Saranac Hefeweizen
Not the best of pictures, but it’ll doI knew going into the Summer sampler pack from Saranac that there would be a Hefeweizen in the mix. It’s not a favorite style of mine by any means, but each time I drink/review one, I try and be as objective as I can and not let my own personal tastes interfere — it hardly ever works, but at least I try.
The Saranac Hefeweizen is a middle-of-the-road example for the style with the standard banana and clove/herbal formula that I’m used to tasting in most American Hefes. It’s an easy drinking beer that I’m sure fans of the style will be more than happy to drink for me the next time I come across a bottle of it.
Appearance
A hazy, straw yellow in color with a quickly disappearing white head.
Aroma
Lots of banana, herbal notes and wheat. Smells like your standard Hefe, but with an elevated citrus hop presence.
Taste
As refreshing as the beer may be on the palate, it’s still a bit too much for me in the banana realm. The herbal/clove notes aren’t as dominating as I had feared, but are instead rather light and balance the wheat character nicely. It’s crisp on the tongue with a subtle level of hops that add a slight bite to the brew.
Overall
This was, due to my own personal bias, not my favorite beer in the sampler, but I can see how it would go over well with those that enjoy the style.
Rating: 2.5/5