Schlafly Hefeweizen - Saint Louis Brewery / Schlafly Tap Room

JEdmund

Kansas

3.05/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Wheat beers are typically a pretty beer, and Schlafly’s doesn’t disappoint. The hazy, bright yellow body sits beneath a somewhat modest white cap. The aroma gets knocked a bit for sulfur/grainy notes when I’d rather be smelling light notes of banana and clove or some light herbal hops. Body is OK, with an active carbonation, but the finish is on the thin side and the texture is lacking in that silkiness you get from wheat. Flavor also comes in at an underwhelming amount, but this could be an advantage if you’re drinking outside in the summer. While the flavor is a bit muted, there is a snappy, almost peppery, finish to it that I like. There’s a slight lemony bitterness detectable that plays well against the pale malt.

Like my previous takes on Schlafly’s beers, I’m left unimpressed and not inclined to seek this out again. This isn’t a bad beer, it’s just not as full in flavor as I’d prefer.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2011 23:05:31 | More by JEdmund

bnes09

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Straw-colored ale, transparent with no yeast haze. Pours a shallow white head with poor retention. Not much lacing.

Crisp aroma of lemon and wheat.

Citric, lemon hop flavor. Smooth wheat backbone. Just a touch of yeast flavor.
Finish is a bit tangy.

Light to medium body. Well carbonated. Slightly dry finish. Easy drinking.

This stuff isn't too bad. Not too much depth but it's refreshing and great for a summer night brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2011 00:47:39 | More by bnes09

secondtooth

Indiana

3.6/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Cloudy yellow gold, with nice white head of fine foam. Nice lace, too.

Aroma is fresh sweet and honey-like, with a yeasty bread tone, with a slight hint of citrus. Nice.

Taste is tangy, chewy, and flavorful...bready with a light citrus hint in the finish.

Not an overly complex hefeweizen (none of the traditional banana/clove tones), but certainly a pleasing and enjoyable experience and a drinkable wheat beer. Solid.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2011 20:59:36 | More by secondtooth

GossageBrewery

Missouri

3.45/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured this beer from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. It produced a cloudy straw color that is consistent with an American Unfiltered Wheat Ale- They call this a Hefeweizen but its false advertising. This is no where close to a German Hefe. Any how- The "Wheat Ale" produced a big two finger thick white head. Head retention was average and it has very much above average amounts of lacing. The aroma consisted of a soft wheat with notes of citrus. The mouthfeel was very smooth, very well carbonated and was very easy to drink. Perfect beer for summer. Tin beer- Watery. The wheat shines through as the dominant ingredient and has a nice citrus lemony finish. Very good session beer. Very good version of an American Wheat Ale- No where close to a Hefeweizen.

Follow up: After writing this I checked out other reviews- Everyone is comparing this to a German Hefeweizen. No this is an American Wheat Ale- There really should not be a banana taste to an American Unfiltered Wheat- Schlafly- you need to change the name of this beer pronto!

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 19:27:44 | More by GossageBrewery

salvo

Indiana

3.08/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale straw-yellow liquid under a half-inch fluffy head arrives in a 4 oz taster at the Black Dog BBQ and beer in Urbana, IL (see my review in BeerFly).

Smell is pineapple and clove rather than banana, and the smell is subdued all around. Perhaps it's drinking this lighter summer beer after a hearty snowfall, but I'm just not feeling it.

The taste is a bit thin, although this is true to style at 3.9%, but I've had plenty of flavorful lower-alcohol beer, particularly Hefeweizen. There's just something missing here. Ends very yeasty in a rather unpleasant way.

Quaffable at 3.9%; I just don't see why anyone would bother.

Schlafley generally leaves me cold, and I tasted this blind and so do not demure from expressing my disappointment in the brewer generally.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2011 14:35:49 | More by salvo

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.28/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: cloudy yellow, hint of orange, solid lacing display in the pint.

