banana flavour, almost, and I don't mean this in a bad way, like the ol' banana penicillin. Just a slight yeastiness.

Surprising lack of the expected banana on the tongue. I'm mostly just getting very clean wheat malt. Bit of zing in the finish, but little fruit and not much spice at all.

Degree of carbonation on this really through me, wasn't expecting it at all. Blindfolded, I might call this a Kristalweizen.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 23:35:42 | More by CanuckRover

ArrogantB

Colorado

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

500ml bottle $3.49. Yellow, hazy, good head. Typical hefeweizen aromas, banana, gum, yeast, esters. Flavor follows the aroma perfectly, yeast, esters, spot on for the style. If you like hefeweizens this is pretty much spot on for the style and really refreshing on a hot day. I'd like another one but I only have one bottle. :(

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 22:56:10 | More by ArrogantB

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500 mL bottle from the LCBO; no packaging info given.

Pours a foggy, pale golden-yellow colour, with three fingers of puffy, pillowy, luxurious white head erupting at the surface. Retention is quite good - the dissipation of the head is a very gradual process, ultimately leaving a dense, smooth cap on the surface, as well as a thick collar of lacing smudged around the side of the glass. The aroma is clean and crisp, with a backbone of wheaty malt sweetness that supports the banana and clove. Fairly yeasty, with some herbal hops and an unmistakable bubble gum vibe.

The first sip tells me most of what I need to know - enough to convince me that this is an excellent hefe. Pale, bready malts and sweet wheat mingle amongst some prominent banana-and-bubblegum notes. Comes across as quite floral/fruity for a hefe, with twinges of apricot and citrus. The understated clove spiciness comes forward in the finish, with a yeasty, spicy aftertaste that clings to the tongue briefly. Not overly sweet or overly dry; very well-balanced. On the lighter side of medium-bodied, with some slight chewiness. The moderate carbonation gives it a crisp, refreshing mouthfeel ideal for outdoor summer drinking.

Another fabulous German-made hefeweizen to scratch off the list. Weihenstephaner probably edges this particular one out for the title of my 'favourite' hefe, but realistically the difference in quality is miniscule - this is still a perfectly acceptable substitute. Besides, it's nice to see some added variety at the LCBO anyway.

Final Grade: 4.35, an impressive A grade. Ayinger Brau Weisse is a superb wheat beer that can easily be considered one of the best hefeweizens available - well worth stocking year-round, though I won't hold my breath. A must-try for sure, particularly if you are a fan of the style. This would definitely enter my wheat beer rotation if it were available here regularly, but for now it will have to serve as an occasional treat.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 03:19:28 | More by thehyperduck

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Ayinger BräuWeisse is ghastly pale and, somewhat unusually, maintains most transparency even after the bottom contents of the bottle have been swirled around and dumped in. It's not exactly brilliantly clear, but given the washed-out complexion looks very light. Its surface has the same view as an airplane window at cruising altitude.

The aroma - chock-full of grain and zest - is the olfactory equivalent of driving down the street in the summer with your windows down and your favourite song pumping loud. My thirst is practically quenched just smelling it! The potpourri-like yeast mists scents of lemon, flowers, banana, a touch of musty clove, and more and more banana.

On the palate, the beer is breezy and refreshing with swift carbonation and plenty of lemony, citrus zest. There's also enough banana to satisfy a chimpanzee. Spice is relatively muted although a pinch of clove is tasted in the finish. The beer maintains itself even after warming as complimenting flavours of grain and dried flowers open up.

Well-brewed Hefes are as relaxing as a long sit on a quiet porch, which, coincidentally, is a great way to enjoy them. (Noisy patios work well too, mind you.) It's a highly social beverage, casually quaffed and vigorously carbonated. It's far from one of those beers that people find hard to drink a whole one of - in actuality, it's hard to drink *only* one of!

I've had even past-dated, well traveled bottles of Ayinger BräuWeisse that I wouldn't hesitate to class among the world's finest wheat beers. So far as I'm concerned trying to rank brands like Ayinger, Weihenstephaner, Schneider, Paulaner and the like is a senseless endeavor. The fact is they're all fantastic and each worthy of a rotating spot in the fridge.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 17:40:45 | More by biegaman

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Single bottle with handsome label from the LCBO. Poured into a hefeweizen glass.

A hazy light golden-orange brew, with a decent grown of foam, which dissolves into a fine ring.

The nose is everything right with a hefe - wheat malt, mild yeast quality, banana, clove, herbal hops, and this brew's defining attribute - bubblegum and candied fruit.

Similar tasting notes as in the nose. I find that hefe's tend to focus on one or two particular features, with some being banana-, citrus- or clove-heavy. This brew was supremely balanced, and although I found this brew had a strong bubblegum/candied-fruit flavor, it did not run away with it. Lighter bodied, ludicrously easy to drink, soft carbonation, slight creaminess.

