All About Beer Magazine - Volume 27, Issue 3
July 1, 2006 By
Belgian Witbier

Brouwerij van Hoegaarden, Hoegaarden, Belgium

Hoegaarden Original Witbier

Hoegaarden pours a pale, almost lemonade color, no doubt due to the raw wheat. It is hazy, bordering on cloudy, with a whitish sheen. The head is meringue-like and pearly white, long-lived and lacy. Quite aromatic, Hoegaarden has a tart, lemony nose, and a dominant savory coriander and chamomile perfume. Its flavor is a complex mixture of tart citrus, herbs, and orange-blossom honey over a backbone of grainy wheat, with a hint of Saaz hops. 5.0% ABV

Kristal-weizen

Brauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany

Weihenstephan Kristallweissbier

This classic pours a straw-gold, with a billowing white head. The foam is fed by a steady stream of carbonation. The nose is grainy, with a wisp of noble hops, and a firm dose of banana and vanilla. It is vivacious on the palate, presents soft banana and clove flavors, and finishes with a light sweet-lactic tartness. The filtration makes this a delicate beer, but leaves behind the qualities that define South German wheat beers. 5.4% ABV

Hefe-Weizen

Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH, Kelheim, Germany

Schneider Weisse

The original hefe-weizen. Old gold, bordering on amber in color. Its massive, frothy head slowly collapses into a tight rim of lather. Aromatically complex, with clove, apple, banana, vanilla, and fresh bread; everything one would expect from a classic hefe. The flavor has everything in the nose, with some chewy yeast and tart wheat character. It finishes with cloves and spice, owed to the formidable yeast footprint. Truly a classic hefe-weizen. 5.4% ABV

Dunkelweizen

Brauerei Tucher Brau, Nürnberg, Germany

Tucher Dunkelweizen

Enters the glass with a bulging, moussy head, capping a turbid, tawny-bronze brew. The nose is reminiscent of fresh wheat bread, cloves, caramel, cinnamon, and banana. The taste is not as tart as a golden hefe-weizen, but carries a combination of toasted malt, dark honey, and caramel, with the ever present spicy/banana notes. The finish is satisfying and refreshing and the empty glass is left with some of the original beige foam and lots of lacing. 5.35% ABV

Weizenbock

Erdinger Weissbräu, Erding, Germany

Erdinger Weissbock Pikantus

This beautiful weizenbock pours russet and only slightly murky with a dense tan crown. The nose is a complex mélange of raisin bread, chocolate, banana, malt, and yeast. The flavor is very “clean”, and quite reminiscent of a doppelbock, with the banana and clove notes taking a back seat to rummy maltiness giving way to caramel sweetness. Quite full-bodied and smooth, with a spicy finish. An excellent dessert beer. 7.3% ABV

Weizen-Eisbock

Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH, Kelheim, Germany

Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock

Mahogany in color, and poured carefully to retain the clarity and appreciate the effect of the freezing. Notes of sherry, cherries, chocolate, and vanilla grace the aroma. The head dissolves quickly, leaving little evidence or lace. The flavor is opulent, quite malty, not at all cloying, with dark, caramelized fruit mingling with vanilla and chocolate. The alcohol is evident in the oaky, sherrylike, lingering finish. The brew is unique from start to finish. 12.0% ABV

Lambic

Brouwerij Boon, Lembeek, Belgium

Boon Oude Kriek

Oude Kriek pours rambunctiously, with a barely restrained, pink head, capping a pale red, turbid brew. The aroma is classic kriek lambic with a pronounced Brettanomyces influence by way of leathery farmyard notes, red-wine vinegar, and acidic cherries. Very dry on the palate, with the cherries being sour rather than sweet. An aged, woodsy, flavor backed up by the cherries accompanies the tartness of both the lactic acid and copious carbonation. It has a medium mouthfeel and the complex finish begs for more. 6.5% ABV

American Wheat

North Coast Brewing Company, Fort Bragg, California

Blue Star Wheat

Brilliant gold in color, with a creamy-looking turbidity, and sporting a substantial head. Faint northwest hops in the nose tip the drinker off as to the origin of this brew. The aroma also presents a grainy wheat, white bread character. The taste is fairly neutral, with a light lemony tart and spicy flavor rather than being dominated by those that characterize German wheat beers. A reserved honey sweetness and lightly hopped malt and grain flavor help this one go down easily. It has just enough hops to give it an ale quality and soft hop finish. Perfect for summer. 4.5% ABV

Berliner Weisse

Berliner Kindl Brauerei, Berlin, Germany

Berliner Kindl Weisse

Pours straw-yellow and clear, with a quickly receding head. The nose presents the familiar scent of wheat, with tart green apple, grape, and lemon notes. It is tangy, with a piercing lactic sourness, that is tempered somewhat by the soft sweetness of the wheat and citrus qualities, especially lemon. Most quenching, as it is as light in body as it is tart. Berliner Weisse is often calmed with a dose of sweet syrup, such as framboise or woodruff, to cut the acidity. This rare treat is a super quencher, and a German session beer. 2.5% ABV

American Witbier

Coors Brewing Company, Golden, Colorado

Blue Moon Belgian Witbier

Blue Moon shows an orange-tinted, misty gold in the tumbler. The white head needs a little coaxing to form, and dissipates over a couple of minutes. The aroma is candy-orange, perfumy, yeasty, and has notes of peach. Spritzy on the palate, with a light, creamy mouthfeel. The orange peel and coriander blend well in the flavor to give it a citrus overtone, and the acidic edge is much mellower than most wheat-based brews. The finish is crisp and engaging. Overall, a pretty impressive offering. 5.4% ABV

Hefe-Weizen

Erdinger Weissbräu, Erding, Germany

Erdinger Weissbier

Pure-gold in color, with an off-white, frothy head and lace. It has quite a mellow aroma versus other brands of hefe-weizen, but nonetheless has a bit of fruity character all its own. The typical banana and vanilla notes are surpassed by peach and pineapple, with a slight graininess. The flavor is supple and somewhat neutral, mildly spicy and full of soft fruit. It has a silky mouthfeel, and a firm body for such a low-gravity beer. This weissbier is complex, but not as overwhelming as most German varieties. 5.3% ABV

American Hefe-Weizen

Pyramid Breweries, Seattle, Washington

Pyramid Hefeweizen

This brew shows a burnt-orange color, is rather hazy, and sports a white, fleeting froth. Aromatically, is resembles an ale more than a weizen beer, as there is bit of caramel and hop personality. The nose also has a soft, peppery quality and some yeasty notes. The palate is rather full for a beer of this strength, with a nice balance of wheat graininess, malt, and caramel. The hop undertones balance the brew deftly. The finish is crisp with a lingering grain and caramel sweetness. This is more of a wheat ale, as it lacks a little of the usual weizen punch, but is still a well-balanced, satisfying brew. 5.2% ABV