S: hint of citrus and grain.

T: mild sweet citrus, wheat up front, with hint of bitter finish

M: light body, little too watery, dry crisp finish, solid carbonation

D: This is my 2nd Schlafly's offering and not too thrilled, not the best Hefeweizen, but not awful either. Wish there was more cloves in the flavor. I have heard great things about the brewery, so I will continue to give them another chance.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 23:38:50 | More by BeerLover99

BeerWhale

Missouri

2.63/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This beer pours a cloudy yellow body, with a thin, puffy white head. It looks like a hefe should, but unfortunately the taste is below average. It has mild flavors at most. There is no spice, clove or banana hints that are normally expected in a good Hefe. It has some mild yeasty flavors, but not enough to add anything to the overall taste.

All in all; a disappointing beer that has none of the characteristic Hefeweizen flavors. I was expecting more, but was left with a bland, watery tasting beer that should not have come out of a brewery this good. Hopefully Schlafly will get their act together and make a better Hef before summer. Because, lets face it, there is nothing better than a cool, banana(y) hef while you're suffering through a St. Louis summer.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 01:30:08 | More by BeerWhale

janders1

Illinois

2.45/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

I had high hopes for this beer since I have had a couple of other brews from this brewery and was pleased with them. This beer had good appearance and smell, but what I tasted was not a Hefeweizen, but rather something more on the lines of a bad pale ale. Overall not a bad beer, but I would not categorize it as a Hefeweizen. I quickly went and bought an Erdinger to make sure I had not forgotten what a Hefe tasted like.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2010 22:38:39 | More by janders1

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewpub in August 2009. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a cloudy yellow color with a white head. The nose is quite plain with a bit of general yeast character and some really mild banana. The taste is the same with some really light wheat and mild banana; maybe a hint of clove. A bit creamy and light, although it drinks well in the end.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2010 18:59:32 | More by Thorpe429

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine June 2007.

Uh-oh, here we go. This will be the never-ending debate within the beer industry: Can you call an American Wheat a Hefeweizen? Purists will say no and cringe to see a lemon wedge on the glass. Others don't care too much and just ponder if the beer is good or not. We're with them.

After pouring out about two-thirds of the bottle and then swirling the yeast in, we could see huge flakes
of the yeast dissolve back into the beer, making for a cloudy yellow brew. Head retention was fine, with massive sticky chunks of lace from the initial pouring. Textbook aroma of dough malt, a faint fermented wheat twang and neutral yeast. Crispness is fine, with a medium level of carbonation and fluffy mouthfeel. Wheat malt flavor is simple yet sturdy, with a bit of a wheat twang and a minimal hop bitterness--showing a good balance. Finishes dry with an earthy yeast and grainy wheat taste.

Let's not even think the word "Hefeweizen"--for an unfiltered and unpasteurized American Wheat, this is pretty damn good. Simply put: Schlafly Hefeweizen = American Wheat Session Ale. Pairs well with a chicken kabob Greek salad with extra feta and hot peppers.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2010 18:50:43 | More by BeerAdvocate

biggred1

Indiana

3.35/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Hazed, bleach blonde with a fizzy white cap. Mild lemon rind and wheat malt in the aroma. The flavors don't separate this brew from most mainstream American pale wheat ales, citrus peel and mild wheat malt tang. Light bodied and slightly creamy with fizzy carbenation. An okay gateway beer I guess? Nothing special here.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2010 00:11:15 | More by biggred1

TheSarge

Illinois

2.73/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured this one into a Maisel's Weisse Weizen glass. The brew mad a great appearance with three fingers of thick bright white head, and a hazy golden colored body.

The aroma is yeasty, and almost cardboard in character. There is not much depth to this brew.

The taste is light and bland. There is the cardboard like flavor, with a hint of citrus peel.

