Ayinger Bräu Weisse - Privatbrauerei Franz Inselkammer KG / Brauerei Aying

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

mscudder

Georgia

4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500mL poured into a Newcastle schooner.

A - A slightly cloudy golden yellow. Carries a fair sized white head. No real retention.

S - Crisp cloves and banana. Can also detect some yeast and grains. Really a pleasure on the nose.

T - Super crisp up front and follows with a burst of fruits (lemon, apple and banana). The sweetness is balanced quite well with the tartness of other fruits. Finishes smooth and prompts another sip! Great stuff!

M - Fair amount of carbonation and a light body. The beer is refreshing and very drinkable.

O - I really like how Ayinger took the taste to favor the lemon over the banana. This is a fantastic Hefeweizen for sure!

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 04:11:54 | More by mscudder

notchucknorris

California

4.78/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a hazy pale golden color. A huge bone white head. Really great appearance.

S: Rich aromas of damp hay, banana, clove and maybe some baked bread.

T: Banana and clove with some wet hay and grass. Bready malts and banana bread on the finish. The mouthfeel is incredibly creamy and has an effervescent feel. Possibly the best he'd I'vr ever had.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 01:40:58 | More by notchucknorris

baos

Indiana

4.9/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

These Volks make my some of my favorite bieren.

A: Straw yellow with white translucence. One finger head that fizzles down to a nice sheen with bits of lacing here and there.

S: More clove and fresh mown hay than banana. Like the countryside of Bayern.

T: The sweet wheat is balanced very nicely with a bit of a lemon-grassy tartness. Ends in a crisp Hallertauer hop dryness.

M: Perfect medium-light tart. This is Wuotan's lemonade.

O: A great beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2012 05:20:54 | More by baos

travolta

California

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

App: White head, tiny champagne bubbles. Good head retention. Cloudy straw color.

Nose: Crisp banana, yeasty, wheat, and cloves.

Taste: Perfect carbonation, crisp up front. Lemon, green apple. A little foamy mouthfeel at the end. Cloves, or grassy in the middle.

Notes: I really enjoyed this. A great example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2012 23:51:07 | More by travolta

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Great golden coloring and big white head, but it had the ugliest big chunks of yeast I've ever seen. Luckily those fell to the bottom of the glass and I didn't have to deal with them while drinking.
Banana, lemon, and clove in the aroma.
More of the same banana, lemon, and clove. There is also a slight touch of bubblegum.
Crisp with a medium body and medium carbonation level.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 19:22:11 | More by MattSweatshirt

Chaney

District of Columbia

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

I had this on tap at Pizza Paradiso in Dupont Circle.

A: Poured a cloudy, visually wheaty orange with a soft, pillowy white head that stuck around throughout the session.

S: One could smell the glorious scent of orange and coriander a mile away.... along with a bit of Bubbulicious.

T: All the characteristic that I noticed on the nose also came to fruition on the taste, along with a bit of white pepper.... a nice, complex spice component.

M: The glass came out of this war fairly clean, and the liquid itself felt very soft, wheaty, and foamy, which was great for a hot day.

O: This is a textbook example of a German Hefe through and through and will always be one of the pinnacles IMO. I will so though, that my homebrew Hefe came pretty damn close to this!

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2012 11:35:25 | More by Chaney

kojevergas

California

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

500 ml brown glass bottle with standard (nicely coloured, I might add...) pressure cap served into a conical Guinness pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given the brewery and style.

I'm really in the mood for a good hefeweizen. Paired with a rice krispie treat (don't ask).

Served straight from the refrigerator and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a four finger beige colour head of nice rolling cream, good thickness, and fantastic retention. Colour is a predictable yet lively hazy yellow-orange. No yeast particles are visible, but it's nontransparent. Non-opaque. Decent lacing. No bubble show. I'm looking forward to it.

Sm: Fresh yeast, with notes of clove and banana alongside wonderful cream and hints of orange peel. The runts-esque banana flavour is quite fresh and appealing. All around a very impressive aroma. Quite inviting.

T: Heavy banana with clove taking more of the background. Yeasty, but not spicey or overly herbal - just a hint of floral character to liven it up. Beautifully balanced for the style, near perfection. The soft wheat foundation complements the other notes wonderfully, providing a fresh unobtrusive base. Hints of orange peel round out the flavour alongside very light yet complementary hopping (almost entirely floral). Incredibly well built. Subtle yet evocative. Refreshing. I quite fancy it. Its one drawback is its lack of complexity, but within the style it's got serious depth.

Mf: Perfect coarseness and dryness, never going overboard or compromising the refreshing feel. Adequate carbonation. Crisp. Light on the palate.

Dr: Extremely drinkable. I could down this all day. A fantastic summer brew. I'd definitely have this again. Gives Erdinger a run for its money - perhaps even surpasses it. It's right up there with Franziskaner in my book. Definitely give this a go; this is mastery of the style. Hides its mild ABV as well as would be expected.

I will say that its banana emphasis isn't necessarily ideal; I'd prefer a solid orange emphasis.

A poor candidate for aging; best consumed fresh.

A-

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 02:58:06 | More by kojevergas

TheSixthRing

California

4.53/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance - Pours a cloudy yellow with a white, thick 2 finger head. Decent retention, leads to thin lacing.

