Enjoy a Glass of Hefeweizen, from the World's Oldest Brewery
Written: Dec 11 '02
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Complex, easy to drink, not harsh.
Cons: Difficult to find in the United States
The Bottom Line: An excellent German beer, full of complexity and the earthy goodness of wheat and yeast
|
|
|
| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan Hefe Weiss |
Weihenstephaner is a line of German beer brewed by Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan Brewery, located in the Bavarian region of Germany. This brewery was established in 1040 a.d., when the Benedictine Monastery of Weihenstephan was granted the right to brew and sell beer in the town of Freising, Germany. The brewery has been in operation since that time, making it the oldest continuously operating brewery in the world. Its products number only a few, but they are all noteworthy for their quality and craftsmanship. The beer I’m going to review today is Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, a German Hefeweizen- style beer.
Basic Characteristics of This Beer:
This product pours to an orange/tan color with a cloudy body and a large head of foam. The foam settles into place rather quickly, but it maintains a thin, white layer throughout the drinking experience. The nose of this beer is yeasty, with a little bit of fruit and hop spiciness/dryness.
Hefeweizen beer is known for its unique strain of yeast that produces the unusual slate of flavors. This beer is no exception. The yeast emphasis gives the beer a flavor that combines such tastes as bubble gum, banana, clove, citrus, and some spice. Each time I took a sip, I noticed more and more unique taste sensations, ranging from nutmeg to graham crackers to fresh wheat dough.
This medium to light bodied beer is mostly sweet, with a creamy body that is refreshing and easy to consume. The alcohol level in this beer is 5.4 percent by volume and there are 162 calories in a 12 oz. serving.
Food Compatibility:
With its refreshing qualities and complexity, this is a product that could be matched up with a multitude of different foods. It would go nicely with cold meat sandwiches, cheese pizza, potatoes, light snacks, egg dishes, biscuits and butter, and certain types of fruit and fruity desserts.
Final Thoughts:
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier is a delicious malt- beverage treat! This product is a little lighter than the type of beer that I normally enjoy, but it tastes fresh and inviting, the type of beer that you could consume at social gatherings, as well as with food and as a casual, day to day drink.
Because of its emphasis on the wheat and yeast flavors, this beer has a very earthy aura about it. It’s easily digestible and it doesn’t fill you up too much. Its qualities make it seem like the type of beer that could even be imbibed in the morning, along with breakfast. I wouldn’t be surprised if the German citizens of Bavaria tip a bottle of this brew each morning, before starting the day. The mixture of flavors make it seem like a breakfast beverage.
It’s amazing when you consider that this brewery has been in operation since 1040 a.d. That works out to 962 years of brewing beer! In just 38 more years, the brewery will reach the millennium mark when it reaches its 1,000 year anniversary in 2040. I haven’t studied the history of this brewery, but it would be interesting to find out how much or how little the beer and the recipes have changed over the years. To survive this long, they must be doing something right.
There is one bad thing about this beer: it's difficult to find. You will not likely find this product in your local grocery store. You will have to seek out a specialty beer store to find Weihenstephaner products. And don't be surprised if the beer is offered only in pint bottles. Here in Ohio, single, pint- size bottles are the only packaging option I have ever seen with this beer.
Overall, this is an excellent example of a German hefeweizen. It’s not too harsh or too heavy, and it contains all sorts of complex flavors for your drinking enjoyment. Invite the family and friends over, and sample a few bottles of Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier. It’s a delicious German wheat beer, brewed by the oldest brewery on the planet earth. Whether you are a casual beer drinker, or a seasoned expert, you will love it!
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.