Summit Hefe Weizen - Summit Brewing Company

MattyG85

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: Cloudy yellowish orange with a big white head that has some good retention and lots of lacing.

Smell: Sweet aroma of banana, yeast, clove, and wheat. Hints of lemon zest and spices.

Taste: Banana, yeast, and clove up front followed by spices and lemon. Lots of bready sweetness throughout. Hints of bubblegum in the finish. Nice combination of sweetness and tartness.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a moderate amount of carbonation. Creamy and smooth.

Overall: A solid take on a Hef from Summit.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2011 06:12:29 | More by MattyG85

iadler

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass.

A- pours a light gold with a nice two finger head. Very little lacing with this brew.

S- Banana, clove, vanilla, honey and some spice

T- Very similar to smell with banana being very noticeable as well as sweetness from the wheat. There are notes of clove and vanilla in the background. Finishes with some peppery spice.

M- Medium carbonation, pretty smooth yet fairly thin. I'm getting a feeling that almost all of Summit's beers are too thin IMO.

O- A good beer for grilling or just hanging out on the patio during the warmer months. Not an elite Hefe, but a good brew nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 17:35:54 | More by iadler

FreshHawk

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Nice hazed lemony gold with a full, fluffy, thick, creamy white head. Good retention leaving a thin lace.

S - Nice aroma full of typical Hefeweizen scents. Strong banana, bubblegum, and wheaty bread. Clove is in the back providing a nice spicy kick on the finish. Pretty well balanced.

T - More tangy wheat and bready flavor than the nose suggested. Some spiciness and lemony citrus comes out as well. Some banana and bubblegum in the background.

M - Lightish body with average carbonation. A little too thin and watery - lacking the really nice creaminess.

D - Easy to drink, not as much banana flavors. Goes down really easy though.

Notes: Good domestic hefeweizen, not as much banana/bubblegum with a bit more tangy wheat and bready flavors. Good although I was not blown away. Balanced beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 05:02:07 | More by FreshHawk

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

A - Frothy and thick white head standing a couple inches tall with awesome stamina. The body is a hazy yellow.

S - Banana and subtle clove in this aroma.

T - Slight bitter flavor, banana and a ripe wheat flavor.

M - Rather coarse for a Hefeweizen.

~ This is a nice brew. I'm a fan of Summit and I hope they continue to shell out their tasty brews fora long time.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 01:39:51 | More by cdkrenz

AmberMan22

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a surprisingly clear, golden-wheat color. The bottle may have been a bit old, because there was definitely some settling of sediment at the bottom.

Smell is refreshingly wheaty without being overdone. Maybe a zing of lemon to complement it.

Summit's HW does a good job of balancing the strength of the flavor. It doesn't come off as too aggressive, nor is it too weak -- and this lends itself to both great taste AND drinkability.

The mouthfeel just leaves something to be desired. I can't put my finger on it, but it doesn't have what I expect.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2010 14:22:25 | More by AmberMan22

gatornation

Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a nice golden yellow slightly hazy color with a nice 1finger head lacing is present..it looks good..smell is average im not getting bananas,cloves,spices or yeast..just average..taste is the same it has light hefe qualities but not enough for my liking..mouth feel is light with some flavor going for it..its drinkable ill say try it..but its not the hefe i would reach for 1st

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2010 21:24:49 | More by gatornation

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.38/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is a cloudy blend of lemonade yellow and orange juice orange. The first half of the pour was a clear gold, and I had to really work the yeast sediment at the bottom to get it looking like a proper hefe. Two and half fingers of thick white foam developed and dissipated to leave a nice Brussels lacing along the side of the glass and a spotted foamy lacing on top.

Smell: Classic hefe. My first impression was the bananas and clove spice. A couple swirls reveal scents apple and lemon.

Taste: Reminds me of unbaked kuchen or bread dough for some reason. The taste is unique among the hefes of my life: instead of prominent bananas and yeast up front, the clove spice and lemon dominate. The banana, yeast, and apple follow but are subtler than I prefer. There is a slight hint of caramel as well. In general, the beer tastes watered down and the mouthfeel leans toward Orangeade.

