Hefeweizen - Yazoo Brewing Company

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Likely the most promising brew on their docket. A very delicate and characterful brew. Opens with a burst of citrus, spiciness, and soft pilsner malts. These characteristics bridge over to flavors easily, bringing a juicy, fruity sweetness reliant mainly on lemons, banannas, and berries, but spiced with clove, pepper, corriander, and orange peel. The body is light and creamy; making it easy drinking, but with a light, airy texture, and a hint of mint in the finish. A terrific thirst quencher that isn't over-done on any front.

Serving type: growler

10-08-2007 15:08:29 | More by BEERchitect

GbVDave

Illinois

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a 20oz imperial pint. Thanks to HollyAnn for the hook up!

Bottled on: Jan/Week 2 (2008 I assume)

A: Pours a hazy pale gold color with a creamy white head that's two fingers in height. Although fed by some active carbonation the head dies pretty quickly, leaving a small amount of lace behind.

S: Nice yeasty aromas of banana and clove followed closely by some tart fruit and a mild breadiness.

T: Enjoyable yeast flavors (banana, clove, and bubblegum) that have biscuit-y, bread-y, and toasted crustiness nipping on their heels. Also along for the ride is pepper and a tart and slightly sour citrus flavor that lends some balance.

M: Pretty chewy and pleasantly spicy on the tongue. Interesting peeks of dry/toasted malt.

D: Very good. I bet this is very popular around Nashville in the summertime.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2008 23:26:57 | More by GbVDave

reeverbythespeak

Alabama

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is one of my favorite American Hefes. It stays true to the style with it's creamy head, and light banana notes. I do wish it came in a 16.9 oz bottle though, for authenticity. Soft on the palate and belly, this is a perfect beer for yard work, or lounging around the porch day. The South truly needs a good hefe in it's midst, and I think this is the one.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 05:48:52 | More by reeverbythespeak

sisuspeed

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled 2nd week of January

Poured into a hefeweizen glass. Slightly cloudy, straw yellow in color with a thin white head, which fades into a thin ring around the edges of the glass.

Lots of sweet malts, banana, orange, coriander and light cloves on the nose. Yeasty, citrusy and spicy. Quite good.

Malty, light citrus (orange mostly) and banana in the flavor. Wheat and yeast come through nicely. Spices still present, but more aromatic than flavorful. Almost lemony on the finish.

Mouthfeel is fairly crisp, smooth and refreshing. Ample carbonation. Body could have a little more thickness to it, but still decent.

Drinkability is pretty good. I like the crisp tartness associated with the flavor. Not my go to hefe, but still a good showing. Easy to put down one or two of these. Would have this beer again if it were available in the area. Aroma was the best, but the flavor isn't too bad either. Worth trying if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2010 00:44:34 | More by sisuspeed

bcmurray66

Tennessee

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I'm a big fan of Yazoo as one of Nashville's few local brews and the only one focusing on brewing rather than brewpubbing, and I'm a big fan of Hefe's. I find the Yazoo Hefe to be an excellent example of the variety. The flavor of cloves dominates in this brew and isn't nearly as citrusy as some other hefe's I've had. The beer finish clean and goes down easy. I have had a few bad Yazoo Hefe's that tasted stale and nearly undrinkable, but I'll chalk those up to bad luck as the majority have been outstanding

The Hefeweizen is now available in bottles, so I'll have to give that a shot and see how it does.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2007 19:33:58 | More by bcmurray66

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Yazoo- Hefeweizen

Thanks to Unclejedi(Jed) for this 1!

A- Bright hazy yellow with a big billowy white head. Had to stop pouring and wait for it to subside.
S- Big strong clove aroma with a touch of sweet lemon.
T- Big sweet lemon honey with an equally bigger does of clove. Slight banana bubblegum flavors picked up in the end.
M- Very sweet throughout with a good tangy body and a crisp dry finish.

Overall- Quite good! Very clove dominated but tasty as hell! My 1st from TN and from Yazoo highly recommended(Thanks Jed!)

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2008 20:00:12 | More by NJpadreFan

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle into pint glass.

Cloudy pale straw, nice effervescence, very thin white head that's not that impressive. Nice color, though - wonderful balance of clarity and haze to give the color really nice depth and pop.

