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Wine Country Wheat
Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Bear Republic Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Hefeweizen
- ABV:
- 4.5%
- Score:
- 85
- Avg:
- 3.73 | pDev: 11.53%
- Reviews:
- 19
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Aug 28, 2013
- Added:
- Nov 04, 2003
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
This traditional German Hefeweizen is a light and refreshing ale served unfiltered and full of flavor.
2001 California State Fair – BRONZE
2000 California State Fair – SILVER
2001 California State Fair – BRONZE
2000 California State Fair – SILVER
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by mdfb79 from New York
3.77/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.77/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From 07/24/12 notes. Had on tap at The Pony Bar on the UES in New York. Served in a 14 oz. pint glass.
a - Pours a murky yellow-orange-brown color with one inch of bright white head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks ok, kind of dark and murky.
s - Smells of bananas, wheat, spices, pepper, Belgian yeast, and bready malts. Lots of bananas and Belgian yeast, very nice nose to it.
t - Tastes of bananas, pepper, spices, citrus hops, oranges, wheat, grains, and bready malts. Taste is good but has more pepper than the nose, so a step down for me. More citrus than the nose which is nice though.
m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth and easy to drink.
o - Overall a pretty good hefeweizen. The nose is nice and full of yeast and bananas, while the taste has more spice and pepper. Worth checking out and another good beer from BR.
Jul 24, 2012a - Pours a murky yellow-orange-brown color with one inch of bright white head and moderate carbonation evident. Looks ok, kind of dark and murky.
s - Smells of bananas, wheat, spices, pepper, Belgian yeast, and bready malts. Lots of bananas and Belgian yeast, very nice nose to it.
t - Tastes of bananas, pepper, spices, citrus hops, oranges, wheat, grains, and bready malts. Taste is good but has more pepper than the nose, so a step down for me. More citrus than the nose which is nice though.
m - Medium body and moderate carbonation. Smooth and easy to drink.
o - Overall a pretty good hefeweizen. The nose is nice and full of yeast and bananas, while the taste has more spice and pepper. Worth checking out and another good beer from BR.
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
3.62/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.62/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Tap at prezo
Light pasty white fizzy fluffy creamy head of 1 finger that fades at a med pace with a touch of lacing, over slight hazy tan honey colored beer.
Nose brings plenty of wheat, toasty wheat, light citrus, some spices from the yeast a clove like but barely, plenty of banana, light orange zest, and a light fruity white wine like vinous aroma. There is some creamy malts, and hint of vanilla, and a weird green tomato like aroma.
Taste starts quite creamy more like a cream ale, then wheat flavors, light toasty wheat. Hefe flavors are very light, touch of banana, very light floral spices, hint of candied orange zest. semi sweet with almost lactose sugar addition. Fruits bring a bit of white wine again, and more olive oil fried green tomatoes, a weird addition. There is also a light earthy almost dusty wood like taste, with a hint of vanilla, and light bitterness. Finish is fairly dry, lingering bitterness and orange zest, more creamy flavors, and it gets slightly bready malts and more toasted earthy wheat.
Mouth is a bit lighter bodied, creamy, decent carb.
Overall interesting but kinda weird, lots of interesting flavors I wouldn't expect in a beer, and even less so in a hefe. And quite creamy, with very little typical hefe flavors.
May 09, 2012Light pasty white fizzy fluffy creamy head of 1 finger that fades at a med pace with a touch of lacing, over slight hazy tan honey colored beer.
Nose brings plenty of wheat, toasty wheat, light citrus, some spices from the yeast a clove like but barely, plenty of banana, light orange zest, and a light fruity white wine like vinous aroma. There is some creamy malts, and hint of vanilla, and a weird green tomato like aroma.
Taste starts quite creamy more like a cream ale, then wheat flavors, light toasty wheat. Hefe flavors are very light, touch of banana, very light floral spices, hint of candied orange zest. semi sweet with almost lactose sugar addition. Fruits bring a bit of white wine again, and more olive oil fried green tomatoes, a weird addition. There is also a light earthy almost dusty wood like taste, with a hint of vanilla, and light bitterness. Finish is fairly dry, lingering bitterness and orange zest, more creamy flavors, and it gets slightly bready malts and more toasted earthy wheat.
Mouth is a bit lighter bodied, creamy, decent carb.