Drinkability: It's fitting, really. The beer that turned me off wheat beer during my younger drinking days turns out to be extremely tame and, frankly, a little weak. However, it is still a descent brew and very refreshing during this 85º Midnight hour.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2010 06:23:25 | More by TheQuietMan22

bristol2120

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a weizen glass. Medium head for the style that fades rather quickly. Not much lacing on display. The beer is a decent opaque golden color. Smell is pleasant, but with fewer classic "hefeweizen" characteristics than other examples of the style. Taste is pleasant enough, but again lacking in some of the more complex notes expected of a hefeweizen. There is also a slightly disconcerting bitterness in the aftertaste. Mouthfeel is decent enough, with a subdued amount of carbonation. Overall, this is a drinkable brew, but certainly not the definitive example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2010 04:03:53 | More by bristol2120

herman77

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark yellow/golden color. Super cloudy, can't see through it at all. Lots of fluffy, creamy white head. Thick small bubble lacing is painted all over the glass.

S: Sweet and yeasty. Bananas and clove spices.

T: Follows the smell. Wheat and a dash of floral and pine hops are in the mix as well. Very smooth finish.

M/D: Lighter body that feels a little thin. Lots of small carbonation bubbles makes for a smooth, creamy mouthfeel at first, but as you swallow, there is a little bite on the back of the mouth. Pretty good drinkability. Hefes aren't my faveorite, but this pretty refreshing on a warm, summer day.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2010 00:16:36 | More by herman77

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

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

12 oz bottle poured into a weiss glass. Enjoy by 09.14.10.

Thanks to my cousin Dan for hooking up a bottle of this from the mix pack.

A - Tall and vigorously poured, I emptied the bottle into the 20 oz weizen glass and it filled it to the brim with head. A full four fingers of sparkling white head expanded to the top then fell with moderate pace. Chunky lace only clung to about half the head height above the hazy straw yellow body.

S - An intoxicating aroma reminiscent of the very weizens that come out of Bavaria floods the air. Smooth and soft wheat flanks a generous banana ester nose and mellow clove scent. The smell signals the beginning of awesome summer beers to come!

T - The flavor takes a big step back in quality from the fantastic aroma to deliver only about half the goodness promised. The banana is much lighter and the clove comes through as an afterthought but yeast is brought out more. The wheat really stands out here.

M - Light in body, this hefe goes down very smoothly with a nice silky finish that dries out slightly. The texture is very nice.

D - Despite the drop in flavor quality from the aroma, this beer still remains awfully drinkable. It's a great summer offering that will quench a big thirst and refresh on a hot, sunny day.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2010 12:33:41 | More by BeerFMAndy

jera1350

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a bottle at a recent Twins game.

Served in a plastic cup, but oh well. Cloudy golden yellow with a thinner light colored head that is creamy.

Wheaty with some banana and slight clove smell. Light and fresh.

Nice wheaty malt with a moderate banana taste with a hint of clove coming in at the end. Very enjoyable.

Lighter bodied, smooth and clean.

Drinks terrifically. I will revisit this one throughout the summer for sure. Solid example for the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2010 21:35:35 | More by jera1350

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-pours a cloudy pale straw yellow color with a relatively tight white head leaving nice lace on the glass.

S-the nose is quite strong, wheat, lemon, spicy clove.

T-this has a nice amount of wheat and lemon, notes of banana. touch of spicy clove in the back, just a bit watery.

M-very syrupy, thick body with a little bit of a lack of carbonation to balance that out. smooth on the palate and creamy.

D-big bold flavors with just a hint of watered down flavor in the back. lacks carbonation which detracts a little but other than that a solid hefe.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2010 00:56:05 | More by cpetrone84

brewdub17

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Semi-Transparent Gold hue. Nice white lacing with weak head retention.

Smell: Very light fruity smell, close to a banana like.

Taste: Malty light smell with a taste of the adjuncts.

