Maisel's Weisse Original - Brauerei Gebrüder Maisel GmbH & Co.

PDXHops

South Carolina

2.88/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

500 ml bottle poured into a weizen glass. The bubbly head is huge, but retention is disappointing. Scattered lacing atop the hazy orange body.

The requisite clove, bread, yeast and lemon are there, but everything seems rather muted, tired even. Perhaps an old bottle (and at this modest price point, I'm inclined to give it another chance). There's potential showing in the mild aromas and flavors, but the watery mouthfeel leaves much to be desired. More tame than bad, it pales in comparison to many of its Old World brethren.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 01:23:07 | More by PDXHops

laituegonflable

Australia

2.9/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a very good, cloudy, light-brown colour, quite hefeweizeny. Good foamy defiant head, with a bit of carbonation. Looks nice.

Nose is pleasant enough but a bit underwhelming. Slightly sour grass aroma, with a hint of spicy yeast but not much. Very European, but not very good.

Taste is not bad, watery on the front palate, then descends slowly - a little too slowly perhaps - into an underwhelmingly rich, drinkable and slightly bitter palate. Finish is quite crisp and clean for a hefe. Lingering flavour is slightly herby, while mouthfeel is a little puckering and dry.

Okay flavours, but they're not dominant enough for me to really enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2009 02:52:31 | More by laituegonflable

lacqueredmouse

Australia

2.98/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Quite a dark amber tapering to a burnt golden body. Light white coarse bubbled head that doesn't retain. Minimal carbonation.

Very little aroma, a little sweet and toffee like. Little hint of the classic banana-clove aroma. Overall, rather subdued.

Taste is a little more traditional. Smooth banana phenols, with an underlying freshness. Quite easy to drink and very creamy on the palate. Pretty filling though, and the cloying banana bubblegum sweetness gets to you after a while.

Still, it's pretty drinkable and quite smooth. Pretty hard to take more than one of these though.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2007 22:18:25 | More by lacqueredmouse

dasenebler

Maine

2.98/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

.5L, Germany, best by May 2011.

Hazy straw-orange. Head is sub-par for the style: thin and short-lived.

The aroma is faint, but has some good banana and raw yeast character.

Flavor is boring and watery, but at least not offensive. Whereas a good Hefeweizen has bright, fruity and phenolic flavors, this beer has a dull, bready character, with a bit of tang thrown in for good measure. This style is all about the yeast, and I'm afraid the Maisel's strain forgot about flavor during fermentation. The mouthfeel is okay, but kind of chalky and watery. All in all, this is not so bad to drink, just very mediocre.

Note: I last reviewed this beer over two years ago following a buzzed afternoon in a Berlin biergarten. Though my palate has matured since then, this bottle did not even come close to what I experienced that late summer afternoon in 2008. Oh well. I guess it's better on-tap...

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 02:08:02 | More by dasenebler

Zorro

California

3.08/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Cloudy dark amber with a medium sized off-white colored head.

Smell is sweet with a mostly clove scent. Smells something like Clove cake.

Starts out mildly sweet with mostly clove and ginger flavor. Mildly flavored it could be stronger.

Mouthfeel is OK.

Overall frankly this is flavorless. Not something I would pay for again.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 02:05:21 | More by Zorro

teromous

Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Slightly hazy medium orange-gold color, with a nice fluffy white head. Loads of visible carbonation.

S: Some spicy hop scents mingling on the nose with notes of alcohol. Light clove scents pop out.

T: Very very light flavors that are hardly noticeable or identifiable. There is a cardboard like flavor to the beer, and some mild spice flavor in the aftertaste. A little bit of big-league chew on the back.

M: The mouthfeel is very light and well carbonated. It is very easy to drink.

O: Overall I thought the beer was fairly average. It just lacked the freshness and pop of flavor that comes from a good Hefeweizen. Mainly it lacked the fresh grain flavor that comes from a good Hefe, as well as pronounced phenols and spice. It is an import, and the bottle is stamped with 26 G 12 07:30, so I'm guessing the 12 is 2012 which would mean it's not the freshest. I probably wouldn't buy it again unless I was getting it in Europe. It's still a very decent beer, and better than many non-imported offerings in the US. It was very drinkable, and would suit nearly any occasion a light-bodied beer is called for.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 00:43:04 | More by teromous

Redwood21

Virginia

3.15/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

appearance is a sort of amber wheat color, with a head that dies fast.
the smell...what smell.. i dont detect a strong smell from this beer at all. there was some before i poured it into the glass but the minute i did so it went away, what is thre is some yeats and wheat maybe some fruit. taste is ok, by no means the beast hefe weizen. its a clean flavor that isnt very in depth, but is not offensive at all. this beer is around average, with each sip i waver between whats this beer doing and, this is somewhat refreshing. its not something I would get again, but its not a "bad" beer, if your a huge hefe fan, its worth a try to see if its an interpretation you enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2007 04:46:12 | More by Redwood21

rec

Australia

3.15/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

There really isn't a lot to say about this if you've enjoyed a fine and wide selection of hefe's.

