Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss - Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +39.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 5

I am reviewing this beer today (New Beer Sunday Week ###) in honor of UncleJedI who was in town yesterday for the Cask Ale Fest in Lititz and was talking about having been to the Leinie Lodge on his recent cross-country adventure. The CAN came to me in a rolling (no other way to describe it) trade with resi and it seems like a good way to greet the day.

From the CAN: "Wheat Beer brewed with real Wisconsin honey"; "A unique Northwoods refresher brewed with select malted wheat, Cluster hops & a hint of honey". I have known several real Wisconsin honeys and there is a real reason that I visit that state at least once a year!

Following the Crack & Glug, I was going for maximum head, so I utilized my soon-to-be-famous inverted pour, resulting in a finger-and-a-half of fluffy, bone-white head with great retention. Color was like liquid sunshine in a glass. Beautiful! Deep golden yellow with NE-quality clarity. King Midas would have been envious of the gold. Nose was very malty sweet. As a previous reviewer put it very succinctly - it smelled like being on a tour of the brewery! Dig that! I like brewery tours, BTW. Mouthfeel was thin-to-medium with a wheat beer taste initially, followed by a lingering honey taste on the finish. Man, this was very tasty and a definite CANdidate for the imaginary cooler that I am continually filling for a beach outing. MUCH better than their Summer Shandy, which just begs to be blended with Furthermore's Knot Stock to become a Lemon Pepper Beer. Suddenly, I want to try the Berry Weiss that much more.

Serving type: can

10-31-2010 12:13:52 | More by woodychandler

RJUGA03

Illinois

2.55/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A-Poured a golden yellow with a substantial head of 1.4" and steadily rising carbonation bubbles.
S-Like a macrobrewery tour... SABMILLER?
T-Malty and slightly refreshing with a subtle honey lingering flavor.
M-Thin and fizzy
D-I could probably do two of these of an extremely warm summer's day, but other than that I wouldn't waste my money.

Serving type: can

11-14-2009 06:56:29 | More by RJUGA03

getch

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev +30.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a-golden clear, little shadow, little head when pouring, looks like a regular light beer, but more golden yellow

s-the smell has a hint of honey

t-nice crisp taste with a hint of honey, the honey is not overpowering like berryweiss

m-very enjoyable smooth,

d-one of my favorite light beers, like i stated above the honey is very light and can easily drink a few of these beers

Serving type: can

10-15-2007 23:25:26 | More by getch

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to ZAP for this exta canned brew in our initial trade...pretty cool, my first review of beer in a can...never thought it would happen.
A wheat beer made w/ real Wisconsin honey seems well worth a try.
Pours a clear, light golden color w/ two full fingers of fluffy, white head..lacing is quite thick and slides rapidly back into the glass.
Aroma is faint...hint of malt w/ carbonation in the nose.
The taste is decent...a nice dose of honey complements this wheat beer real nicely. Just a small amount of hops, adding just a hint of bitterness in the finish.
Mouthfeel is thin and the carbonation is fairly high, but I could enjoy a couple of these on a hot day (like today) before I'd need to go to something w/ a little more to offer.
Real glad to try this one...thanks again ZAP.

Serving type: can

06-26-2005 18:18:20 | More by warriorsoul

MikeAAL

Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev +27.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A sweet tasting beer. Crisp and refreshing.

Yellow colored body with a white head.

Smells like citrus, hops and honey.

Tastes hoppy with sweetness from the honey and a strong citrus finish.

Light mouthfeel, high carbonation.

I like to drink this beer once in a while. Very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 19:43:17 | More by MikeAAL

ChrisCage

Alberta (Canada)

2.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A- Pours a clean, clear light golden/straw color and appears to have plenty of palate scrubbing carbonation in it! The head is a super white color, and starts off quite thick, but quickly fizzles, although not to the extent of being gone...rather it becomes a dense film over top the brew. Lacing seems to be non existent however, with wispy foam quickly sinking back into the beer itself from the side of the glass. Slightly above average looking overall.