Mouthfeel: Nice carbonation mixes well with the malty flavors.

Drinkablility: Good session beer with low abv and could allow for good food pairings.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2010 20:37:35 | More by brewdub17

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Not as cloudy as I expected and my initial reaction was that is lager-like in colour but it is deeper in the orange tones than a lager. Poured into a beer mug of the correct size and I the head was so frothy that I couldn't get the whole beer in the glass. The height of the head disappeared quickly, leaving behind slight lacing and a small head through the entire drink.

The beer had the expected nose of fruityness with slight cloves. I did get the aroma of bananas which is different than I have had in the past.

The beer is best described as crisp. The flavour profile is decently deep, with citrus and cloves dominating the palate. Its carbonation was not excessive, and left little bitterness on the palate. If this were summer, I could sit in the sun all day and drink these. In my opinion, a very nice domestic representation of a hefeweizen.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2009 20:21:33 | More by kjyost

joedon

Minnesota

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

Cloudy yellow beer, starting with a big white head that quickly drops and no lacing.
Aroma mainly of yeast and a bit of citrus.
Tastes good; malty, yeasty, tangy. Good blend of wheat and malt flavors.
Very spritzy on the tongue and light body. Good summer beer and quite drinkable.
Respectable effort from Summit.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2009 21:55:09 | More by joedon

kruse

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at the Summit brewery. Can't get better than drinking at the source.
A: Nice looking hefe - pours a cloudy gold with creamy white head.
S: Subtle maltiness with hints of banana, citrus, and clove.
T: Nice wheat flavor with a bit of yeastiness and fruit.
M: Good, but a little thin. (A common complaint I have about Summit brews)
D: Very drinkable. Decent, but not great, American hefeweizen.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2009 17:39:36 | More by kruse

philbe311

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Active swirling pour... One fingers worth of crisp fizzy white foam... Only slight retention that when once faded leaves a full rich lacing... An orangish toffee color... Slightly hazy... Once the pour settles, there is no carbonation and its quite still...

S - Strong aroma or pale malts and grainy wheat... Some caramel and toffee... Some faint citrus notes... A pleasant enough aroma, I'm just not sure it fits the style...

T - Caramel... Toffee... Plastic... Some artificial banana...

M - Light to medium bodied... Moderate amount of carbonation that possesses a bite on the tongue and at finish... Smooth...

D - This one just doesn't resonate with me, especially considering the style... It's average at best overall not taking style into account, and a slight disappointment when taking style characteristics into consideration... I hate to say that I'm not a fan of a specific brewery, but this is the second time that I've tried Summit and have been severely let down in both instances...

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2009 01:51:13 | More by philbe311

mdwalsh

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: I wouldn't measure this head is fingers, I'd do it in miles. poured 12 oz into a 22 oz hefe glass and couldn't fit it all. The foam is white and creamy looking, beautiful. The beer itself though is a little too clear in some parts. Instead of really dissipating through the beer, the yeast is hanging in arms and wisps.

S: A very rich banana/clove mix, just about perfect. No hops, no nothing. Not even that yeasty smell you get on some hefes. It's a rich, creamy smell, if that makes sense, something I would expect from a banana milk shake or something. YUM.

T: Less perfect. Still a good banana/clove mix, but I get some off flavors as well, not many, but some. Maybe something buttery? Still no hops, but no malt really either. Not even a biscuity or wheaty one. This beer is really dominated by the yeast.

M: On the thin side of creamy, but still feels smooth as if it was creamy, there is no crisp bite. I wish there was. Seems to be almost a winter hefe...

D:Great, for a hefe this is very light on carbonation, something that can easily turn me off for drinkability. A good flavor a good everything.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2009 18:55:53 | More by mdwalsh

Mistofminn

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I've had this on tap at Burrito Loco and Sally's, most likely because it was the most appealing thing they had on tap.

Served in a standard pint glass. Golden in color, with a hint of orange, served with a lemon. I was asked by a friend if it was Blue Moon, as it does resemble it. Half finger head that shrinks to nothing quickly. No lacing.