The pour is probably the most enjoyable part, with an amber body and creamy white sticky head that laces a little too well. Brilliant.

I've got a bit of a cold at the moment, so the aroma was hard to pick, but there's definitely a yeasty undertone with some mild fruit overtones. I wish I was in a healthier. Typical of a hefe from the region.

The taste again is quite typical of a German hefe, although less stand-out than my preferred brews being the Shoffer Hefe and the Paulaner Hefe. Banana, spice, yeast - definitely enjoyable, but unfortunately not stand-out... there are better options as far as flavour goes.

The mouth feel is appropriate, moderate carbonation with no nasty aftertaste transcending from the up-front flavour.

Drinkability like many of this style is great - somewhat of a session beer, but also one that could be enjoyed whole-heartedly as a single.

Something that I'd recommend picking up at the right price, but not something I'd go out of my way to find with superior hefe options available.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2007 07:21:12 | More by rec

haningj2

South Carolina

3.15/5  rDev -18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Considered a mid-level Hefeweizen. Average quality. Not exceptional but not extremely impressive either.

A - Probably the saving grace of the brew. Pours brown/orange. Typical cloudy Hefeweizen body and small head. Slight lacing. Lacing becomes more impressive about half way through the beer.

S - Not so great. Obviously gives a distinct wheat-scent with hints of fruit. Nothing is bold about the smell overall, though. Was expecting much more.

T - Average. Very average. I personally felt it was too "American" although the brew is truly of European origin. Awkward taste. Almost immediately bold, followed by a sour hint of lemon/orange and followed by a disappointing aftertaste that is honestly, hard to describe. It doesn't have a unique flavor but by no means is it terrible.

M - Pretty good. Smooth, crisp and flowing.

D - Decent. The drinkability probably deserves a higher ranking but should be penalized for flavor. Yes, it's wrong for me to say that, but true.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 00:52:47 | More by haningj2

Onslow

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bought for xmas eve '07..Smells very old world, of banana, cloves, dust, and an old maid ... very dark in colour, of orange amber bread crust ... glides down the throat, but has a very strange aftertaste that weirds it all up.... lacing is like james stewart in a wonderful life... a pin point above average Hefe but the queer aftertaste kills the overall enjoyment of this beer, but it has its place...probably..

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2007 01:36:31 | More by Onslow

BierManVA

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A dark brownish-orange pour with a head that mafe a quick exit. Not a longer lasting carbonation like some Hefe's.

A bit of a dry-wheat flavor. Could be a little more refreshing. Almost earthy and gritty. Twig flavors.

Average at best. Not worth the $2.29 I paid for the 16.9

John

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2003 00:51:51 | More by BierManVA

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I picked up a bottle of this in Asheville a couple of days back. I've never heard of this beer or this brewery, but at $2.79 for a 500ml bottle, I couldn't pass it up.

Pouring a clear, golden orange with yellow gold highlights, there's a dense, off-white head that recedes to a ring, leaving no lace. The nose is decent. Mildly fruity, mildly metallic, mildly solvent-like and with some caramel, this is OK. That metallic/solvent character is distracting. As it breathes, it does die off a little bit, allowing some clove and banana to come through. Not particularly expressive.

The palate is significantly better. Spiced bananas drizzled with honey, this is decent. Of course, there's clove, but this also has a little holiday spice. Very slick on the palate, this has plenty of wheat-like dextrins, coating the palate without being sweet. Not particularly yeasty, there's a touch of metallic character on the finish. Mildly sweet and mildly fruity, this is decent. While medium-light, this really coats the palate. Carbonation is medium-low, which is also rather unconventional. Decent.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2010 02:17:01 | More by DefenCorps

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.3/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a murky, orange/brown color with a thick, stabile head.

Smell is spicy with some clove. A yeasty smell with some wheat notes. I also get some faint chocolate notes.

Taste is malty and spicy of the yeast, with some wheat taste. From appearance and taste I get the feeling there is some caramel and/or chocolate malt in here. I can taste some unsweetened chocolate. The yeast character isn't as outspoken and fresh as some other Weizen I have tried.
Mouthfeel is grainy leaves a dry and tart taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2007 20:51:27 | More by Absumaster

zjungleist

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -13%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Light amber color, decent head, highly carbonated. Typical bannana/yeast smell and taste. For the most part, a typical good hefe. I used to buy this beer a few years ago, and I remember it being better. Somewhat lackluster now. It just didn't jump out at me. No complaints though. A good, standard hefe.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2004 07:38:31 | More by zjungleist

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - clear golden, thumb of head dissipated quickly to a few random islands
S - strong banana and wheat, light cloves, and alight earthy note
T - similar to the nose but cracker grainy flavours are more dominant, yeasty esters through the finish
M - very big carbonation to the point of domination, finishes lightly spicy
O - had the general expected flavour profile and is enjoyable, just a little heavy on the carbonation for my preference of sytle

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 05:09:53 | More by joemcgrath27

RBorsato

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark gold-copperish (amber tones) with a low ivory head but good carbonation kept the low head consistent. Wheaty malt aroma with a trace of fruitiness but very low aroma for style. More of a soft malty, nutty, toffee flavor for a hefeweizen. Light bodied, creamy, and effervescent.

