Brooklyner Weisse - Brooklyn Brewery

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

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

Bottle.

Pours a cloudy gold, fluffy white head.

Nose is banana and bubblegum, yeasty, bit of wheat.

Taste is fairly standard fare for a Weiss - crisp and light, lot of bubblegum and banana from the yeast, dry as a result, crisp finish. The wheat comes through a bit harshly. It's a nice enough package, but the why it all hits together is just a bit off.

Light bodied, Crisply carbonated.

Still, I can always drink a good hefe, and this certainly qualifies.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2009 23:55:11 | More by JohnQVegas

scootny

New York

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

A 12 oz bottle into an Aventinus Weizenstarkbier glass. A lightly cloudy gold with a generous head that stays for a minute then fades to a light covering with nice bits of lace here and there on my glass. Moderate carbonation keeps the beer covered.

Smell is lemony with banana and light clove. Strong wheat malt twangs through with a hint of butterscotch. Yeasty esters abound and mix it up nicely.

Taste is more lemon and a strong wheat malt backbone. Light banana, a peppery spiciness, and clove. Tart and sour apples lend a juiciness. Faint bubblegum follows. Finish is dry and tart with light cinnamon, clove, and crusty bread. A subtle mixture that grows on you as you go down the glass.

Mouthfeel is lightweight with lively carbonation that develops into creamy velvet. It is crisp and tingly, smooth and pleasing to the throat.

Just perfect for sessioning. It goes down so easy and smoothly. Quenching and refreshing. Just superb. I went through two reviewing it.

A beer that is more that the sum of it's parts. The velvety feel and easy drinking insidiously wrap themselves around your mouth. Not the best hefe but a very good one that will not let you down.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2009 00:14:07 | More by scootny

hopdog

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at a local pub that also gave away a free Brooklyn Weizen Glass (and I didn't have a weizen glass at home - bonus).

Poured a hazy yellow/orange color with an averaged sized head. Aromas and tastes of bananas, wheat, and spices.

Notes from: 7/15/04

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2009 19:04:55 | More by hopdog

LilBeerDoctor

New York

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

Reviewed on 10/3/08. On tap at Blind TIger. Pours a super cloudy light orange with a small white head. Aroma of wheat, citrus, and yeast. Flavor of yeast, clove, pepper, and a nice sweetness. Quite enjoyable.
Aroma: 7/10
Appearance: 4/5
Flavor: 7/10
Palate: 4/5
Overall: 15/20
(3.7/5)

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2008 01:43:56 | More by LilBeerDoctor

LennyV

New York

4.72/5  rDev +23.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a golden yellow into my allagash glass. 3 finger head which disappears quickly no lacing.

Smells yeasty and malty sweet.

Taste is exceptional. Starts with a spicy yeast and ends with a malty sweet taste which coats your mouth.

Feels like velvetly soft in you mouth little carbonation.

This is one of my favorite heffes! I could drink it all night long. Another great beer from brooklyn.

Serving type: growler

12-23-2008 03:04:57 | More by LennyV

billyhongkong

New York

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

a nice tannish orangish color. decent head but dissipates pretty quickly. I'd like it to be much more carbonated though. very good taste with a nice fruity finish. decent mouthfeel. over all a very good beer, without a doubt the best heffeweisse i've had in america

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2008 07:01:53 | More by billyhongkong

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

TheTrevor

New York

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

I bought this on the cheap ($2.50 for a sixpack) from my local beerporium, likely because it's marked "best before January '08". Oh well, we'll see how its age affects its flavor. It poured a darkish yellow with copper highlights with a single-finger head and some aggressive visible carbonation. The smell is pretty fruity, with some orange and banana and some wheat smell. The taste starts off with some orange and banana that gives way to some spices and an interesting amount of floral taste. The mouthfeel is a little watery with decent amount of very fine carbonation that makes for a very crisp feeling. This is a very drinkable beer, and doesn't seem to have suffered from its age. I'd love to try it on tap somewhere to compare.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2008 04:18:55 | More by TheTrevor