S- There is a certain citrus tartness about the overall aroma that is typical of a Kristal....blended in is the touch of honey that the brewery talks about, and a biscuit like sweetness that reminds me of water crisps...slightly yeasty, slightly soda like...there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of bitterness going on either, of which there shouldn't be...overall this reminds me of a cheaper end lager, as the general smell is dull and of adjunct.

T- This tastes almost exactly as my last sentence described the aroma....dull and unassuming! There is a dry grassy/grainy flavor on the palate and with just a slight bit of honeyed sweetness to linger on after the swallow. Other than this, it is more of a cheaper end taste, with corn adjunct prominent throughout. The finish is slightly astringent as well....not the best tasting beer out there!

M- Thin bodied, and with lots of carbonation, as I predicted by the looks. The only saving grace as far as mouthfeel is a gentle smoothness brought on by the honey. Outside of this though, there isn't really anything that makes....slightly cloying after the swallow.

O- I'm disappointed in this beer....its not that it's a bad beer...it's easy enough to drink and perhaps with the recommendation of trying this with a lemon wedge, it would be quite refreshing. My biggest concern is that this looks, smells and tastes very similar to any other American macro brew out there....other than having a slightly sweeter aftertaste...leaves a lot to be desired....Meh....

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 22:14:08 | More by ChrisCage

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.06/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From notes.

Appearance: Clean straw hue with visible effervescence and a thin bubbly white head.

Aroma: Grainy with a hint of adjuncts. A slight malt or hop sweetness.

Taste: Light with some run of the mill lager malt bill. No hop presence. Crisp finish.

Mouthfeel: Below medium in body with lots of carbonation. Highly drinkable.

Final Thoughts: Your basic macro lager but with that small town flair. Would I drink it again? Oddly enough, yes. But I never seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 00:11:48 | More by JamesMN

RyanLaCount03

Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +54.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

This was actually a very good beer in my opinion. The aromas of honey when you open the bottle were very noticeable. The taste of this was also very good and will continue to drink this beer when I am able to do so. This is very popular in my area as well.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 18:39:15 | More by RyanLaCount03

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.99/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

I remember this as one of my very first beers many moons ago. Let's see how things go today: It pours a clear golden-straw topped by a finger of short-lived off-white foam. The nose comprises lightly-buttered biscuit, light wheat, and the lightest kiss of dried honey (which, admittedly, might just be there due to advertising getting the better of me). The taste brings in more of the same, with less of a buttery quality and more of a sweet one. It helps, but it doesn't elevate matters too far. The body is a hefty light, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, an okay beer at best, nothing close to special, but strangely drinkable enough...

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 04:43:51 | More by TMoney2591

mfnmbvp

Illinois

2.55/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz. bottle, purchased as part of the Leinenkugel's Autumn sampler pack. Bottle says to enjoy by January 07, 2013 so I am only a couple days late on this one.

A - Non-aggressive pour into a Boulevard tulip glass yields the tiniest half finger of foamy head that recedes into nothing within seconds. Extremely pale, clear, yellow straw color. Steady stream of bubbles rushing to the top. Looks very similar to a Miller Lite or something similar.

S - Pale boring malt smell with a tiny whiff of bubblegum. Maybe the vaguest hint of honey in there somewhere, but otherwise it is a pretty dull sniffing experience. Corn.

T - Tastes like a more tame boring watered down version of the Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest without the hint of spice. Bubblegum malts seem to be dominant again here with a faint hint of honey tickling the tongue. Lots of carbonation. No real flavor to speak of. Corn.

M - Smooth clean watery mouthfeel again. I am really digging for the honey, and it is there, but it isn't very pronounced. Again, carbonated, but it isn't so bad that it completely ruins the beer like some other lackluster brews I've had in the past.

Overall, not a great beer, and probably the lamest beer in Leinenkugel's autumn sampler. I have had home-brewed beers that were way too heavy on the honey, but this beer could definitely use some more. With a low 4.9% abv, use this beer to introduce your friends to something other than Miller Lite or Bud Light.

Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss ---2.5/5

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 00:20:40 | More by mfnmbvp

p-goose

1.3/5  rDev -56.2%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

I poured myself a Leinenkugel Honey Weiss in a .3L weiss glass. The beer seemed to seperate itself for the glass itself. Mind you I carefully clean my glasses according to accepted beer standards. The pizza glass phenomenon is not for me. So I'm not sure why there was no beer clinging to the glass.

A- Not too bad; golden in color that looks okay under artificial lighting.

S- Not so good; I couldn't differentiate anything relating to Honey or wheat for that matter.

T- Yikes. What happened to the taste? There is nothing that resembles what we call 'flavor' in this beer.

M- Watery- that's being kind too.

O- Huge dissapointment. I expected something respectable. I know I have high standards but even an average beer drinker deserves better then this.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 19:57:41 | More by p-goose

Winston_Smith

Kentucky

2.15/5  rDev -27.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Best by March 11, 2013

Appearance: Crystal clear straw color with zero head. Looks like AAL.

Smell: Not impressive. Smells like adjuncts.

Taste: What taste? I can't make out any honey. It tastes like AAL. Not good.

Mouthfeel: Light... like water.

Overall: Stay away. I might drink one for free.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 01:21:48 | More by Winston_Smith

BierStein711

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +35.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not bad!

From the bottle; no glass involved as I have already had this beer on draught so I know the color.

Straw yellow, clear and not hazy

Smells of honey, and wheat malt

Taste: lemony malt, honey, and slightly bitter finish; well balanced beer

Mouthfeel: smooth

Its not what I normally drink! But, when someone else gives me a six pack, I'm game.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 03:24:04 | More by BierStein711

SometimesIfart

Michigan

1.11/5  rDev -62.6%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

A - Pours extremely light gold with a one finger head. Very bland looking.

S - Stale malt, rice adjunct. No honey.

T - Aluminum, stale malt, slight corn, very very slight honey.

M - Light watery body with almost no carbonation. Ohhh the water.

O - Overall, this beer couldn't have been any more boring. Seriously just tasted like a light adjunct. I wouldn't have it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2012 04:46:32 | More by SometimesIfart

Murrhey

Montana

2.33/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Reviewed live.

A- One finger white head with low retention. Slightly golden body, light and very high clarity.

S- Honey, grass, light malts. Very light and not appealing.

T- Sweet and grassy. Light and somewhat drinkable, but offputting with the grassiness.

M- Light and bubbly. Like carbonated water.

O- Not disgusting, but definitely one to avoid.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 04:29:50 | More by Murrhey

punky796

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

A - Yellow-gold pour, white head, doesn't last long.

S - Mostly malt and honey.

T - Malt, not as heavy on the honey as you'd expect, kinda grainy.

M - Moderate carbonation, somewhat dry. Leaves you with that syrupy-mouth feeling after you've had a lot of pop.

O - Not bad. I like the honey, but could be better.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 05:21:40 | More by punky796

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.28/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Nothing spectacular about this one. Personally, I like the smooth, refreshingness of the honey wheat beer. So I have no problem putting these down. Would I buy a six pack for myself? Nah. It's kind of dull, but it seems like it would have mass appeal if it were more widely available.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 05:31:29 | More by TheRealBigC

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

2.38/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Best by Oct. 8, 2012. Poured into a Hoegaarden glass with gusto.

Pours a light honey color with tremendous clarity. Very little head off the pour is a bit disappointing. After a mere 30 seconds, the beer is just as transparent looking down upon the surface to the bottom, sans some pesky surface foam.

The only aromatics I'm getting off of Honey Weiss is tangy wheat and honey. The malts are there, but the hops are minute.

Tastes like a wheat ale with adjuncts and a light dose of honey. The wheaty tang is overpowered with bittering hop preservatives and grainy husks. I can pick up some cooked veggies in the mix. A little rigorous in the finish. Aftertaste carries out some honey. Faint banana, but it's a washout.

Very thin and bubbly. Watery, even. Hard to hold back a burp on each sip. A rather stale mouthfeel.

A mediocre wheat ale, and hardly a kristalweizen. The honey flavor is not entirely forgiving, but at least it gives it character. I'm not a Leinie's fan, but this one was a big disappointment. Regrettable last beer of the night.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 05:10:24 | More by thecheapies

soju6

Missouri

2.45/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A: Pours a clear golden color with a large white head that fades to bits of lacing.

