Wasatch Apricot Hefeweizen
The minute I had unpacked a box of samples from Squatters and Wasatch breweries last week, I knew right away which one I was worried about. While I can go for a tasty hefeweizen when the mood is right, it’s not a go-to style for me. And I’m not the biggest fan of apricots. That’s why I’ve decided to have this Wasatch Apricot Hefeweizen right in the middle of this string of reviews — thinking that if I don’t like it, it wouldn’t be my last impression of the brewery.
Well, as it turns out, I’m not a huge fan of the beer, but it’s also not horrible either. I can certainly see a good amount of folks enjoying Apricot Hefeweizen on a warm afternoon or several of them as it weighs in at a sessionable 4% ABV. It does have a refreshing character about it, but I just couldn’t get behind the blend of banana, wheat and apricot. It’s interesting and unique, but just not my thing.
Appearance
Apricot Hefeweizen pours with a short-lived, white cap of foam that fell quickly atop the hazy, pale yellow brew.
Aroma
The Bavarian Altbier yeast that the brewery uses for this beer definitely leaves a solid impression on the nose. A solid yeasty character, banana and clove grab your attention first as a decent amount of apricot wafts in with a soft wheat component. It smells decent enough.
Taste
Well, it’s certainly a Hefeweizen — a load fo wheat, yeast and banane coat the palate quickly as a solid amount of apricot flavor joins in. Clove and spices linger in the background. The apricot isn’t over-powering, but it’s certainly not a wallflower either. It’s a little on the light side and I personally like my hefes a bit crisper.
Overall
I’ve only had one other apricot-influenced beer in the past and that was a bottle of Dogfish Head’s Aprihop (a looooong time ago). That brew and Wasatch’s Apricot Hefeweizen are two completely different beasts obviously, but they both share the apricot bond. I wasn’t a big fan of Dogfish Head’s offering and I don’t believe that I’ll have another of these either, especially considering that the brewery has so many other tasty treats to explore.
Rating: 3/5
This is a review of a promotional sample from the brewery.