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

thekevlarkid

Maryland

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

The Brooklyn version of a Hefeweizen. Out of the bottle this beer poured a hazy honey gold color with one and half fingers of off-white head. Moderate retention but rather weak lacing. The aroma was nice, clean malt, wheat, some "horse blanket" funk and hints of sweetness. The flavors were similar though more focused on the funk. The first flavors I got were the wheat and hints of spices followed by some musty malt and a little vanilla. Rather uncomplicated. The finish, while crisp, was a little odd, similar to clover honey sweetness but not as rich. It was very smooth and easy to quaff. This is a very sessionable beer and good for the summer but it falls a little short of greatness for me despite being solid.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2008 21:45:41 | More by thekevlarkid

Lexluthor33

New York

4.05/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hazy,orange color with a small foamy head and a decent lace.
The aroma of bananas,cloves and some yeast.
The taste was really sweet,less clove and more banana. Wheat and a touch of citrus.
The feel was creamy,smooth carbonation,light body and crisp.

Notes: Sweet on tap and while I like this beer,I had one and craved no more.All in all it was still a good beer,but strangely I prefer the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2008 01:03:10 | More by Lexluthor33

Greggy

Minnesota

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

A- Pours a hazy golden orange color with loads of carbonation bubbles, and a 1 finger head that has some decent retention, but nice lacing.

S- Quite a bit of clove, hints of yeast and touch of banana. Loads of wheaty twang, and suggestions of darker breadiness.

T- Starts out with a spot of banana-bread note, then moves into some wheaty twang, some clove, then finishes with light citrus and residual banana flavors.

M- Although the beer displays loads of carbonation bubbles, I only get light carbonation which works well for me.

D- This is one hell of a session beer. It's not a weihenstephaner by any means but more of a gentle twist on the German Style. Quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2008 01:32:09 | More by Greggy

clayrock81

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A clear, orange body with decent carbonation but a flat lining heard. Not only did I pick up citric fruits and sour fruit notes along with some floral hops, but a hint of some toasted and/or caramel malt. I've never picked that up in a hefe before. Smooth, even creamy, and sharp with both citric notes and some clove and pepper spice. Medium bodied and fluffy; you could chew on this beer. All around a good hefe you can tip back anytime.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2008 18:45:18 | More by clayrock81

everetends

Alabama

4.15/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at a Brooklyn tap house at the Newark Airport while waiting on a connection flight. Served in a weizen glass.

A: Poured a beautiful deep orange, and hazy. If I didn't know better or see some head on this sucker, I would think it was orange juice. Head is frothy and deep white. The retention is ok, little to no lacing. Pretty.

S: Smell is of sweet wheat, cloves, lemon rind, oranges and orange peel, and a touch of banana. Smells fantastic.

T: Taste is of the nose. Sweet wheat and clove are present but the citrus elements really shine. Heavy orange presence. A touch of banana and bubble gum in the finish.

M: Light bodied brew that really is crisp and refreshing. Damn near perfect on the carbonation. The aftertaste is nice with citrus, and bubble gum.

D: This brew is perfect for summer and this was great to ease my troubled soul after being screwed out of a flight. Need more, damnit.

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2008 03:56:10 | More by everetends

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A- Body is a slightly hazy yellow. Pour produces <1 finger foamy white head that quickly fades to a thin collar which retains well. No lacing is left behind in the glass. A hefeweizen should be much cloudier than this.

S- Nose is in-line for the style. Banana, clove, and a sweet yeastiness can be detected.

T- Faint banana upfront with a mild sweet, yeasty background. A touch of hops and clove kick in for the finish.

M- Carbonation is low to medium and body is thin and somewhat watery though some yeast can be detected.

