In-Heat Wheat - Flying Dog Brewery

DanBob35

Michigan

4.7/5  rDev +33.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is an excellent German Stlye Wheat beer. If you close your eyes you might think you are in Munich. It has the classic "banana & clove" smell and taste. Excellent appearence, nice lasting head, and great aroma. Put your Lederhosen on and enjoy a cold one. Great job Flying Dog!!

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2008 19:14:31 | More by DanBob35

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.68/5  rDev +32.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours an opaque honey-golden with a thick, white, fine-bubbled head that sticks around for a while. Aroma is rich and wheaty with a definite citrus component. Flavor is rich and full, wheaty and malty. This wheat beer is pleasant, refreshing and smooth, and feels thick.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2008 00:30:36 | More by Cyberkedi

RBorsato

Virginia

4.6/5  rDev +30.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Very cloudy yellow-ish gold color like an overripe banana with a nice white head and decent carbonation. Fruity banana aroma and flavors dominate with a nice grainy wheat character underneath to finish it off and just the right amount of clove in the finish. Light to medium bodied, smooth, and refreshing.

A nice fruity American example of the Bavarian style and one of FD's better brews...

Per Label: "Hefeweizen"

Per FD website:
Original Gravity: 12.0 Plato
Specific Gravity: 1.048
Alcohol By Volume: 5.1%
GABF- 2003 Silver Medal - German-Style Hefeweizen

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2005 21:56:46 | More by RBorsato

yelterdow

New Jersey

4.6/5  rDev +30.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served at fridge temperature in a traditional hefeweizen glass. Purchased at Bottle King, Hillsdale for $7.49 a sixer. A spring refresher on this humid May evening.

Batch #220FX08

Appearance- On the pour, this looks *everything* like a traditional German hefe... it's unfiltered and golden, totally cloudy with a nice three finger head. Unbelieveable wheaty on the eyes, with phantom draperies of soft, wispy malt inside. A trophy of a beer, literally glowing like an incandescent lamp. Sporadic patches of lacing.

Smell- For an American version of the style, this is extremely convincing as a German archetype. The bold banana, clove and bubblegum aspects of a hefeweizen leap out of the glass... it'a as appetizing as any good wheat beer I've sampled in recent memory.

Taste- Phenolic and bready, loaded with banana, wheat, and wonderful spicy clove... this dazzles the palate with a complex integration of delicious ingredients. The finish is especially nice where the wheat malt joins a mild, smooth hop bitterness that dries the mouth just perfectly.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- Tingly on the intro, this immediately softens without losing interest... it smoothens even more and goes down in a slick, but still light-bodied way. This beer's real forte is the expressive, bold nose along with a remarkable balance on the palate. I have just enjoyed three of these to their fullest, a testament to my "5" rating of drinkability... a home run for Flying Dog.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2008 02:22:19 | More by yelterdow

scvance

South Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +29.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a wheat glass.

At first pours a clear golden color with lots of fluffy white foam. Swirling the dregs and emptying them into the glass creates the signature haze of this hefeweizen. Thick white stable head. Aroma of banana and slight clove as is expected, slightly fruity. Taste follows suit with big banana flavor up front that fades to a nice fruity sweetness and a crisp clean finish. Very heavy carbonation that meant I needed to pour VERY slowly. This leads to a very crisp beer that goes down very easy. Mouthfeel is smooth and slightly creamy. Light to medium in body that would allow me to drink way too many too easily. An excellent hefeweizen, I will definitely be having this again.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 21:34:44 | More by scvance

DevilDogBeer

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +28.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This Hefeweizen has an amazing yeast strain in it! I could smell the clove and banana the second I took the cap off! The appearance was a hazy golden color with a white head. The aroma was amazing; this truly is a well-made Hefe. The taste was as bold as the smell. Not overpowering, but definitely a treat for the taste buds. The wheat left a soft, pleasant aftertaste on the palate that faded nicely. The mouthfeel was very good with just the right amount of body for the style. This is a very drinkable beer and perfect on a warm summer day. Pop a top and Cheers to your senses!

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2006 00:59:51 | More by DevilDogBeer

ibashmuck

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +27.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Purchased as part of "build-your-own-six-pack" at local grocer. Poured a nice cloudy yellow/orange, with minimal head. It was there, just not alot of it. Smelled, well, like I'd expect a good wheat to smell like. Very little of anything else, maybe a hint of citrus. Taste as nice as it smells. Delicious, not overpowering, not subtle, just about right on. Has a "thick" feel to it, again, what I would expect from a good wheat. Ranks right up there with some of my favorites. Very, very well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2008 22:21:04 | More by ibashmuck

schoolboy

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is another example of American breweries doing European styles better than the Europeans.

This is an example of a wheat that is perfectly balanced. It may be a little heavier than the lighter Euros are, but that doesn't make it bad. The Euros are too light. It has a very yeasty and hoppy aste and an excellent smell. This is exactly what's missing from most others.