Smell - Nice yeasty aromas, clove, wheat and overripe banana.

Taste - Follows the nose. Overripe banana, spicy clove, a faint hint of lemon. A subtle buttery diacetyl flavor comes into play at the finish. A gentle lemon buzz nips at the back of the tongue which lasts, easily, 20-30 minutes after the last sip.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body. Carbonation adds a sharp, crisp bite while the beer slides down with a smooth, buttery feel. Beautiful mouthfeel on this one.

Overall - Fantastic hef. Rivals with the best of the style. Best body I've ever experienced with the style, and that's the factor which leads me to bestow this the Best Hefeweizen in the world. My opinion, of course.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 03:35:06 | More by TheSixthRing

draheim

Washington

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

500mL into a weizen glass. Pours a hazy glowing honey gold w/ a beautiful fluffy bright white head that leaves lots of sticky lacing. Wisps of sediment dance in the glass from the final swirl of yeast on the pour. Moderate carbonation. Beautiful beer.

Aroma is ripe banana and clove. A real powerful punch of classic hefeweizen aromas. Wheat malt, twist of lemon, cracked pepper.

Taste follows nose. Soft wheat malt, banana, spice. Just a hint of a metallic aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is creamy smooth w/ a peppery bite. Carbonation is just right. Clean, refreshing.

Overall another reference-quality German-style beer from Ayinger.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 04:16:30 | More by draheim

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4.7/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle. Hoepfner Weizen glass. Enjoyed on jun´12. Pale yellow color, foggy appearance. White , small bubbled, froth. Thick, close, lively crown. Good retention. Herbal & floral notes, intense clove,vanilla & ripe bananas to the nose. Flavor shows gentle sweet malts, fruity hints, bready notes & ripe banana texture. Light/medium body, soft carbonation. Subtle citric touch mixed with ripe fruit is the only hop character shown. Lasting finish. Creamy, flavorful & satiating.Refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 23:53:48 | More by GONZALOYANNA

tdm168

North Carolina

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

Thanks to jtd1969 for sharing this bottle with me

A - cloudy copper-yellow with a thin white head that has little retention

S - banana, faint spices, coriander

T - banana, faint coriander

M - smooth, crisp, well carbonated

This is a solid hefeweizen. It has all the great alefruits one would expect and great drinkability. I would definitely have this again.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 02:04:06 | More by tdm168

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 ml bottle poured into a weizen glass.
No date or info.

A - Mystically hazy when poured with the sediment, the beer is a golden yellow color topped by a loose, fluffy white head. Giant bubbles pop to lower it slowly, but no sticky lace is left on the glass.

S - Modest, almost too much so for a hefeweizen, chunks of clay and banana with some clove esters waft out gently, but the aroma isn't exciting like a typical hefe and it's certainly not as potent as the country's other counterparts.

T - Hard water bookends the slightly noticeable soft wheat while timid earth tones of clay and light white pepper and classic yeast esters of slight clove and banana fill in the voids.

M - Medium-light-bodied and fully carbonated with a filling, crisp finish and slight lingering spiciness, Ayinger's Bräu-Weisse finishes smoothly and mildly dry, beckoning another sip.

O - For a style that's consistently ripe and fragrant, this goes into the books as one of the more "boring" German hefeweizens I've ever experienced, falling short of expectations. This doesn't negate the good quality it does have though, as this beer drinks very well for a hot day, slimming down the abundant fluff of other hefes in exchange for a "summer slammer".

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 16:49:29 | More by BeerFMAndy

tony223366

California

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

A: So huge fluffy white head, which is no surprise. Slightly cloudy golden yellow with tons of carbonation. All of this is pretty typical of a good hefe, so props to that.

S: Aroma is hugely cloves and bananas. Really spicey and bright. Nothing too out of the ordinary (but good).

T: The taste is light and tasty and refreshing. Lots of cloves and other spices. Bright bananas too. Malts come off in a lightly biscuity way. Finish is really clean. Light tartness and an almost dry beginning.

M: Medium body with tight carbonation. Great!

O: Good all around! Not the boldest hefe I've had but the initial flavors kind of set it apart.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 06:44:16 | More by tony223366

warnerry

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a weizen glass.

A - Pours a cloudy golden brown with three fingers of dense white head. Head has excellent retention and leaves nice lacing.

S - Huge banana aroma, along with a nice bready yeast, a bit of tropical fruit and citrus and faint spice. Nice.

T - Taste also starts off with a lot of banana, along with a bit of bubblegum and white bread. Some more fruit and a bit of spice round it out. Very tasty.

M - Medium-light mouthfeel is very smooth and creamy. Finished with a touch of bitterness.

O - Definitely a classic example of the style and a very tasty beer to boot.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 22:47:46 | More by warnerry

DrewSnyc667

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

1/2 Litre bottle pureed into a Weisse glass

A - Lemony yellow, cloudy with a lot of activity. Huge puffy cloud of a head that sticks around for what seems like ever.

S - Lots of banana phenols spices like clove and cinnamon are present but mild. slight whiff of alcohol

T - Very mild sweetness with a firm and bitter hop backing. lightly citric with a muted yeast bite

M - A bit chewy, yeast flavor is maybe just a bit heavy

O - Very tasty indeed

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 23:09:41 | More by DrewSnyc667