D- This is an ok beer. Not sure if it was the bottle/batch or if this beer is always this way. I won't be paying for this one again.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2008 18:58:34 | More by PittBeerGirl

erosier

Connecticut

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

L: Pours a hazy golden yellow color with a short and medium bodied white colored head that laces the glass somewhat all the way down.
S: The smell is of sweet wheat malt, some banana, and some citris as well.
T: The taste is alot like the nose only the banana is much more potent. Nice wheat malt under a bit of citris, som spices, and then a bigger but not overpowering banana flavor.
M: Very smooth and refreshing with the right amount of carbonation.
D: Pretty drinkable beer as it isn't overpowering in any one flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2008 10:59:45 | More by erosier

Monkeyknife

Missouri

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

Poured from the bottle a hazy golden yellow with a thin white head.

Aroma of banana, bubblegum, cloves, and yeast.

Tastes of banana, cloves, lemon, bubblegum, and Belgian yeast. Aftertaste is very clean and light.

Lighter bodied, slightly dry, with a light carbonation.

A very drinkable hefe from Brooklyn Brewery.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2008 02:42:00 | More by Monkeyknife

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

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

Poured from a 12-ounce bottle into a 50 oz. mason jar.

A: Poured a cloudy, golden yellow color with beige-orange ringlets within it. Head retention was excellent, and there was noticeable sedimentation.

S: Smells of mashed up bananas, chewing gum, some spicy cloven aromas and lightly sweet citrus hopping.

T: The taste is a light, refreshing blend of muted citrus and banana flavors, paired with mild, mint gum, a slightly funky wheat zest, and a clean, phenolic finish, leaving a slightly spicy aftertaste.

M: Mouthfeel is light-medium bodied and a little chewy.

D: I had no problem putting away a few of these. On a hot day, this brew knows no limits. Great summery look and taste with sessionable ABV makes for a very drinkable brew.

A great success for Brooklyn. I'm really starting to seek their stuff out more and more, as their consistency and dedication to keeping true to a style, while still being unique, is truly something to enjoy. Nice hefeweizen!

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2008 04:37:25 | More by Gambrinus1184

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A nice, drinkable beer with a bit more flavor than some dometic Weissens. Pours with good clarity, more of a kristalweissen look, with a head that fadews way too quickly to nothing. Golden in color. Lots of banana and fresh wheat in the smell and a nint of clovey spice at the end. Slightly sweet and bready with banana bread flavors and some grainy wheat. A little grainy in the mouthfeel, but substantial enough without being too heavy and a touch of sweetness on the finish. Fairly tasty and simple and definitely easy to drink, but not the definitive Weisse beer by a long shot.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2008 21:22:14 | More by Georgiabeer

PatrickJR

North Carolina

2.78/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Poured from 12 oz bottle into weizen glass.

A - Typical hazy orange/yellow. Small, one finger head receded very quickly to thin white collar. Some lacing.

S - Expected banana smell is there, but it leans a little closer to sweet corn. Backed by pronounced phenols.

T - Next to flavorless. The slight fruit esters make a brief appearance early palate, with some uninteresting, slightly sour malt in the middle. Finish begins with a growing bitterness accented by phenolic character. The earthy hop bitterness becomes almost unmanagable and is completely inappropriate for the style.

M - What the hell?? Moderately carbonated and otherwise just plain watery. Extremely watery even by APWA standards.

D - I could drink this all night if I had to, but I wouldn't.

I was actually really excited to find this and had been saving it for when I was in just the right mood. After having Schneider-Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse last week I thought this would at least be a decent stab at a hefe, but in reality it sucks. The taste is too muted and too full of hops, and while the mouthfeel perhaps suits this flavor, it certainly can't work with a hefe.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2008 06:26:25 | More by PatrickJR

JohnW

United Kingdom (England)

3.18/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at the Brooklyn Brewery Bar in Terminal C, Newark Airport, June 2008, at the usual Airport rip-off price of $8 a pint!

