Tucher Helles Hefe Weizen

Why I tried this: Jon and I decided to have a quick after work outing to World of Beer UCF since we hadn't done that in a while. It's usually pretty quiet during the week day right after work, and sometimes I really like how quiet and personable it can be without the huge crowd. I was browsing the draft menu, and the only new item I recognized on the list was a hefeweizen from Tucher that I had not had before. Having had a beer or two from Tucher before, I ordered their Helles Hefe Weizen.

Smell: Wow, there's some spice in there. I got a strong smell of clove and other various spices, plus your usual grains and wheats.

Taste: A lot. Your first sip starts off with grains, wheats, and a strong clove taste. This fades to allow other spices to come through, also allowing in a very faint hint of banana and less so, citrus. It ends in a very mild bitterness. All the way through, this beer is exceptionally smooth, and the unfiltered nature of it makes the texture almost a bit creamy.

No questions asked, this beer gets an empty pint glass award. This is simply one of the best hefeweizens I've had, of any style, ever. I was just simply blown away at how balanced, complex, flavored, and drinkable this beer was. The smell and taste is just outstanding, and the presentation, also great. The beer looks a hazy gold due to the unfiltered nature, which I feel definitely strengthens the experience. Unlike some hefeweizens, this one doesn't rely on fruit nearly so much, instead focusing on what makes a hefeweizen, a hefeweizen. And, it does it amazingly. Get this beer. Now.

--Jeff

Hofbrau Hefeweizen

Why I tried this: We were watching the Manchester United v Chelsea game for the UEFA Champions league at World of Beer UCF with Jerry, one of the owners. Manchested United won, so we needed a victory beer. A 22oz of Hofbrau it was.

Smell: Mostly of wheats and grains, with a little bit of lemon. Very fresh smelling, and quite nice.

Taste: About the same as the

smell. It had an earthy flavor to it, on top of a bit of lemon and some mild sweetness I couldn't place. The beer was very crisp and refreshing.

Overall, I'd give this beer a quarter full glass. It was a good hefeweizen, but there really isn't too much to say about it. It has your usual wheat and earthy taste/smell to it, with a hint of lemon and a sweetness to balance out. It was drinkable, but not overly flavorful. If you are looking for something a bit stronger or more complex, this might not do it for you. Otherwise, would recommend.

--Jeff

Magic Hat Circus Boy

Why I tried this: It was a nice day and lunch time was looming. Instead of making some food we thought it would be a better idea to go to World of Beer for a liquid lunch. While at the bar, I asked Josh what hefeweizen I should get. He recommended Magic Hat Circus Boy. I hadn't had it yet, and I really enjoyed Magic Hat #9, so I went with it.

Smell: It has a light spice note with a hint of lemon. Not a very strong wheat smell, which I thought was unusual.

Taste: Pretty damn good! You get a medium bodied flavor of lemon, orange citrus, and a slight spice hop, with a moderate amount of wheat. This beer was really crisp, probably due to the light hops, and went down very smoothly. All in all a great taste.

Overall, I'd have to give this beer an empty glass. This was a hefeweizen that didn't scream "Look at me, I'm a wheat beer!" but was nonetheless a very good beer of the style. This is the third beer I've had from Magic Hat, all three having been very enjoyable. I'm definitely starting to like this brewery. If this were on tap, I wouldn't hesitate to order it, and I think along with offerings from Sea Dog, this Circus Boy will be one of my go to hefeweizens in the future. Highly recommend!

--Jeff

Sea Dog Apricot Wheat

Why I tried this: It was a 25% off loyalty Tuesday and I was browsing the bottle menu. This was still during my hefeweizen binge, so I was looking for another good beer and came across Sea Dog. I had really enjoyed their Bluepaw and was pretty excited to see another beer by the brewery that I hadn't had yet, so I went for it.

Smell: Not too much here, just a note of apricot and wheat. Simple enough, but pleasing to the nose.

Taste: Incredible. I might actually like this one more than the Bluepaw, although I really wish it were on draft to make that comparison. You get nice wheat notes and a fairly good blast of apricot flavor. It's not overpowering, and it's not too sweet. It's just damned good. The beer is pretty crisp and goes down very easy.

It looks like Sea Dog has another winner on their hands. This is the second beer I've had from them, both hefeweizens, and both have been fantastic. With a light smell, but a great taste, I can easily say this is one of my favorite hefeweizens, and would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a good beer. Hope I see it on draft soon. This beer gets an empty glass award.

--Jeff

Lost Coast Great White

Why I tried this: I had had the Lost Coast Downtown Brown on tap quite a while back. So, when I saw this brew on tap, I recognized the brewer name, and thought I'd give them another shot. Their brown ale was fairly decent, and I was in the mood for something lighter after my porter binge.

Smell: Had a scent of citrus, but mostly smelled of wheat grains. Moderately pleasant, not very strong.

Taste: This one was interesting. In addition to the usual wheat flavor, I detected a bit of oatmeal as well. To top it off, a note of orange peel hits you as you finish your sip. The flavors were a bit lacking and left me wanting more.

Overall, I wasn't very impressed with this beer. I wasn't sure whether to give it a quarter full or half empty beer award, but I've leaned towards the half full award. It's just too forgettable a beer. The taste just isn't bold enough, and what's in there doesn't really make for that great of a mix. Would likely stick to Lost Coast's Downtown Brown, if anything.

--Jeff

Brooklyner Weisse

Why I tried this: I've really been in the mood for hefeweisens lately, and this was the only one on draft that I hadn't tried yet. Our waitress Panda said it was good, so I went with it.

Smell: Wheat and spice, perhaps clove. Also had a hint of citrus smell to it.

Taste: Pure, unfiltered wheat with a citrus bite. Very good, very drinkable and refreshing.

Brooklyner Weisse was a pretty good hefeweisen. Brewed in New York, this 5% ABV Bavarian wheat beer had quite a few things going for it. It was drinkable and refreshing, making it an excellent beer to drink during spring or summer. It had a pleasant, spicy and fruity smell. And, it had fairly good flavor. I've had better Hefeweisens, but this did not disappoint, and so I award it with the almost empty beer glass rating. I'd probably get this again if it were still on draft.

--Jeff