Nose is really nice and wheaty, with a nice dose of vanilla and clove as well. Not getting too much banana, and just a bit of a sourdough yeast note on the end.

Taste is dry and very crisp. Wheaty, almost husky graininess, big clove, and a hufty whack of yeasty sourness towards the finish. Finish is longish, yeasty, a bit earthy.

Mouthfeel is light and a bit creamy, nicely put together.

Drinkability is pretty solid - very respectable American hefe from a brewery I'm becoming increasingly happy is local to me. Could be a bit more balanced in the yeast flavors but it feels authentic, unlike many, many of the American hefes I've had.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 19:21:51 | More by JohnQVegas

dmbsteve

Tennessee

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a cloudy light straw color with 1 finger off white head, which retained most of the way down the glass. Per bottle recommendation, swirled and dumped yeast sediment right on top, which left a light brown trail on top of the head.

Smells exactly like most of hefeweizens I've had. Bananas and cloves come through strong, especially the former.

Taste follows the nose well. Tasty, bready wheat malt with a good dose of the banana tones. Very refreshing taste.

Feels slightly heavier in body than I usually remember from this style (I haven't drank a hefe in a while, so I'm going off memory). Coates the tongue pretty well, doesn't feel thin at all. The head retention probably helps attribute to the mouthfeel.

Overall very drinkable. The weather is warming up here so I will probably finish this 6 pack by tomorrow. A very tasty & refreshing beer, especially for a style which I normally don't care much for. Maybe I have a newly found respect for it now.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2011 03:11:31 | More by dmbsteve

sommersb

Tennessee

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 03-25-2012
Freshness: Bottled on 03-08-2012
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle
Glassware: Weizen Glass
Purchased: 6-pack from Kroger

Color is a semi-hazy straw yellow, topped by a white head of tight bubbles between 2 and 3 fingers. Both head retention and lacing are fair.

Aromas are first and foremost of banana, followed by some zesty notes like lemon. Other smells are clove spices and of bubblegum fruitiness and sweetness.

Taste is of banana fruitiness and delicately sweet wheat malt. Crisp, with a light amount of tart and no bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with carbonation on the high end. Aftertaste is fruity and slightly citrus-like and spicy.

Overall I'd rate this a refreshing and delightful wheat beer for the spring and summer.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 23:39:25 | More by sommersb

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled on tap at the Brewgrass festival in Asheville, North Carolina. Consumed on 09/20/2008 and reviewed from notes taken at the time.

The pour was very nice, classic hefe style here, with a rich and hazy and very light pale yellow color. A large, two inch high head of white came up over the top and settled down gently into a light and fluffy layer that all it took was a few seconds to wisp away. Lots of carbonation could be seen coming up from the bottom of the glass throughout the session.

The aroma was light and very pleasing. A light banana and clove like smell comes at me with the first whiff. Sweet, almost bubblegum like presence, and we all know that all too familiar strain of yeast that makes it just really stick out in a crown. Flavor came through right away, light and very bright with a light grain base that was quickly overshadowed by a light fruit like flavor that really just shined right through. Quick and clean with the lasting flavor of banana stuck on my tongue, this was simply done very well. Light body with a great amount of carbonation in it, I was shocked by how smooth and easy this one went down.

Overall I really thought this was a very solid ale. Certainly my favorite of theirs that I got to try. I would have no issues at all with getting this one again any day. It was really just fantastic and a wonderful little beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2008 13:25:22 | More by mikesgroove

MMAJYK

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bought direct from the brewery in Nashville TN.

A- Bright golden, creamy yellow color. Light head and lacing.

S- Bready, yeasty, fruity, moldy basement, citrus, and a corriander like spice.

T- Citrus fruits, pineapples, bananas and white cracked pepper.

M- Just a little watery for the style. Should have more of a creamy texture to match the appearance.

D- Definitely a good drinking beer on a college football Saturday. Low ABV, very nonoffensive, and goes down quite nicely.

Serving type: growler

10-04-2008 23:37:59 | More by MMAJYK

BucksBrew

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I drink this in their local Taproom. A pint served on tap.

A - It was looked nice but nothing special. Normal American pint glass. It is a classic style Hefeweizen. Suspended yeast gave it a white haze to cool yellow color.

S - Had a normal Hefeweizen smell to it.