I will try to remember to make this my first choice of wheat beers.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 00:24:42 | More by schoolboy

jiggahertz

New Hampshire

4.47/5  rDev +26.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Opaque dark golden beer, nice finger head dissipates quickly.

S: Honey, malts, wheat great nose on this.

T: Banana and cloves dominate the flavor. Caramel, toffee malts up front with honey and wheat following close behind.

M: heavy for a hefe

D: Awesome beer, my favorite hefe. Definitely not a boring beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 23:16:22 | More by jiggahertz

jvajda

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Light orange tint and thick haze. Good size head.
Smell: Pure wheat.
Taste: Again, a monsterous helping of wheat, it's a loaf of bread in a glass. It's really what I look for in a hefe. Good ABV too.
Mouthfeel: Nice and smooth, good carbonation.
Drinkability: I could drink this for a long time before I was bored with it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2004 20:14:23 | More by jvajda

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +26.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours a clouded sunshine yellow, but pale. Lots of bubbles. A tiny little head that recedes to nothingness. Nice tart, fruity smell of bananas, cloves, and some Sour Patch Kids. I likey. The taste is a little less tart, more fruity and clovey. PLus teh added feeling of great carbonation. This seems to be a very underrated beer. I could drink this stuff all day.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2006 03:54:03 | More by scruffwhor

Rasolante1

Indiana

4.45/5  rDev +26.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Very cloudy with little head. Dark orange color.

S: Subdued banana, lots of clove and phenol spiciness. The yeast character is amazing. WOW!

T: Same as the nose, very little banana. Very bready, sweet, and phenolic. All of the flavors are harmonious. Amazing Hefe.

M: This beer seemed a little on the thick bodied side which I enjoyed. Would have liked a little more carbonation.

O: This one definitely ranks in my top 5 for hefeweizen. Highly recommended!

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 15:50:30 | More by Rasolante1

treehugger02010

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I pulled this 12 ounce bottle out of the Flying Dog variety pack. I poured it into a pint glass.
A: The body is a cloudy gold color. The head is a brilliant white, gigantic in size, tiny bubbles, freakin' awesome retention and little lacing.
S: The aromas are slight banana, orange and pineapple.
T: The flavors are estery, banana and perhaps some citrus.
M: The body is full with an edgy mouthfeel.
D: This beer is great.
Don't drink and review.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2010 12:17:06 | More by treehugger02010

benwood84

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +25.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

I love this beer. It has a hint of clove and banana but it's not overpowering.

I do wish it weren't as heavy. It's not really that heavy, but the sweetness would pair better if it were a bit lighter. I love this beer in the summer.

Overall a great beer. I can't drink it all the time, but I'm pretty excited when I find it in a bar.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 02:59:30 | More by benwood84

thekanna

Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap at Hard Times Cafe in College Park, MD

A: Gorgeous, radiant gold (with orange on the side) that refracts so much light itself it might be a replacement for the sun. This is capped off by a thin, clean white head that doesn't leave much lacing.

S: Clean citrus flavor; some wheat malts with a beautiful floral backbone.

T: Wow! So much flavor. Sweet wheat malts rush to the palate, bringing with it banana, cloves, bready yeasts, and lemon peel. The sweet, malty bread feel (almost tasting like a Mexican Concha sweet bun) is slightly cloying in the aftertaste, but that would be my only complaint, and a small one at that.

M: Smooth, malty, juicy, with just the right amount of carbonation.

D: This is a dangerously drinkable brew, and one of the only ones from Flying Dog that I've tried so far which I'll be returning back to again and again. Also, I think the freshness of this beer, as I had it on tap, really contributes to the flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2009 03:52:39 | More by thekanna

BruinsFan71

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the better domestic hefe offerings I've had.

A - A nice orange.gold with a finger's high head that washed down to a slim lacing.

S - nice hints of banana, clove and bubblegum

T - the smell came through in the taste, with a decent bready wheat finish.

M - A bit heavier than I like in a true hefe, but not bad at all. Finished light.

O - one of about three American offerings of the Hefeweizen I would recommend to anyone who is a fan of the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 20:08:05 | More by BruinsFan71

Mitchster

Michigan

4.4/5  rDev +24.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours out to hazy burnt orange, forming a modest white head with good retention and lacing. Moderate carbonation. The aroma is a well balanced blend of bubble gum, cloves and bananas. The mouthfeel is great. A nice acidity but not overly spritzy Luke many bavarian hefes. The taste is a recap of the aroma. Wonderfully balanced with a great snappy wheat flavor and mild bitterness. 4.7% ABV and 12 ibus. One of the best American brewed hefes I've had. I will definitely be buying this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2012 03:11:23 | More by Mitchster

woodske1

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +24.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A great beer. I am glad they distribute this in a wide range. It doesn't have that very strong Banana taste that some Hefeweizen's have but still has a nice crisp taste.

