When you hear the word “Hefeweizen”, you probably think of Germany, and maybe Bavaria in particular. Well, if you’re a beer enthusiast you do anyway. When thinking of the American variant of hefeweizen, however, many beer lovers think of Oregon, home of some of the biggest selling examples of that style, one of which is Nor’Wester Hefeweizen.

Hefeweizens, at least the ones brewed in Bavaria, are famous for their unique phenolic character. Heavily suggestive of clove, banana, and sometimes vanilla, the style is also known as “Weissbier”, or white beer. They are bottled with yeast that is generally decanted into the glass and lends to the cloudy appearance. In German, the term “Hefeweizen” means literally “yeast-wheat”, meaning a wheat beer that is bottle conditioned with yeast.

Here in America, breweries like Nor’Wester, Widmer, and Pyramid brew wheat beers bottle-conditioned with yeast. They don’t, however, always use the distinctive strain of yeast that imparts those unique banana-clove notes found in German Hefeweizens. Yeast isn’t always something that people consider when they think about the flavors arrived at in beer, but it can and does make an important contribution to the flavor profile of just about every beer you taste.

Nor’Wester Brewing opened for business in March of 1993. From the beginning, their main offerings were hefeweizen and a dunkel (dark) variant. The company had a hard time competing with Pyramid and Widmer, who offered similar beers, and eventually Saxer brewing bought out Nor’Wester’s brands.

Nor’Wester brews their Hefeweizen with malted wheat, two row pale malt, and a bit of Munich malt. It is hopped (lightly in my opinion) with Tettnangs, Hersbruckers, and Mt. Hoods. The alcohol content is about average at 5.3% by volume. Bitterness comes in at 20 IBUs, and original gravity at 1.048.

Nor’Wester Hefeweizen pours to a cloudy yellow color with a thick, creamy white head formation and a crisp and tangy nose. The palate is very smooth and light-to-medium in body with a crackery crispness and a touch of citric hops. There’s a flavor here very akin to chewing a handful of fresh wheat malt. The finish is slightly tart with little bitterness. By the same token, the beer is satisfying and refreshing. This is a perfect warm weather beer, not overpowering and very drinkable. A slice of lemon is a nice complement to Nor’Wester Hefeweizen, again especially in the warm weather.


Recommended: Yes