T/M - It had a good mouth feel. Not to carbonated. It just worked. It was your classic light tasting beer. Cool and refreshing. Perfect for the seesion (summer).

D - Very Drinkable. It really is just a classic Hefeweizen. It is not reinventing the wheel, but it rolls.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2008 22:34:53 | More by BucksBrew

JayS2629

Alabama

3.93/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is much better on tap fresh from the brewery than out of the bottle. It looks like the typical hefeeweizen. Cloudy, hazy and grainy with a thin white head and spotty lace. The smell is faint and grainy with a back draft of banana, cloves and pepper. The taste is a bit thin and watery up front, but perfectly balanced between the banana and cloves. hints of black pepper and a tart hop bite in the background. A bit thin and watery, but a creamy swallow. Simple, refreshing, and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2011 03:57:51 | More by JayS2629

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A gift from Grant, a top-notch BA. Sampled 1/21/11. A notch on the label indicates bottling in the first week in December.

A: A huge 5 finger head when poured down the center of a hefeweizen glass. Pristinely white, mousse-like, compact foam. The head never completely fades. The body is cloudy and light yellow in color.

S: Bread, wheat and biscuits. Light hops of citrusy lemon. Dried banana and bubblegum. Barely noticeable hint of vanilla. Mild clove suggestions, but the aroma is more fruity esters than it is spicy phenols.

T: The finish is dominated by banana, the only remaining flavor after the effervescence clears the tongue.

M: Spritzy with prickly carbonation. Light to medium body.

D: The flavor and mouthfeel really come together once the beer gains a few degrees and the dies down. Solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2011 00:35:03 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

marcpal

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks Ckeegan for this one in the latest BIF. Thanks really to andy van slyke.
12oz bottle poured into pint glass.

A: This is one pretty beer- what one should look like. Cloudy yellow-cheddar orange with tons of haze and a good head that thinned itself out.

S: Beautiful nose on this in my opinion. Bananas, tangy lemon, spices. The yeast aromas could be seen as overbearing if you look for a fault.

T: Sweet bananas and yeast. The spiciness doesn't have the balance that it needs but still a tasty beer. Bubblegum in each sip with a sour tart flavor in the finish.

M: Light yet chewy. Cleansing in the mouth and the spiciness clears up all flavors of what else you might have eaten or drank.

D: First effort from Yazoo, and this was nice. For a drinkable style, this isn't perfect but it packs a lot of flavor into a relatively small beer. Thumbs up although maybe something missing that would round it out.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2008 21:36:43 | More by marcpal

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Courtesy of ckeegan04. Am drinking this earlier than planned 'cause I'm bottling today and realized I'm out of bottles, so WTF?!

Pours a light grapefruit color...slightly turbid. Surprisingly enough there's not a whole lot of head to this deal. Interesting - at first looks more like an American wheat beer. Carbonation is prevalent and climbs slowly up the ladder.

There's a hint of the classic Hefe banana and clove esters with a hint of citric acidity...not quite grapefruit but maybe a pinch of lemon zest. Definitely brings around a good yeast scent and electricity. A little more hoppy than the average bear, maybe?

Damn, this is refreshing if nothing else...but of course there's something else. Way tart on the first gulp when cold but then the clove hits you like a Kung Fu throwing star. A little ginger, too...maybe? It's sharp all over, with a big dollop of yeast and wheat electricity. Hop bite may be subtle but not as subtle as expected for the style. Thoroughly quenching.

Palate feel may have a little too much citrus for my taste but it's still enjoyable. Hops and cloves mix it up well, but the cloves win this battle to keep it light and spritely. Finish is crisp and clean...no caffeine.

This one may not be yo' mammy's Hefeweizen but it's a solid hybrid of a classic Hefe and an American wheat, which is fine by me. And it's a little hoppier to me. Maybe a little bit of extra sourness is the only thing that is a little out of whack but this is a very palatable lawnmower concoction. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2009 13:40:55 | More by IBUnit63

NODAK

Tennessee

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

Nose of banana and lemon for the most part. Searched around for the typical cloves in this style, but couldn't find them.

There's some banana on the front, though nowhere near cloying or too "forward". There's also the cloves there as well, which are noticeable in the body of the beer. The finish sees a bit of lemon, plus some sweet wheat that lingers after the swallow.

