What is a Hefeweizen?

Question

I tried it not too long ago and have to say that it is by far my favorite. At first I tried widmer and liked it a lot more than other beers. then a guy told me at bevmo to try some import hefeweizen and they are even better. How does it rate in your opinion and what is a hefeweizen?

Answer 1

A true hefeweizen is a German wheat beer.  Generally, they are brewed with 50% or more malted wheat and about 50% malted barley.  Hence the name.  "Hefe" = half.  And "weizen" = wheat.  Your favorite beer, Widmer, really doesn't fall into this category.  Although it is likely brewed with the correct wheat amount, it doesn't have the same flavors as a German hefewizen.  A German wheat beer is characterized by the following flavors:

Banana

Clove

Pepper

Wheat-iness

The majority of the German hefeweizen's flavor is derived from unique yeast strains that create the aforementioned flavors.  Some of them to try:

Hackerschorr

Fransizkaner

Schneiderweiss

Paulaner

Pinkus

(Please note, I am not sure about the spelling of any of the above beers!)  

American wheats, including Widmer, have the same malt-bill, but they use a "clean" American yeast strain that create neutral flavors.  Some great examples are:

Widmer Wheat

Bell's Oberon

Sierra Nevada Wheat

Three Floyds Gumball Wheat

I enjoy both styles.  But I lean towards the German versions which (I think) have more flavor.  Still, it's always a matter of taste and there isn't a right answer!  Enjoy!

Answer 2

Wheat beer

Answer 3

A hefeweizen is an unfiltered wheat beer. They are quite good.

Flying Dog makes a good one. Look for some domestic ones. You'll know them because they'll say so on the label, or you can ask someone at your liquor store.

Enjoy!

Answer 4

http://www.bjcp.org/2008_Guidelines.pdf

Hefe = yeast (German)

15. GERMAN WHEAT AND RYE BEER

15A. Weizen/Weissbier

Aroma: Moderate to strong phenols (usually clove) and fruity esters (usually banana). The balance and intensity of the phenol and ester components can vary but the best examples are reasonably balanced and fairly prominent. Noble hop character ranges from low to none. A light to moderate wheat aroma (which might be perceived as bready or grainy) may be present but other malt characteristics should not. No diacetyl or DMS. Optional, but acceptable, aromatics can include a light, citrusy tartness, a light to moderate vanilla character, and/or a low bubblegum aroma. None of these optional characteristics should be high or dominant, but often can add to the complexity and balance.

Appearance: Pale straw to very dark gold in color. A very thick, moussy, long-lasting white head is characteristic. The high protein content of wheat impairs clarity in an unfiltered beer, although the level of haze is somewhat variable. A beer “mit hefe” is also cloudy from suspended yeast sediment (which should be roused before drinking). The filtered Krystal version has no yeast and is brilliantly clear.

Flavor: Low to moderately strong banana and clove flavor. The balance and intensity of the phenol and ester components can vary but the best examples are reasonably balanced and fairly prominent. Optionally, a very light to moderate vanilla character and/or low bubblegum notes can accentuate the banana flavor, sweetness and roundness; neither should be dominant if present. The soft, somewhat bready or grainy flavor of wheat is complementary, as is a slightly sweet Pils malt character. Hop flavor is very low to none, and hop bitterness is very low to moderately low. A tart, citrusy character from yeast and high carbonation is often present. Well rounded, flavorful palate with a relatively dry finish. No diacetyl or DMS.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light to medium body; never heavy. Suspended yeast may increase the perception of body. The texture of wheat imparts the sensation of a fluffy, creamy fullness that may progress to a light, spritzy finish aided by high carbonation. Always effervescent.

Overall Impression: A pale, spicy, fruity, refreshing wheat-based ale.

History: A traditional wheat-based ale originating in Southern Germany that is a specialty for summer consumption, but generally produced year-round.

Comments: These are refreshing, fast-maturing beers that are lightly hopped and show a unique banana-and-clove yeast character. These beers often don’t age well and are best enjoyed while young and fresh. The version “mit hefe” is served with yeast sediment stirred in; the krystal version is filtered for excellent clarity. Bottles with yeast are traditionally swirled or gently rolled prior to serving. The character of a krystal weizen is generally fruitier and less phenolic than that of the hefe-weizen.

Ingredients: By German law, at least 50% of the grist must be malted wheat, although some versions use up to 70%; the remainder is Pilsner malt. A traditional decoction mash gives the appropriate body without cloying sweetness. Weizen ale yeasts produce the typical spicy and fruity character, although extreme fermentation temperatures can affect the balance and produce off-flavors. A small amount of noble hops are used only for bitterness.

Vital Statistics: OG: 1.044 – 1.052

IBUs: 8 – 15 FG: 1.010 – 1.014

SRM: 2 – 8 ABV: 4.3 – 5.6%

Commercial Examples: Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, Schneider Weisse Weizenhell, Paulaner Hefe-Weizen, Hacker-Pschorr Weisse, Plank Bavarian Hefeweizen, Ayinger Bräu Weisse, Ettaler Weissbier h**l, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Andechser Weissbier Hefetrüb, Kapuziner Weissbier, Erdinger Weissbier, Penn Weizen, Barrelhouse Hocking Hills HefeWeizen,

Answer 5

Hef is a wheat beer usually served with an orange or even a splash of O.J.  If you like it, Blue Moon is a really sweet style hef thats you can buy almost anywhere.

Answer 6

A hefeweizen is a German style wheat beer that is unfiltered.  When you pour a hefe into a glas you'll notice a distinct haziness, that is all of the leftover goodness that gives this ale a distingushing aftertaste.

Widmer is a mass-produced beer with coneections to A-B.

If you stay true grab a German hefe like Franziskaner, Paulaner, Wiehenstephaner, Schneider Weiss, Julias Echter (one of my faves, esp. the Dunkel Weiss)

I live in texas fortunately one of our local brewery makes the most fantastic hefe, it has a distinct bubble-gum flavor in the aftertaste.

Answer 7

a wheat beer usually unfiltered...  the correct way to pour ..

Rinse the glass with water.  Hold the glass at an angle when pouring and pour slowly.  Leave a few drops of beer in the bottle to swirl clockwise to bring the yeast to the top. pour remaining beer into the glass.... dont add a lemon or an orange.. it really spoils the flavor... their are many different kinds of wheat beers.. dunkelweizen, weissbeir etc...

widmer is low on the spectrum of wheat beers its classified as an "american pale wheat ale"... but definately a "gateway beer" to better tasting beers i reccomend you try hoegaarden (hoegaarden is what bluemoon trys to be and fails miserably) witbeir/weissbeir  or franziskaner hefeweizen..