Jul 2, 2013

Ayinger Brauweisse

My relationship with Hefeweizens is well documented across this site. We have a love/hate thing worked out. I love to hate them, but every now and again I simply love them.

Take for example, the above glass of Ayinger Brauweisse. We were off to a rocky start immediately upon pouring the hazy brew into the glass as you can see — it just didn’t want to settle down. I’m not entirely sure what happened here as the pour wasn’t too brisk and the beer certainly wasn’t over-carbonated as I would find out after the first sip.

Luckily for the both of us (mostly me, as the wife wasn’t particularly happy about the mess), the beer eventually calmed down and developed into a wonderfully drinkable and refreshing hefeweizen. Hints of spices mix gently with soft banana and a solid grain/wheat flavor profile for a smooth experience. Ayinger Brauweisse is as authentic as you can get in terms of the style.

Appearance

Pouring a hazy golden in color Brauweisse had a head that literally just would not quit.

Aroma

Wheat, moderate banana, clove, herbal hints and grain all come together for the prototypical hefeweizen aroma.

Taste

Ayinger Brauweisse is incredibly smooth. The solid wheat/grain flavors arrive immediately with distant banana and light spices (clove stands out the most, but doesn’t drawn too much attention to itself). The crisp carbonation and lighter body make for a refreshing brew and the finish leaves the palate clean and ready for the next swallow.

Overall

It’s not too often that I gush over a beer, let alone a hefeweizen, but Ayinger Brauweisse is thoroughly satisfying. I’m not sure that there’s much more to say beyond that. If you’re a fan of the style, you’ve most likely already encountered this beer. And if you haven’t yet, I highly suggest you do so — it’s a great beer to reinvigorate the soul on a hot Summer day.

Rating: 4.25/5

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