This is one of the lightest hefes I've ever had, and a bit let down. I guess at an ABV of 3.9%, that should've told me something.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2010 21:21:53 | More by TheSarge

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.3/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Another one from the Schlafly Taproom in St Louis.

Appeared pretty hefe but had no head and not much lacing.

Smelled typically hefe, cloves and yeast.

Tasted of cloves, banana, yeast.

Felt kind of watery and not outstanding.

Surprisingly drinkable despite being about as average as an on tap hefeweizen could be.

Serving type: on-tap

09-06-2010 11:08:14 | More by AlCaponeJunior

AleWatcher

Illinois

3.3/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on vacation-- reviewed from notes:

Pours a cloudy, golden, sunset kind of color... with a little white specks of yeast sediments in there. A thick voluminous bone white head of 2 fingers with surprissingly good lace.

The smell hits with some sweet malty wheat and toasted cloves-- like a clove cigarette almost.

Taste is sweet, not bitter. Easy drinking. Nothing too complex-- no banana or bubblegum... Not bad, pleasant, but not great.

It's light enough, it's sweet enough, and people like it.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2010 04:41:50 | More by AleWatcher

feedsasquatch

Kentucky

3.7/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This is the first unfiltered Hefe I've ever had.

A - Golden/yellow and slightly hazy. Had a very good foamy white head.

S - Malty, yeasts, some citrus, and then the wheat shows up. My first sniff had me worried about the flavor.

T - good, light flavor. Tastes malty and yeasty. There's a little sweet fruitiness as well. It didn't taste like I expected. Perhaps the yeastiness is just the wheat coming through.

M - smooth, but thicker then it smells. Creamy would be a better descriptor than crisp I think.

D - The first one is great, and very easy to finish. I just doesn't leave me wanting more.

Overall, it's not a bad beer. The 4 sitting in my fridge right now will be gone before the week is over for sure. But, I'm going to have try several other hefe's before I can decide if I like the style or not.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2010 19:51:53 | More by feedsasquatch

scruffwhor

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to my buddy Nate for the big haul he made for mw in St.Louis.

Pours the standard hazey banana peel yellow an ok head and foam for a hefe.

Almost toasted grain smell mixes with just a touch of dried banana peel.

The taste has some of the same confusion between yeast and malt. Wheaty sweet, but yeast nd hop mustiness flavors are a little off putting.

This palat is talc and musty. Not the session wheat ale I was looking forward to.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2010 02:40:39 | More by scruffwhor

jaycount

Kansas

3.93/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

My first unfiltered Wheat Ale.

A - Hazy with some of the unfilteredness floating around. Foamy bright white head. I'm getting sucked into this one.

S - Similar to many wheat beers I've had. A strong hoppy aroma.

T - Good all-around taste. Just strong enough. Does NOT have that watered down taste associated with many wheat beers I've tried.

M - Sudsy. Mmmmm. Duff. Refreshing, would be a great lakeside or poolside drink.

D - Low ABV, great news for me! This will be an awesome Summer beer, can't wait.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 20:07:31 | More by jaycount

champ103

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a hazy golden/yellow color. A large, pillowing, white head with good retention. Some lace is left behind.
S: Light citrus and funky yeast aromas. Though an odd mineral and sulfur aroma that detracts for me.
T: Crisp citrus, banana, and lemon flavors. Sweet malt with some biscuit, dough, and yeast flavors.
M/D: A medium body and carbonation. Crisp, smooth, creamy, and refreshing. Not watered down at all. Really easy to drink. Very low on the ABV, and it is a great session beer.