Great bubbly mouthfeel makes for a very drinkable beer. I would reccomend it on tap over the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2009 16:58:24 | More by woodske1

MABZ

Nebraska

4.33/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is my favorite of the the Flying Dog brews I've tried. Pours to a cloudy golden color with a thin white foam. Smells and tastes like bananas and a slight backing of wheat malt. Not much else to say about this brew, but that is not to say that it was bland, boring, or not worth trying. It is definitely worth trying, and maybe even worth making a session out of. Perfect for the prelude to a hot summer's day that was today (it got to ~80 degrees F this nice(?!) early spring evening in Iowa City).

(edit: after drinking lots of hefes and dunkels from both Germany and the U.S., I'd have to say this is one of my top choices so far, next to the Aventinus)

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2005 06:16:50 | More by MABZ

casadebia

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Golden color with nice white head

S - smell of cloves hits first followed by a wheat and fruit smell

T - Not much hop taste here, mainly clove with smooth wheat finish

M - smooth

D - Suprisingly quenching could go great on a hot day or cold night

Got at Gator Mart in Nacogdoches. Poured into a hefeweiss glass.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2007 00:25:02 | More by casadebia

Chapter40z

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A. Pale yellow, just slightly hazy with very little head that disappeared quickly.

S. Orange smells, not very shape and sweet smelling, bananas as well as many light fruits. Nearly no hops smell.

T. Bananas and some good orange flavors, fruity and good.

M. Highly carbonated very refreshing and light without a strong finish, almost reminds me of some sort of juice.

D. Exceptional is all i cay say. a great beer for many occasions.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2009 18:12:40 | More by Chapter40z

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

tap

Pours a light cloudy lemon yellow gold, white head retains as a lacing.

Smells of coriander and lemon citrus notes with some banana and wheat malts.

Taste is the same, with noticeable banana esters and lemony zest on top of the citrus and wheat malts.

Lighter body with soft carbonation.

Insanely drinkable, a wonderful warm weather session beer. Very nice hefe, bordering on wit territory, and definitely something I will go back to.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2012 23:16:56 | More by Cylinsier

scottyshades

Florida

4.3/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a Flying Dog Mixed Pack at ABC for around $13...I have tried some FDs but not all of them so I figured this would be a good buy just knowing their reputation as being a good brewing company
A: Pours a nice golden-orange color with a small head that leaves minimal lace on the glass...Honestly I didnt know what to expect because the color was gorgeous, however the head and lace did not impress me

S: The first thing that strikes you right off the bat is a strong wheat nose, followed by the classic cloves, bananas (actually noticeable in this one), lemon, grapefruit, and wheat/malt yeast

T: Very nice taste for a weizen, bananas are quite present which is a delight because I happen to enjoy weizens with strong banana flavors...also a little clove, some spices, followed by a nice malt flavor

MF: The maltiness of this beer promotes a smooth aftertaste, followed by some strong bitterness

D: Highly drinkable, makes for a decent session beer

Overall, this may be my favorite offering from Flying Dog...its just a very balanced and flavorful weizen...Highly recommended

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2007 02:41:04 | More by scottyshades

GolgiIPAratus

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled: 5.28.06

Appearance is the light pale hazy gold with a minimal head without much retention. Lacing is there, but not to a huge extent. Pretty typical, nothing stands out.

Aroma is appropriate banana/cloveness. Very nice and spicy. Light wheat tones wave in like a breeze.

The flavor carried over from the nose. Spiciness of the clove is most dominant. There’s also a good German/Euro funkiness going on behind the ssweetness. Bananas are present, but the spiciness is the main compnonent here. Very tasty beer, and just right for the late spring afternoon it was sampled. Light in the mouth and mildly carbonated.

Personally, I thought this was extremely drinkable. I feel like this is a fantastic American stab at the original German Hefes.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2006 16:29:17 | More by GolgiIPAratus

PatrickJR

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12 oz bottle into weizen glass.

A - Golden, orangish color, quite hazy with some yeast sediment. Almost two finger head recedes quickly to a white cap and leaves little lacing. Looks a lot more like a hefe than other American versions.

S - Strong clover aroma at first giving way to soft fruit esters, something between sweet corn and banana. Wheat malt lurks in the background.

T - The same banana and sweet corn from the nose start the taste off. Mid-palate the wheat malt begins to pull through and a growing but mild sourness extends to the finish where a quick metallic/mineral flavor takes hold for a minute and then finishes clean. Quite remarkable. More estery and less dirt-like wheat malt than other American attempts.

M - Not really on part with a hefe at all. Somewhat thin and watery overall, maybe with a touch of body, but also sparsely carbonated. I'd prefer the beer a little thicker, but the lack of high carbonation really helps the depth of flavor pull through.

D - This used to be one of my favorite better session beers, but I hadn't had one in quite a while until just now. It's every bit as good as I remember it. No problem having six or even more of these guys.

Shiner Hefeweizen was my virgin experience with this style, but it was In-Heat Wheat that really got me interested. Even now I feel it surpasses it's American counterparts. While it's not a perfect imitation of it's German brethren, Flying Dog actually puts it's own unique spin on the style rather than spewing out the earthy products such as Sam Adams, Harpoon's, and Magic Hat's versions of hefeweizens. I love this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2008 03:48:32 | More by PatrickJR