Brooklyner Weisse - Brooklyn Brewery

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A bit past due, a good beer for its style. Cloudy whitish yellow. Retaining head with a tiny amount of wheat. Dry finish, easy drink with good carbonation. Good have this all night. Medium mouthfeel. Cloves, apple, banana, sugar, lemon, vanilla. Smooth.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2005 04:43:19 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.6/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Minimally hazy apricot with multiple bubble streams leading up to a good-sized cap of creamy beige. Weisse is darker than most hefe weizens and could probably pass for an IPA if the lights were low. Although the head is persistent, it has a nearly featureless surface and isn't exactly wowing me with lace.

The nose is nicely aromatic and fits the style to a capital 'T'. There's plenty of fruit (banana) and spice (clove), even through several fingers of froth. If the flavor profile follows suit, this will be one of the better domestic hefes that I've had.

I'm not sure what it is, but BW falls short of greatness. Goodness is debatable, while better than average is not. Maybe the dark color is leading me astray, but the beer tastes like an amber ale-hefe weizen hybrid. I wonder if less barley malt and more wheat would help.

A lightly toasted graininess holds down the bottom end while bruised banana and a moderate amount of clove occupy the top end. Things are mildly sweet early and mildly bitter late, with tangy-sour keeping its nose out in front at all points along the way. While this is an enjoyable ale, I wish the pieces fit together a little more tightly.

The mouthfeel is smack dab medium, fading to light-medium on the swallow. An acceptable amount of carbonation gets the job done without being flashy about it. Unfortunately, the expansive light creaminess that I look for in beer of this style is noticeably absent.

Brooklyner Weisse is decent beer that does nothing to stand out from the hefe weizen crowd. I wish I could be more specific about why I don't love it, but it just doesn't float my boat. If you're looking for something both delicious and thirst quenching from Brooklyn, I'd suggest either Lager or Pilsner.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2007 12:58:46 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Well I finally got a hold of a bottle of this while I was at the store the other day. Your guess is as good as mine as to why it took me soo long to gt one, Love Hefe, Love Brooklyn, should be a case closed...

A - Poured a nice orange amber, hazy with a nice tow inch head at the top. Head faded to reveal a thin film, with no side glass lace. Nice visible carbonation from the bottom.

S - Lots of wheat and yeast, light with a touch of banana. Good balance, nice aroma.

T - Damn good, great wheat, earthy yeast like flavor, light with just a touch of fruit, banana and pear mostly. Not watered down, flavor has a nice pop.

M - Light enough to just slide down, good carbonation kept it from feeling too thin, not slick, crisp and clean finish.

D - Superb, I could drink this all day long, the flavor and feel combine to make a perfect summer taste, great hot weather drinker.

Overall this was a damn fine hefe. Pretty much exactly what I would expect. I could easily see myself putting down a few while I mow the lawn. Very nice feel and overall flavor. Graet job on this brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2007 17:48:25 | More by mikesgroove

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.45/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a hazy, orangey body with a small, frothy white head.

Smell: Mild aroma of spiced bananas, wheat dough, and teaspoon of sea salt, and a slight yeast character.

Taste: Somewhat tangy malted wheat flavor with just a touch of breadiness to it. Taste of saltines. Some tastes of bananas and spice with a sip of spring water to wash'm down. Light, fleeting bitterness. Finishes tangy and crisp. Everything you'd expect from a hefe is there, just dialed down considerably.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Watery mouthfeel.

Drinkability: Though all around mild, it's still a fine lil' hefe.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2008 19:29:37 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.63/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a slightly hazy pale golden color with a fluffy head that displays good retention and lacing

Smell: Understated whiffs of banana and clove

Taste: Starts with a moderate banana flavor that is rather spicy; after the swallow, an unexpected sourness kicks in that joins with the earlier flavors

Mouthfeel: Unexpectedly thin but with plenty of spritziness

Drinkability: Although this beer doesn't have the hefe flavors of some other examples of the style, it is certainly refreshing and enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2006 22:59:19 | More by brentk56

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle: Poured a golden yellow color weizen with a nice medium foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of medium wheat with some spices probably coming-out the yeast strain. Taste is also dominated by some wheat malt notes with some spices. Body is average with some average carbonation. I thought this was very average overall.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2007 17:22:15 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Caught somewhere between a German Hefeweizen and an American Wheat Ale, Brooklyn Brewery's Weisse is grainy-sweet with a balance that hinges on the success of citrus fruit and supple spice.