This is pretty much a hefeweizen by the textbook. It isn't among the absolute best that I've had, as I like bolder flavors in these beers, but it's done pretty well and seeing as how this is brewed in the city in which I live, I should drink it more.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 01:46:01 | More by NODAK

secondtooth

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev +4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cloudy golden, with rather tame carbonation and head. Practically no lace at all.

Scent of bananas, clove, and some orange. Very good!

Taste is quite pleasant. I get a sweet rush up front, followed by a strong wheat and spice tanginess towards the finish. Very representative of the style.

A very well-done hefeweizen, and well worth a repeat purchase.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 17:14:31 | More by secondtooth

Misfit138

Tennessee

3.88/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A- poured from bottle into my Guinness pint glass. Being a hefeweizen I first poured about half the bottle in, then swished the rest around before pouring the rest into the glass. The pour was a cloudy yellow-orange with about an inch of head. The head dissolved quickly.

S- I smell banana mostly, and some spice. Smell is nice.

T- the taste is much like many wheat beers, but the banana and clove come through to make this beer very good tasting.

M - mouthfeel is very light, and carbonated.

D- The beer is one that is easy to drink, I think most people could drink a few of them. I think it is very good, not my favorite style but I can see drinking this more on hot summer days.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2008 23:54:54 | More by Misfit138

JamesS

Indiana

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

Poured a nice golden straw color with some fantastic head and nice lacing, if too clear (label said nothing about it being filtered or not). Good scent, nice and clean with a hint of wheat/straw, and a nice pepper undertone. Nice taste, crisp and clean with a nice banana and slight clove flavor, a good malt wheatiness to it. Goes down quite smoothly, a very nice wheat beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2009 11:53:04 | More by JamesS

Brewsmith

California

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

From a 12 oz. bottle set to me from a friend in TN. Aroma is yeasty and a little lemony. Pale straw, with some yeast haze. Head is like soda and dissipated quickly. Flavor is bready with some lemon hop flavor, with a little classic hefeweizen clove and banana. High carbonation, and a little thin, but dry and refreshing. A decent example of a German hefe.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2009 01:28:59 | More by Brewsmith

CaptainIPA

Wisconsin

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

P: Served @ Memphis Pizza Cafe and presented in a 12 oz., brown stubby bottle.

A: Pours a cloudy golden color with a frothy, one-finger head that laces well.

S: Fruity aroma of bananas and cloves.

T: Opens with ripe bananas and spicy cloves before moving into a grainy middle that smacks of wheat and Bavarian ale yeast. Finishes with a tart blast of lemon citrus. Very refreshing.

M: Smooth with an active carbonation that tickles the palate.

D: Excellent, I love this beer! Well deserving of its 2004 Gold Medal award @ the Great American Beer Fest. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 14:57:40 | More by CaptainIPA

Georgiabeer

Georgia

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

Pours a hazy yellow with a thin white head. Smells slightly of banana, and a lot more like lemons. Tastes quite lemony and refreshing up front, followed by a slight saltiness and a tiny bit of sweet banana. Crisp and citrusy in the mouth, this beer is definitely on the lighter side, but the nice mellow lemony citrus makes it easily drinkable and a nice summer porch beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2009 03:03:31 | More by Georgiabeer

Jesstyr

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This stuff is everywhere in Nashville, and definitely is as good as any hefeweizen I've had from the US. Had a few of these in bottle and pints, and took my notes on the pints.

Pours a golden white with a sunny glow that makes this a good looking brew. Head is bright white, two fingers, and remains throughout the drink. Nose really lacks - slightly metallic to me, with a subtle bit of citrus.

Taste is where this one really scores - great creamy body with excellent balance of wheat and citrus, with just a hint of vanilla, and a little bit of banana. Goes down very smooth, and really is enjoyable for a single or quite a few.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2010 01:00:20 | More by Jesstyr

Wasatch

Utah

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to JohnQVegas for this one.

Bottled On: 3rd Week of May

Pours a nice cloudy pale yellow color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger fizzy white head, with some nice sticky lacing left behind. The nose is malty, yeasty, with some bannanas, corinander. The taste is slighlty sweet, malty, nice touch of yeast, with some bannanas/corinander. Medium body. Drinkable, a nice thirst quencher on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2010 23:34:13 | More by Wasatch