No surprises here, this is a terrific hefeweizen. Glad to see this in the LCBO and ready for more!

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 19:02:37 | More by JohnnyBarman

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a hazy pale straw colour, thumb of head with solid retention and nice sheeting lacing.

S - Scent is sweet with a solid presence of cloves, bubble gum, bananas and a heavy wheat presence.

T - Much like the nose but nicely balanced with the cloves and bananas offering up the perfect complement to a bready wheat flavour.

M - Medium bodied, though can come across light, goes down smooth and finishes with a touch of dryness.

O - A tasty hefe and a great example of the style. I was pleased to see this finally hit the local LCBO shelves and will be certain to grab a few more before they quickly disappear.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 17:06:11 | More by andrenaline

ONUMello

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle poured into a weizen glass
A: Hazy straw color with a generous 2+ finger head that dissipates quite slowly
S: Banana, clove, wheat and a bit of yeast. Maybe a bit of bubblegum. A bit sweet but very enjoyable overall.
T: Bubblegum and banana in a big way upfront, followed by hints of clove/wheat then another big hit of banana/bubblegum on a lengthy finish. Again a bit sweet, but very tasty.
M: Light & crisp, yet a bit creamy at the same time. Nice overall.
O: This paired quite well with steamed lobster tail dipped in butter. Both were light and the creaminess of the butter matched the mouthfeel beer. Even on its own this is tasty and complex- very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 22:54:21 | More by ONUMello

scott451

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a weizen glass. An overflowing billowy white head cloudy pale dirty apricot. Great head retention and lots of foamy lacing.

Spicy fruity yeast smells. Some bread notes. The flavour is rather more subdued than the smell. Pumkin, banana. A bit of a sour note in the finish.

Medium light finish. Smooth. Overall an interesting fruity hefeweizen. Not my personal favourite but well worth a try

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2012 18:17:34 | More by scott451

Rijtjeshuis

Ontario (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Look (3.5/5) – Pours a rich straw-yellow colour. Head was all-right: it rose generously on a good pour; was a bit soapy in texture; fell a bit quickly to a cap with minimal lacing. The brew was very opaque, as you’d expect from the style. Some nice visible carbonation.

Smell (4/5) – A really nice light wheat character gives the foundation for the aroma, although on first blush I got a bit of that latex-like smell it went away fairly quickly. The typical banana-clove (leaning a bit more to the banana) aroma of weizen yeast is a little more subdued here than in some I’ve had. I think there may be a slight hint of something a bit more sour or sharp in the yeast as well (maybe pears). This basically makes a nice balance between yeast and malt with no real hop or alcohol to speak of.

Taste (4.5/5) – The flavour is a bit more complex than I found with the aroma. The wheat-centered malt character is more-or-less the same and lends a light backbone for the yeast. The yeast really impressed me: it had the typical banana and clove notes (leaning toward some spice on the palate, unlike on the nose); there were also some really nice lighter fruits (pear, nectarine) and some good floral character, but these linger in the background and give depth to the yeast flavours. I think there’s a slight hint of yeast flavour on this one as well. Bitterness is light – just enough for balance – and is paired with some nice spiciness that lasts into the finish.

Feel (3.5/5) – Good for the style. Medium-light body with the yeast giving the feel of body with higher carbonation. There’s a bit of spice that lasts into the finish that I really liked.

I liked this one quite a bit. I think it’s a great example of the style, though maybe not the best one I’ve ever had (I really do think that the uncharacteristically dark Schneider Weisse is the best).

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 00:55:31 | More by Rijtjeshuis

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a really large head of white creamy foam. Colour is a pale, yellow with a strong haziness to it. Probably paler than I would expect, like lime-juice.

Smell is noticeably spicy and unsweet, bit of cinnamon and clove. Very fragrant, with a good grapefruit character as well. Quite interesting.

Taste is initially a refreshing banana character, with shows some wheat-like notes later. Nice creaminess, with the spice more in the background. A slight sour citrus edge which cuts through the beer is somewhat atypical.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, not watery but has a very refreshing character to it, not over-assertive. Finish is smooth, not particularly long, but sits really nicely.

Makes for an nice drinkable beer. Worth seeking out, good flavour, and solid all-rounder.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 00:55:22 | More by mick303

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

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

Beer is a cloudy straw colour with a large white head. Good retention. Classic hefeweizen.

Banana and clove in the nose. Bubblegum. Wheat.

Taste is the same. Clove up front, banana and yeast right behind. Crisp. Pretty simple, but good.

Light bodied, highly carbonated.

Overall, a textbook hefeweizen. Good, but nothing remarkable about it.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 03:50:36 | More by jrenihan