Pouring a pale and hazy straw color, the cloudy ale releases a cottony white head that quivers before folding back into the glass hardly midway through the session. Its short-lived lacing dissolves quickly and leaves the beer looking somewhat dull before long.

A light musty-wheat note plays on the nose while background lemon candy sweetness and clove. Grain and white pepper follow closely behind in taste, just as the taste of bread and dough build. Lemons, apples, and musty apricots pronouce until a bubblegummy middle reaches a crescendo and the dry peppery character dictates after that.

Its bready upstart unfortunately recedes to watery proportions and grainy-sweetness in the middle before the alcohol and spice carry its finish. If not for that unforgivable middle palate, the beer could be relevent in its class. Its much more of an American Wheat Ale than it is a Hefeweizen.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2006 15:50:41 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightl hazy golden/orange with pretty thin head,nice aroma of citruis and cloves and malted wheat nice array going on there.Very refrrshing brew lots of lemon with a light spice and a wheaty taste in the finish and aftertaste,very nice.One of the better wheat beers I have had in awhile and its American to boot.Could drink these under the sun with ease.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2004 01:21:20 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Quite a different beer in the bottle than on draft, but pleasing nonetheless. In fact, I find it quite unique! The typical Bavarian-weisse appearance is intact with a very hazy yellow body that's capped by a bright-white head of creamy foam which holds well. The lacing is quite nice as well, and is left throughout the glass. The nose, however, is what's intriguing. It's a bit smokey at first, masking much of the sweet, bready malt and clove beneath it; yet it all eventually comes through - even the soft note of vanilla! Although I realize there's no smoked malt invovled, it reminds me of the weizen brewed in Bamberg! The body is light/medium; and it's gently crisp and then creamy in the mouth - very nice! The flavor delivers a soft fruitiness upfront, followed by some bready sweetness and vanilla as it warms and then a mild clove note at the tail which increases in the swallow. An underlying bitterness balances quite well and it finishes drying with a lingering note of soft clove. Well done!!! Although I've always felt that FX Matt's Saranac Weizen was a very good brew, I'm surprised at how well they've done with this tasty little treat. Kudos!

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2003 14:10:39 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: dull, hazy yellow color, with a large, creamy, pillowy white head, a pich-perfect weizen look.
Aroma: big banana nose, some lemon and spices, lively, vibrant, assertive.
Taste: smooth, mellow, simple and uncomplicated, but with a continually tasty, unrelenting citric flavor. Medium body, generous texture, they hit it on the nose with this one, an excellent interpretation of the Bavarian weizen style.
Good job, Brooklyn, and thanks to UncleJimbo for providing the bottle!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2003 08:30:20 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

3.4/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a hazy golden color with a lacey white head. The aroma is great. It smells of fruity esters and sweet wheat malts. The taste is average. It has a watery feel and falls short of many hefes I had before. It is unfiltered so it has the yeasty flavor, but I still think it's a weak example of this style. The mouthfeel is fine. This is a medium bodied ale with very little carbonation. This beer drinks fine, but is a disappointment for experienced wheat beer drinkers.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2003 22:14:02 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a golden color with a white head. The aroma is full of wheat, with some grain husk and light banana notes. The flavor is very similar. The wheat notes come through the most, with some banana and clove notes thrown in. I also get some light lemon and orange citrus character. Medium, creamy mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 02:28:54 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer poured cloudy pale yellow in color into a weizen glass with just a few bubbles on the surface. A moderate amount of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of clove, banana and yeast in the nose.
T: There is some mild sweetness in the overall taste, which lots of flavors of wheat and clove with notes of banana and spices. The initial taste is very strong but there isn't much of an aftertaste in the finish.
M: It feels light-bodied on the palate and is very thirst quenching.
D: This beer is very drinkable on a hot summer day and is perfectly sessionable.