S: Aroma of grains, malt sweetness and honey.

T: Taste of Honey, malt sweetness and bit of grain. Mild bitterness and a sweet sticky finish.

F: Light body, smooth and way too sweet.

O: Too sweet to enjoy. Not a fan of the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2012 11:18:07 | More by soju6

kangarooAdam59

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Best by August 27, 2012:

Into a pilsener (also had in a borrowed weizen, no change):

A: yellow colored body with a two finger foamy white head. Lots of carbonation is seen rising. There was no lacing whatsoever.

S: some hops with a bland sort of honey. There really wasn't anything else to note.

T: sweet through the honey up front and once again nothing that stood out.

M: pretty light and no carbonation was felt, sessionable

O: well it's not a bad beer, just not something to scream about. Weird, how I thought this was a better beer, maybe it tasted better when I lived in Michigan and I was closer to Wisconsin? Not sure.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 15:17:05 | More by kangarooAdam59

BigPlay1824

New York

2.5/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Enjoyed in a weizen glass

A: Pours a crystal clear very very light hay color with a ton of carbonation bubbles and a ton of large bubbled soapy looking pure white head which dissipates at a moderate rate before leaving a decent amount of scattered lacing
S: so, sadly, this beer reminds me right off the bat of an adjunct american lager, light, cereal grains and not much more, there is a slight sweetness of honey which is detectable at the very end
T: begins with a nice deep sweetness which reminds me alot of honey, big surprise, also there are notable light cereal grains, not much complexity or depth
M: smooth and clean, slightly cloying at the end, does leave the mouth feeling slightly bright even cold like a mint freshness without the flavor
O: im not overly familiar with this style but i do find this example to be very bland and unfortunately reminiscent of adjunct lagers, honey was nice but not much else was worth mentioning

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 00:39:49 | More by BigPlay1824

tewaris

Minnesota

2/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured into a pint.

Crystal clear with a two finger head that leaves a wispy layer behind without any lacing. Doesn't smell repulsive but is certainly very generic: some malts and that seems to be about it. Taste instantly deports me to my earlier days of drinking beer: notes of The Library and Sally's Saloon. In more concrete terms, it tastes very generic with some maltiness, slight bitterness at the end, and a generally clean character. Plus the yucks. Thin, watery, carbonated. Also, can't tell whatever happened to real Wisconsin honey. It is what it is. And it ain't any good.

2, 2, 2, 2, 2

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 09:01:50 | More by tewaris

barnzy78

Illinois

2.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle out of a summer sampler, pours golden with excellent clarity, bubbly white head with decent retention and leaves some spotty lacing on the glass. Aromas are muted but sweet with wheat and biscuit, but that's about it. Tastes are sweet honey, biscuity, nutty, wheaty, delicately hopped. Mouth-feel is thin-to-medium bodied, moderate carbonation, and finishes slightly dry. Overall, I think "Kristalweizen" isn't the proper style category for this one, as I would tend to think Kristalweizen = filtered German Hefeweizen, where this beer has no German influence at all. Kristal American Pale Wheat Ale? Whatever it may be, my values above represent it as an American wheat, and it's a decent beer if you want to think of it that way.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 03:42:19 | More by barnzy78

GuyNamedSid

2.65/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Little to no head. A piss yellow color. Mouth felt a little heavy. the honey was nice...I thought it would have been too sweet, but was impressed with the flavor.

Leaves a little after taste but not necessarily a bad one. I'd say this is more of a cooler weather beer despite it being boxed in the summer sampler.

Overall: Try it

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 01:27:43 | More by GuyNamedSid

Clones21

3.3/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Smell-Very honey like. Some hops.

Looks-Straw like yellow. Not that great.

Taste-Lots of honey up front. The after taste isn't that great. The after taste, taste like a Bud Light or something like that.

Overall it's not that bad of a beer. Much better than Bud Light or a big mainstreem beer..but not far off from them. Give it a try.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2012 00:42:19 | More by Clones21