Was served in the traditional Weiss style glass, with slice of orange on the glass rim. Much less foaming head than I expected, which thinned very quickly. Aroma was what I would expect from a Weiss beer, fruity, bananas, cloves and spice, also rather dry and with a hint of tart apple skins. Have to say - regretfully - I was rather disappointed with the taste. It leaned on the rather dry side, almost sour at the back, and not much depth at all. It somehow seemed very 'two dimensional' rather flat, and dare I say it - boring. There was no depth of flavour, all up front and dry, nothing else came through as I drank it, no character coming through as it went down.

Unless I was just unlucky and had an under par sample, was rather disappointed, as I expected great things. Not a patch on some other US Weiss beers (think Penn Weiss is much better) and no comparison at all the the German Hefe Weiss beers like Schneider, Wehenstephener, Andechs, Paulaner and the like.

I will have to try it again, just in case I was unlucky at the time.

JohnW
B'ham UK June 2008

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2008 15:37:10 | More by JohnW

soupyman10

District of Columbia

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this one on tap at the Big Hunt in DC. Haven't been particularly blown away by the Brooklyn stuff I've had...good, but not great. This one definitely exceeded my expectations. Looked okay, but the real pleasant surprise was in the strength of aroma and flavor. Smells just how a hefeweizen should, and you could nearly smell the citrus and wheat across the table. One of the better American hefeweizens I've had.

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2008 22:12:28 | More by soupyman10

rpardon7

Kentucky

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Poured a straw colored yellow with more clarity than expected for unfiltered. Small thick white head that didn't linger to long.
S- Clove heavy with undertones of bananaa and yeast.
T- Clove at first with a finish of banana and yeast. Crisp and clean and smooth.
M- Nice mouthfeel not as smooth as some hefe's but overall nice feel
D- very drinkable went well with the fish I prepared on the grill. Great beer for warmer weather. Could easily had more than one!

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2008 16:45:14 | More by rpardon7

boston2bburg

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer poured with out much of a head for me, and it's also surprising that it's a rather clear straw color without much yeast floating around. I bought it as part of a basket of five different beers that was marked down from a ridiculous 25 dollars to $4.99. Still, the label claimed fresh before July.

The smell is extremely clove-heavy as it should be; banana abounds as well. There's a spice that I can't place in the aroma that is really emphasized in the taste. It's slightly cinnamon, a bit meaty, like roasted ham, plus vanilla and butterscotch. There's definitely a lot going on.

The taste is much as i described, but the cinnamon spiciness, and some fruitiness is highlighted.

The mouthfeel is interesting, bready, foamy, sharp on the finish, and of course spicy if that makes sense. Again, complex.

Nothing major to detract from drinkability. True to style.

This might be the most impressive offering by Brooklyn Brewery I've had yet, aside from the appearance, which may have been due to a weak pour. Still, no lacing, no real sign of head retention. If i had another 20 minutes to smell it I could probably find 20 more aromas. Good summer ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2008 22:23:52 | More by boston2bburg

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a slightly hazed amber hue, a splash of head that fizzles out fairly quick. A decent amount of clarity for an unfiltered Hefe.

The aroma is a heady pungent bullseye for the style: the typical banana, nutmeg and bubblegum are all there, wearing their party dresses and blowing bugles. Intense.

Tart and zesty pretty much round out the flavour profile, the yeast is the star of this show. Soft sweet wheat up front with rounded banana and bubblegum, followed by a good dose of zesty lemon rind, finishing with an almost mouth puckering dry lime character, which lingers long into the aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is a bit too rambunctious with carbonation, jagged and somewhat abrasive, especially on the finish. Doesn't align well with much of the flavour profile, the rounded wheat and yeast, although it adds some extra octane to the citrus zest.

Overall a decent domestic Hefe, although it's considered an import from our lovely southern neighbour (and the price tag will vouch for that). Aside from the somewhat rough mouthfeel and lack of frothy head, it hits all the right buttons.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2008 07:34:54 | More by IronDjinn