Hefeweizen for all of you wheat ale fans out there

I haven't been on the blog since last week, yes I am a slacker, but the warm weather last weekend caused me to drink way too much and completely neglect this thing. Another thing the warm weather made me think of, which just so happens to be the subject of today's entry, are Hefeweizens, or wheat ales. I am personally not a huge fan of the style, but the 5 examples I am going to offer up are all very good.

First, a rundown of the look, smell and taste of a typical German Hefe beer. All of these things described below will be different, and better than the crappy American versions of this style. Remember, this is referring to the bad versions, like Pyramid, Widmer and especially that awful creation known as Bud Light Wheat!

German style Hefe beers

Look of the beer: "Hefe" means "with wheat", so you will typically see a beer that is very cloudy and unfiltered. Don't be afraid of the floaties at the bottom, it is just yeast and it is meant to be there.

Smell: The standard German wheat beer is going to have a much more pronounced aroma and flavor profile than the typical American version. Some of these smells will include: banana, cloves, wheat and yeast.

Taste: The tastes you will experience can definitely throw you off if you have never had a German Hefe and are used to the inferior American wheat beers. The yeast used in these beers is what gives them their characteristic flavors. These include: banana, cloves, some possible spiciness, citrus and in some cases bubblegum.

Too much information again. I am going to end another lengthy blog with 5 suggestions for German style Hefes that you can enjoy the next time it is warm out, or anytime for that matter. Hope you enjoy!

All of these should be available at either Cookes, Whole Foods or BevMo.
1. Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse
2. Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
3. Paulner Hefe-Weissbier
4. Sierra Nevada Kellerweis. (The lone American version on the list. This stuff is really authentic and is available in 6 packs!)
5. Schneider Weisse