Serving type: growler

06-29-2010 23:05:06 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.83/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Best Before Date Ocotober 2005, Sampled April 2006
When poured with the yeast this beer is a lightly hazy, slightly chunky, orangish gold color. It has a frothy, initially one-finger thick, pale, off-white colored head that recedes in a moderate amount of time. As I pour this beer I get light notes of bubble gum. When I go in for a deeper sniff of the nose the bubble gum is still noticeably, but only lightly so, it is in much better balance with the rest of the aromatic notes. The aroma is lightly tart, with a grain-like note, apparent clove and fruity banana esters. All in all this has quite a lively aroma, much more accented by the yeast characteristics than the malt and hops.

The taste is lightly tart up front, quite quenching as it goes down as well. The beer is a touch too cold right now, but this is about perfect on the hot day. The taste is not as estery as the nose, but I do get light notes of bubble-gum followed by a touch of spicy clove. The beer is quite light, which also helps with the easy drinking nature of this beer. There is a touch of grain sweetness here, which just helps to balance with the tartness, and which keeps this beer from being too thin. The finish has a sweetness to it that seems to be imparted by the fermentation character (the clove & bubble gum being the likely culprits), rather than by malted grain. The carbonation imparts a light spritziness that in combination with the light hop bitterness give this beer a touch of a bite.

All in all this beer is quite enjoyable, it really hits the spot on this warm, almost Summer's day. Light, quaffable, with enough character to keep it interesting.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2006 23:17:51 | More by Gueuzedude

jwc215

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a somewhat cloudy (though not as much as is typical for this style) yellow with a thin white head that was fairly well-retained.
The smell was of bubblegum, banana/clove and some yeast. The aromas were clear and solid.
The taste was the same as the smell. It was a bit thinned by water - which subdued some of the flavors, but kept it easy to drink and refreshing.
The tastes stuck around in the mouth for awhile. It left the mouth refreshed.
This was a good replication, though a little lighter than most, of the Bavarian classic weisse. I will certainly be drinking this - rotating it with other weisses - on the coming hot days this summer.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2006 20:28:40 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a single from the cooler at Abe's in Bethlehem. Served with brinner (breakfast for dinner). It looks a cloudy straw yellow with a white head and thin lacing.

I love finding American hefe's that actually taste like they're from Germany. This really reminds me of Franziskaner for the creamy orange (creamsicle) aroma and taste. Really, it reminds me of biting into a fresh orange. This beer, however, has a bit more banana in the background and the body is a touch thinner.

This hefe is a winner and can stand up to the great beers of Germany, though I'd stop short of saying it's better. If you love wheat beers, try this.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2008 00:34:37 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.38/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Cloudy orange amber large white head holds for a bit then dwindles into a collar leaving random spots of lacing. Aroma: Mild banana and clove tones inspired by the yeast strain, semi-funky wheat backing not bad just not as authentic of a weizen compared to the German originators. Taste: A bit husky of a husky tone that clouds the banana, clove, and vanilla yeast characteristics there's a sharp citrus sweetness to it that's decent. Mouthfeel: Thin lacks the fluffiness and texture that I have come to know and love from a hefe. Drinkability: Good overall lacking on what makes other wheat beers great like Ayinger, Franzy, Paulaner, and Weihenstephaner the yeast strains are clearly different.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2004 17:32:15 | More by WVbeergeek

Jason

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On Tap @ Redbones in a pilsner flute.

