Weihenstephaner Original Premium
Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

Weihenstephaner Original PremiumWeihenstephaner Original Premium
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From:
Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
 
Germany
Style:
Helles
Ranked #11
ABV:
5.1%
Score:
91
Ranked #6,503
Avg:
4.09 | pDev: 11.98%
Reviews:
1,038
Ratings:
2,702
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 13, 2024
Added:
Dec 30, 2000
Wants:
  220
Gots:
  506
A good beer takes its time. The long storage makes our yellow bright lager, “Original”, a flavourful beer enjoyed with fine poured, white foam. With a mild hoppy note and its pleasant fresh spicy taste, it goes very well with salads, poultry, stews or with a hearty snack. Brewed according to our centuries-old brewing tradition on the Weihenstephan hill.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Todd:
Photo of Todd
Reviewed by Todd from Finland

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Called "Weinenstephan Helles exportbier" in Germany. Served in a branded 0.5l glass. Presented as a clear, bright, pale yellow/gold beer with a thin white sticky foam head -- good retention. Musty, light grain, clean aroma.

Smooth mouthfeel with a thin, soft rind hop bitterness. Notes of metallic flavours edge around a light malt sweetness with grain notes. Bitterness is a bit limey and snappy, with a grassy and herbal finish. Soft banana. Faint clove. Dry overall finish.

Had this at the "Ranke 2" in Berlin. Wonderful beer. Paired nicely with my bean and sausage soup.
Oct 19, 2002
More User Ratings:
Photo of adamg39
Reviewed by adamg39 from Ohio

5/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Quite nearly the perfect lager. Smooth, crisp, great flavor, but light enough to drink more than one. One of my two favorites along with Warsteiner Pilsner. Never disappoints, especially if you can get it fresh. All of Weihenstephaner's exports pour with a nice, fluffy head. Perfectly balanced between malty sweetness and hoppiness, with a slight leaning toward malt flavor. One of the best widely available beers in the world. Available in Cincinnati primarily in 6-pack bottles. Truly inimitable.
Mar 13, 2024
Photo of MissouriMule
Reviewed by MissouriMule from Missouri

5/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Even for a beer as highly rated as this, I may sound like a Pollyanna. To be clear, though, I am not particularly a fan of this beer genre. Still, I can find no fault with this Helles.

It pours a very pale straw. The head is white, and of small bubbles. The head will pile up if you pour vigorously, but it dissipates quickly.

From the nose, I mostly get sweet malts. In fact, I detect little else.

The taste is light and sweet malts, with a very subtle floral finish from the hops. I find this best consumed very cold. When it is warmer I lose the delicate hops flavor. The closest comparison I can make for the flavor is the taste of the small flowers that I used to eat off the honeysuckle that grew in the yard: sweet (not cloyingly so) nectar with a little herbal spice from the bloom.

Mouthfeel is fuller than I would expect given the lightness of all other aspects of the beer. That is a plus.

I do not plan to drink this beer frequently, but when I want a break from bitterer fare, I will probably pick some up occasionally.
Mar 12, 2024
 
Rated: 3.5 by AbeO

Mar 09, 2024
 
 
Rated: 4.15 by OtisCampbell007 from Tennessee

Mar 02, 2024
Photo of BuxMontBeerLover
Reviewed by BuxMontBeerLover from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a light straw yellow, bright and clear. A one-finger white head on the initial pours.

Not much on the nose.

A very tasty German Helles. A malty, bready, slightly floral, lemony taste that goes down very smooth. Slightly bitter aftertaste. Not a hint of 5.1 ABV.

Medium consistency, mild carbonation.

Not my go-to style but enjoying the five different beers from a holiday variety pack. This was a very good, easy drinking, well-crafted beer. Cheers!
Feb 23, 2024
Photo of blkgeorge
Rated by blkgeorge

4.29/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
After all the US brewery 'Helles' interpretations, it's nice to be able to taste a nice Munich helles. If you know, you know.
Jan 21, 2024
 
Rated: 4 by cabsandking from Ohio

Jan 18, 2024
 
Rated: 3.93 by RockyM72 from Florida

Jan 16, 2024
 
Rated: 4.26 by _Adam_ from Maryland

Nov 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by Jcreason569 from Washington

Nov 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.96 by Try-em-all from Missouri

Oct 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by BrisLoganite from Australia

Oct 14, 2023
Photo of JKENNEKE
Rated by JKENNEKE

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
September 2023. Hartwell. Had it in the fridge for a year or two but still taste very good smooth full body would buy it again.
Sep 17, 2023
Photo of USArmyRangerVet
Rated by USArmyRangerVet from New York

5/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
World class helles. Prosit.
Aug 17, 2023
Photo of mpruden
Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from an undated 12-oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: Pure gold, with a two-inch white head that dissipated only gradually, leaving some lacing.

Nose: Bread and hops, just a hint of spice.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium — perfect for the style, perfect carbonation.

Attack: Follows the nose well — bread, hops, and just enough mild sweetness.

Finish: Very light hop bitterness to continue and balance.

Overall: This is everything I want in a Helles — the Ur-Munich Helles, if you will — and the Helles by which I measure every other Helles I taste. This is the beer I want to drink with a Caesar Salad, and the beer I use in my sourdough white bread recipe. I’d love to drink this fresh in Germany sometime!
Aug 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.63 by superwho24 from Arkansas

Jul 29, 2023
 
Rated: 3.61 by lakewy17 from New Hampshire

Jul 15, 2023
Weihenstephaner Original Premium from Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 2702 ratings