Jun 19, 2015

Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier

It’s a pretty safe bet that the first hefeweisen/weissbier that I ever cracked open early in my beer drinking evolution (many, many years ago) was more than likely a product of Germany’s Weihenstephaner. The iconic brewery has been crafting authentic beers for longer than the U.S. has been a country — hell, long before the North American continent was ever “discovered.” And you won’t find a better example of the style than their Hefe Weissbier.

Now, I’ve admitted throughout the duration of this site that I’m not a huge wheat beer fan, but when it comes to an authentic weissbier, Weihenstephaner know what they are doing, and you can taste it in their products. Refreshing, light, fruity, delicate are all words that come to mind when quaffing this 5.4% ABV brew. It’s not over-the-top banana-y or packed with clove spices like many modern examples. It’s just simply world class.

Appearance

Hefe Weissbier pours a lightly hazy, straw yellow in color with a large stack of frothy, white foam.

Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier photo

Aroma

Herbal notes, soft spices, a touch of banana, wheat and lemon zest all combine for an inviting nose.

Taste

For a hefe, this beer is absolutely wonderful. It’s refreshing with waves of wheat, soft clove, light banana, gentle sweetness and hints of lemons citrus. The beer washes over the tongue smoothly, leaving a twinge of hop bitterness that tingles gently as yeast notes fade slowly through the lasting, lightly drying finish.

Overall

I’ve had this beer many times throughout the years and each time it delivers that authentic weissbier character that even I crave at times. Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier just never fails to satisfy. If I were more of a hefe fan, this is the beer that would fill my fridge on a constant basis through the hot Virginia Summer.

Rating: 4.5/5

This is a review of a promotional sample.

More: ,