Quite pale, cloudy pale yellow. Remarkable head retention. Aromas and flavors of banana puree, powdered clove, plain bubble gum and a twang of fermented wheat. Very balanced and refreshingly crisp to say the least. Highly drinkable, played well against the homemade sausage at Redbones.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2006 18:24:26 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle, with best before dating notched on label. Pours a nice straw color, cloudy,white head,small bubbles and some lacing. Yeast, malt and spice in the nose. Typical german wheat flavor notes, yeast,cloves, a hint of spicy melon, bananas. Soft malt mouthfeel, smooth and pleasant. Minimal grainy hop notes come in late. Nice but not great Weisse offering from Bklyn. Good everyday summer brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2004 18:56:10 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.73/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes, drank on tap at the Brooklyn Brewery on 2/19/10.

a - Pours a murky, golden color that is somewhat transparent but not very. About one inch of white head with little retention. Little carbonation evident.

s - Smells strongly of yeast. Also some lesser smells of citrus, cloves, and fruit. Pretty good.

t - Tastes strongly of yeast and some citrus. Also hints of banana, and clove again. I thought it was a little lacking.

m - Medium body with little carbonation.

d - I thought this was an ok hefeweizen. Nothing jumped out but a solid beer none the less. Definitely something you could have a few of and I'd try again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2010 20:23:22 | More by mdfb79

weeare138

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appears a hazy light hazy gold with a small white cap that slowly fades into a mild head of foam. Scattered streaks of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of cloves, vanilla, tart wheat, and lemon zest.
Taste is of the aromas with crisp flavors of refreshment.
Mouthfeel is light bodied, clean, zesty, and easy drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2010 22:33:16 | More by weeare138

lacqueredmouse

Australia

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

On tap at the brewery, December 09.

Really nicely cloudy pale yellow, just the right colour, although a little dull. Head is creamy and thick, a wonderful crown of white bubbles. Overall, a damn good looking hefe.

Very clear and traditional hefeweizen notes on the nose. Lots of clove noticeable. Smooth and fragrant, and very genuine. A really good nose.

Taste is also pretty true. Clove again noticeable, almost turning to charred wood in its spiciness. Clean and smooth with sweetness all the way through, leaving a pleasantly silky experience on the palate. Mouthfeel is generally creamy with just a light prickling of carbonation.

This is a very genuine hef. Lots of good true-to-style characters, with plenty of lovely fragrance. Australian brewers do a poor imitation of the style. At least here in Brooklyn, they do it right.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2009 04:45:56 | More by lacqueredmouse

glid02

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Porter Beer Bar in Atlanta.

Pours a hazy golden color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving light lacing.

Smells of soft and light malts with good amounts of overripe bananas and clove. The clove aromas are a bit larger than the bananas. As the beer warms mild amounts of wheat aromas waft out.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Light malt flavors with influence from soft wheat kick things off. Shortly thereafter good amounts of banana flavors make their way into things before being supplanted by clove midway through the sip. The spicy flavors carry through to a crisp ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a smooth thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is also good. I finished my glass without any problems and could have another.

Overall besides the relatively weak head retention this is a pretty solid beer for the style. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2010 22:30:10 | More by glid02

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Tangerine orange color, thin off white head.

S: Sweet caramel and citrus grind dominate the nose with just a touch of herbal hopping.

T: Some fresh oranges and lemons provide some background flavor along with some honey hints. Fresh lemon hopping provides a nice citrus tang and lasting fade in the finish. Lacks any strong hefe yeast traits.

M: Light creamy mouthful, caramel malt blends nicely with wheat backbone producing a nice fluffy texture.

D: Overall has a moderate drinkability and limited complexity but would make for a decent summer picnic beer if nothing else.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 12:59:51 | More by beerthulhu

plaid75

New York

3.3/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured a medium cloudy straw hue, with a one finger foamy head. There was decent retention and good lacing.

The smell was mostly a clove spiciness. There was a slight banana aroma as well.

The taste was spicy as well. The cloves dominated upfront, whereas the wheaty biscuit flavor took over at the back of the mouth. Overall, the flavor could have been a bit more complex.

The mouthfeel was a bit on the thin side. There was good carbonation throughout.

Overall a nice hefe. Not the best domestic example of the style, but a good beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2006 02:48:48 | More by plaid75