This is a very solid wheat ale. Simple and enjoyable. Something that is worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 19:40:46 | More by champ103

ommegangpbr

New York

2.35/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The label on the neck of the bottle is different from the picture posted on Beer Advocate but it's the same one as listed on the brewery's site- says Unfiltered Wheat along with Hefeweizen ale.
For something unfiltered this pours awfully clear. Not quite fizzy yellow lager clear but not really hazy at all. No suspicious floaties. Nothing at all mysterious. ... ah, after emptying the bottle, a splash of yeast gets in there hazing it some; still pretty weak for the style.
On the nose it is very much fizzy yellow lager with some indications of bottled lemon juice.
On the palate, there isn't much more depth than lemon seltzer going on. A lemony, light lager is what I'm tasting. While the flavors aren't bad, they are very, very weak.
Frankly, there's probably a macrobrew that's on sale wherever you are that you will probably enjoy just about as much as you would enjoy this beer. Don't bother with it.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 05:40:07 | More by ommegangpbr

jsprain1

Minnesota

2.95/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours a nice golden with good head retention, and some haziness. normal looking pale wheat.
S- almost no smell. just basic wheat, with maybe a little citrus or yeast.
T-Taste is of wheat throughout with little complexity. a bit of yeastiness near the end. other than that, it's just wheat.
m- pretty thin, but not unfortunately so.
D- this is made as an easy drinking wheat. this is a very average beer. i don't particularly dislike it, but nothing about is is exciting.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2009 07:33:03 | More by jsprain1

scooter231

New York

3.23/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden color with a fair amount of tannish head that's pretty resilient. Very chalky. The color seems a bit one-dimensional, tho.

Smell is very, very wheaty, with a hint of citrus flavors, but not much else. Whiff o' wheat. Taste is nearly identical. Where are my banana flavors, my spicy notes? Where's my bitter hops sneaking in there? As many have said before me, this is NOT a hefe. But it's not untasty! It's just misrepresented.

Mouthfeel is decent, chewy, chalky. Bubbly. Overall it's a refreshing, crisp, very wheaty beer. It's just not what I expect a hefe to be!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2009 02:26:52 | More by scooter231

smibroncos

New York

3.2/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A. Poures a light clear straw, with a one finger white head, decent lacing clings to the glass. I thought it should be a little more hazy.

S. Grass, wheat malt, citrus.

T. Not too typical for the style, more of a wheat flavor than a Hefeweizen. Wheat malt and some citrus flavor.

M. Light to medium bodied, nice carbonation.

D. This was a decent brew, not my favorite by any means but I would drink this one again. Nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2009 01:59:29 | More by smibroncos

tempest

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had a bottle from a mixed 12-pack I picked up in Columbia, MO. This beer reminds me of the Summit Hefe for it's yeasty clove kick, but it's not quite as good. The malt falls flat and is a touch astringent. The yeast character is a bit plain, but in line with the style, I suppose. There's just a little spicy clove at the end of flavor without any banana. The malt for the part tastes like a disappointing light beer. This isn't a bad pale wheat ale, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you loved the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2009 17:31:55 | More by tempest

maximum12

Minnesota

3.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to a couple of non-BA friends who have begun bringing us beers back from their various travels around the states. They's good people!

Pour is suspiciously clear for a hefe, a clear yellow, almost no haze or muddiness at all. Smells like wheat.

This is a surpassingly simple hefe. Taste is close to 100% wheat, with only passing moments of yeast & perhaps a grass seed or two. Best quality is that this goes down easily.

Very average hefe. Most of the Schlafly stuff I've had has been oozing with character, this one is just...boring.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2009 18:04:57 | More by maximum12

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

3.4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass.

I just moved to St. Louis and this was suggested by the server at a restaurant. The beer says Hefeweizen, I'm not exactly sure it fits with the style it claims. But on with the review.

A - It pours a pale golden color with lots of haze. There was very thin head about a quarter of an inch but it had good retention.

S - Faint wheat with some citric notes, some sweetness in the nose but not as noticeable.

T - Wheat is very noticeable with some citric bite. There is a nice refreshing quality with good carbonation. Bread and wheat are very dominant in the taste. Refreshing but a bit bland.

M - Good CO2 and very refreshing. Crisp.

D - Very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-22-2009 02:14:42 | More by JoEBoBpr