The nose is typical of a Hefeweizen, nothing special. Light citrus and clove scents, as well as very yeasty.

The taste is much better, in my opinion. More pronounced, with the ever so subtle hop spiciness that kicks it up a notch. Actually pretty good tasting.

Mouthfeel is light, with a bite from the carbonation. Good drinkability.

Overall, a solid american Hefe. Not by any means a great one, but a solid one. I sort of like this beer, and think it's underrated. If I'm at Sally's or Burrito Loco again, with their less than spectacular tap list, I'll have this gladly.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2009 04:31:12 | More by Mistofminn

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into Schells Weizen Glass

Pours 1 and 1/2 fingers or orange-hued white head. Color is a hazy orange mango. Decent head retention but no lace.

Aroma: A ton of cloves and bananas. Some orange peel. Fairly weak, but nothing bad.

Taste: I am just not diggin this beer. It has all the normal flavors of a hefe, but nothing seems to be fitting together. Seems to be to spiced and not enough fruits.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, but more smooth than anything. Light to medium bodied. Lower level of carbonation. Ends with a dry, spiced aftertaste. 3.5

Overall, I am not to impressed with this beer. It just isn't what I am used to to in a hefe and this isn't something I would drink a lot of. I am bummed because I have a 5 more left in my 6er.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2009 00:39:56 | More by mothman

ThickestHead

Wisconsin

3.65/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a chilled pint glass.
Comes a cloudy straw-yellow that makes a foamy head that has minor lacing and retains a thin collar.
Smells of bananas and lemon.
Tastes of a sweet wheat malt with banana and a hint of spice at the end.
It doesn't bite the tongue so much as it tingles it ever so playfully.
Haven't been the biggest fan of the style but I wasn't let down and am curious to try other Hefes now.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2009 01:47:07 | More by ThickestHead

jwc215

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. twist-off capped bottle, poured into weizen glass:

Pours clouded yellow with a white creamy head that thins and stays. Trailing lace sticks.

The smell is of banana/clove with some floral notes. Smells like an authentic Bavarian HW!

The taste is of sweet banana with spicy clove balancing it out. Not very complex, but very delicious, and flavors hang on long through the aftertaste. The banana/clove character is bery bold.

It has a creamy, effervescent (though could be a touch more so to improve it even more), light body.

One of the best American interpretations of the style I've had, IMO. (Even with low abv, which I didn't realise until seeing it here after reviewing on notes.) Glad to see that it follows the outline of an authentic HW, rather than an American Pale Wheat Ale laballed as such. Very banana-y with a nice clove balance. Very well-done! A truly refreshing, tasty brew!

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2009 03:14:06 | More by jwc215

pmccallum86

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a very golden cloudy color with a thin head.

S- Very spicy citrus aroma, almost smells like a fresh pear.

T- Good tasting Hefe, refreshing beer on a hot summer day. Some zesty spice notes along with a nice level of carbonation on the tongue.

M- The feel is thin with a clean smooth finish.

D- This beer is very drinkable on a warm summer night, such as tonight. Good refreshing Hefe and a great example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2009 00:26:05 | More by pmccallum86

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the MSP airport at Ike's.

The beer pours a hazy honey gold color with pretty good head retenation and lacing. On the nose there is considerable spice, with noticeable clove, nutmeg and a touch of banana. Flavors on the palate replicate the nose, and for such a low abv. beer, I'm impressed by the amount of flavor in this beer. Mouthfeel is fairly light, but still substantial. Drinkability is exceptional.

What a treat to be able to find a beer this tasty at the airport.

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2009 22:35:07 | More by johnmichaelsen

Mardukk

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden color with a minimal amount of head and some lacing.

Smells of banana and spices.

Slightly watery tasting typical easy drinking wheat type beer. Banana and wheat tastes dominate.

Very light mouthfeel with medium carbonation. Quite drinkable due to the light mouthfeel and the weak taste.

Not my favorite for the style a little too light and watery. However it's not too bad and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2009 00:22:22 | More by Mardukk