Haystack Hefeweizen - Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company & Taproom

beertunes

Washington

2.75/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served in straight pint glass with no fruit. Poured typically cloudy, but with no head whatsoever and little carbonation.

The aromas were very muted, although as expected for the style. The banana and clove were present in both aroma and taste but noticeably lower than expected in both.

The body was typical for the style, that pleasant and refreshing wheat making a pleasant change from the usual PNW hop monsters. A very smooth beer, this very drinkable, but with the taste so subdued, why would you? Overall a below average Hefe and the first disappoinment I've experienced from this fine brewery. I'll revisit this beer in a few weeks and if needed, adjust this review.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2009 09:59:40 | More by beertunes

blackc5

Washington

3.23/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a tumbler at 44F.

A - Pours a cloudy translucent gold amber. An aggressive pour netted a 2-finger head that dissipated fairly quickly. Very little lacing.

S - Faint aromas of wheat and citrus fruit. Pretty neutral.

T- Definitely not a hefeweizen despite the name, this is definitely a more standard American wheat ale. Too bad. It is a respectable ale, but lacks the flavor complexities of a real hefeweizen. What is there is some wheat of course, some fruit like pear perhaps, and of course some citrus. Has a bit of a macro flavor actually.

M - Fairly well carbonated, but still crisp and refreshing.

D - Not a sipper by any stretch, this beer demands to be gulped at a summer BBQ on a warm day. The bomber was actually too much for my liking, and left me wishing I had opened something else. Needs more flavor complexity to score higher on taste or drinkability IMHO, but I am sure it is designed to appeal to the masses.

I guess I could score the taste a bit higher if comparing to just other wheat ales, especially given it's value pricing, but since they named it a hefeweizen, I was a left a bit let down at the end of this one. Would still definitely take this over a Widmer Hefeweizen though - its quite a bit better.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2009 04:26:22 | More by blackc5

RJLarse

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Company Tap Room. Served in a pint glass.

Pours a cloudy unfiltered yellow/brown color with a modest white head. The head is moderately resilient and laces the sides of the glass.

Smell is faint and citrusy. Orange and lemon scents mostly

Taste is a typical citrus flavored American Wheat Ale. It tastes a lot like a Widmer hefe.

Mouthfeel is clean, with a lot of body and a refreshing character.

Drinkable for an American wheat ale, I'm not sure I'd call it a hefe.

Serving type: on-tap

05-11-2008 04:40:44 | More by RJLarse

RedDiamond

Oregon

3.38/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

An American-style wheat ale. Not my favorite style. American brewers have contributed much to beer innovation. But the American version takes the core of the original southern German style and strips away its most exciting properties. A mere switch of yeasts and all those mad clove-banana esters would come leaping out like a Bavarian circus. Without them I don’t get the appeal of a style whose most distinguishing feature is its sand storm body. I always feel like something’s missing. And I don’t mean a lemon.

But don’t worry. This is still a fine wheat ale. It’s just brewed to the American style that I don’t prefer and the German name “hefeweizen” gave me the initial expectation that this would conform to the Bavarian tradition. Haystack is clean tasting and very agreeable with foods. The body is opaque apricot color with a white velvety cap and broad sheets of lace. The aroma is absent and the taste is tart, dry, and very cereal-like. Think of a bowl of Wheaties with a slight infusion of Tettnanger hops. Not a bad beer. But I used to put sliced banana on my Wheaties.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2007 04:44:59 | More by RedDiamond

froghop

Washington

3.38/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a cloudy orange-yellow with a small white head, and good lacing.

smell is faint, some wheat, some citrus (lemon), and a little banana.

taste is of wheat, yeast, and lemon/lime citrus, ends tangy and a tad bitter.

nice tasting wheat ale, needs a little more on the nose.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2010 03:41:08 | More by froghop

Bookseeb

Washington

3.45/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance has a nice cloudy golden amber with a nice crisp head. Smell of malted wheat and real light honey. Taste as it says on the bottle is an American style having a sharp taste of the wheat, sweetness from the malt and light citrus. Mouthfeel is light with good body and carbonation. Not alot of complexity here, but again it is an American style and better than most.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 00:01:39 | More by Bookseeb

peck95

Washington

3.63/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a straw colored yellow with good head and decent lacing

a slight fruit aroma

a very good fruity taste with some hop cirtrus flavor and some malt sweetness

the mouthfeel is a little light

a really smooth beer that is very drinkable nothing negative about the beer although i imagine it could be better.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2009 03:52:51 | More by peck95

flagmantho

Washington

3.85/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 22 oz bomber into a pint glass.

Appearance: light yellow-golden color, slightly opaque, with a nice 2-finger head. A very attractive lacing is left on the glass as I drink.

Smell: a very light, mild grain aroma. Not bad, but not particularly enticing.

Taste: nice wheat flavor; finishes with a nice citrus bite. Hops are relatively mild but spicy in character. Quite tasty in my opinion.

Mouthfeel: medium, bordering on medium-thick body; gets the job done but isn't overwhelming.

Drinkability: I find this beer quite drinkable and refreshing. Wheat beers have a reputation as being great served ice cold on a hot day, but this guy is nicely refreshing even outside that context.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2009 15:58:29 | More by flagmantho

julian

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought directly from the Snoqualmie Brewhouse/Taproom today.

A: beautiful unfiltered cloudy golden orange in color with a fruity white head that quickly dissipates.

S: strong smell of wheat, and citrus fruit (orange, lemon), including perhaps pear and grapefruit.

T&M: subtle hop presence, with a strong biscuity, wheat heavy profile typical of American style Hefes. There's a prickly lemon tartness as the taste lingers on your palate. This reminds me of Bell's Oberon Ale, another great example of the style.

D: For the style, this is an excellent find. Great taste and very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2008 05:37:35 | More by julian