Much different than most hefeweizens and not what I think of for a Bavarian Hefeweizen. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2002 11:45:23 | More by RBorsato

caveman

Connecticut

3.45/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at collins bar in Seattle. Poured into correct Maisel's Weisse glass. Good head, great appearance, very good aroma. Served a little too cold, flavor was average for a German Weisse . Good balance of banana, clove and back end bubble gum. It just seemed to need a little umpgh.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2012 20:04:45 | More by caveman

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bought at Bert's Bier Huis in Utrecht.

From a bottle into my Weizen glass.

APPEARANCE: Pours a big white thick fluffy head. A deep opaque golden orange-brown. Darker and more orange than the standard weizen. No carbonation evident. Some immediate lacing. Nice looking.

SMELL: Wheat malt, clove, and a bit of sour lemon hop in the nose. Nice.

TASTE: Wheat malt and a slight bit of bread in the finish. The bready aftertaste is mild and relatively nice, but the initial taste is lacking somewhat. Not as strong or complex as it could be, A bit of lemon comes through as it warms. Average taste profile, unfortunately.

PALATE: Medium body and an appropriate amount of carbonation. Goes down smooth and relatively creamy with no bite. Finishes relatively dry for a weizen. Feels good.

OVERALL: A good brew, drinkable for sure. The nose is slightly more impressive than the taste, but the look is very nice. This one was actually my staple for a while when I lived in Hamburg. One worth re-visiting.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2008 19:10:15 | More by Jeffo

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.49/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Looks great with two fingers of head on a darker straw colored body, a few bubbles are visible.
The aroma is nice: grain and hay.
The taste is fairly malty with a moderate bitterness. A bit different for the style, but good.
The texture is smooth with moderate carbonation.
Enjoyable, but not a traditional hefeweizen.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 04:54:12 | More by Fatehunter

frank4sail

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1Pt. 9Fl Oz. Bottle. Hazy orange color with a slightly pink head. Ester smell with hints of citrus. A little darker than the Hefe's I've had. There is also a lack of body to the brew.. a little light on the malt I think. It satisfies but does not knock my socks off...

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2002 20:34:44 | More by frank4sail

ElGordo

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy orange-amber with an enormous foamy head. Nice, classic weissbier aroma of yeast, light malt, and light spices (allspice and clove). Light on the palate, with a hint of hops, some more light malt, and wonderful yeast. Body is kind of thin, even for a weiss. A nice, light, summery beer, almost perfect for an 80-degree night on the back porch.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2004 00:59:20 | More by ElGordo

MSchae1017

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer was poured into a weizen glass from the 12oz bottle.

The beer poured with a hazy straw colored body and a white fluffy head. The head does not hold as well as you would expect from this style and does not lace as much either. The smell is a typical wheat and bready smell. The taste is similar, and had the characteristics of a good weizen, but is just a bit on the weak side. The mouthfeel is also a bit thinner than the best ones out there. This is a nice beer, just not in the same league as the best out there.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2008 01:49:54 | More by MSchae1017

tvv375ia

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

poured from 12oz bottle into pint glass

A-amber colored with a 2 finger head thai fades rather quickly

S-banana and cloves just like you would expect

T-follows the smell closely with banana and cloves coming through nicely

M-good carbonation with an almost dry finish

O-not bad for a hefe

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 10:01:16 | More by tvv375ia

DrunkMcDermott

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I found this in a convenience store at the Doral Building on Michigan Avenue, tucked behind the Coors Light tallboys. Tasted it on the train home, since the rush hour schedule wouldn't let me stop over at Flossmoor Station. Drank this from the bottle, so I couldn't tell the color well. But drinking from the bottle did kick up a nice foamy head inside, and there was a fine coating of yeast at the bottom of the bottle. Presented a nice wheaty nose when I opened the bottle. The usual clove and banana tastes only became apparent after the first few sips. Between that was a nice malty sweetness balanced unobtrusively by German hops. Further down the bottle, the lemony taste becomes evident, which builds to a nice tartness as it warms up. All in all, a good, tasty beer to find.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2003 13:49:38 | More by DrunkMcDermott

vancurly

Australia

3.53/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

a) Dense frothy head, heavy lace. Dark orange / apricot hue, hazy, bubbly.
s) Typical Weizen.. banana, clove, wheat.... appealing balance
f) As with aroma, but with a more dominant wheat character.
m) Kinda light, slightly thin. Fades quickly. Needs more body and length.
d) Very quaffable

Serving type: on-tap

09-13-2007 10:35:24 | More by vancurly