Overall interesting but kinda weird, lots of interesting flavors I wouldn't expect in a beer, and even less so in a hefe. And quite creamy, with very little typical hefe flavors.
Reviewed by caryt from California
4.3/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the Green Dragon (Portland, OR)
A: Hazy caramel with a lacing of head.
S: Smells of good yeast and very faint pinot.
T: Oh damn, I hate hefeweizen but this tastes nothing like any hefe I have ever had. Great grapes that remind me of a sour barrel aged beer. The wheat is soo mild.
M: More carbonation than I like in a beer but definitely not overdone. However the carbonation going down does overwhelm some of the complexities of this brew.
O: Thanks again Bear Republic, you guys seldomly disappoint! This would be a great summer beer if it weren't for the 40 degree temps we're having in the NW.
Mar 07, 2012A: Hazy caramel with a lacing of head.
S: Smells of good yeast and very faint pinot.
T: Oh damn, I hate hefeweizen but this tastes nothing like any hefe I have ever had. Great grapes that remind me of a sour barrel aged beer. The wheat is soo mild.
M: More carbonation than I like in a beer but definitely not overdone. However the carbonation going down does overwhelm some of the complexities of this brew.
O: Thanks again Bear Republic, you guys seldomly disappoint! This would be a great summer beer if it weren't for the 40 degree temps we're having in the NW.
Reviewed by DoubleJ from Wisconsin
3.88/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hefeweizen from Wine Country. On-tap at Beachwood BBQ, on to the beer:
Extremely cloudy and looking like the color of a yellow-orange crayon. The head on top is creamy and leaves good lacing. The nose says soft banana bread and a little nutmeg. Anf the taste says Bavarian hefeweizen, but perhaps a little softer. Watered down banana, a little clove, malted wheat, all of which seem to get tastier as time rolls along. A snap of carbonation provides a final life for this beer.
This is a refreshing, non-hoppy offering fromm Bear Republic. It's draft only, so taste it when you see it available.
Nov 16, 2011Extremely cloudy and looking like the color of a yellow-orange crayon. The head on top is creamy and leaves good lacing. The nose says soft banana bread and a little nutmeg. Anf the taste says Bavarian hefeweizen, but perhaps a little softer. Watered down banana, a little clove, malted wheat, all of which seem to get tastier as time rolls along. A snap of carbonation provides a final life for this beer.
This is a refreshing, non-hoppy offering fromm Bear Republic. It's draft only, so taste it when you see it available.
Reviewed by BARFLYB from Pennsylvania
3.48/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
3.48/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
After a long walk through the city I relaxed at the Khyber for some suds and this looked refreshing. In a pint glass.
Wine Country Wheat looked the part with a body consisting of a deep orange shade with some lighter yellows within, kinda unfiltered looking, but it is a hefe. A nice bright white head up above more than an inch, foamy looking, did not leave any stick. The smells were pretty fruity and laden with fresh wheat. A whole lotta bananers and some faint orange zest. Tastes like a true hefe, very authentic, but the banana is killing me. It's almost more banana than wheat. A somewhat sweet middle with soggy cereal taste that I am put off by. After detecting the soggy cereal taste I just drank it quick, cause I hate the sog. The feel is light bodied and a somewhat carbed, this goes down a bit to easy, even though Im kinda gagging doing it. Not the greatest Hefe out there but If your in a bind for some suds, why not knock back one or two of these, it's only 4.5%
May 28, 2011Wine Country Wheat looked the part with a body consisting of a deep orange shade with some lighter yellows within, kinda unfiltered looking, but it is a hefe. A nice bright white head up above more than an inch, foamy looking, did not leave any stick. The smells were pretty fruity and laden with fresh wheat. A whole lotta bananers and some faint orange zest. Tastes like a true hefe, very authentic, but the banana is killing me. It's almost more banana than wheat. A somewhat sweet middle with soggy cereal taste that I am put off by. After detecting the soggy cereal taste I just drank it quick, cause I hate the sog. The feel is light bodied and a somewhat carbed, this goes down a bit to easy, even though Im kinda gagging doing it. Not the greatest Hefe out there but If your in a bind for some suds, why not knock back one or two of these, it's only 4.5%
Reviewed by JizackFH from New York
3.53/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had on-tap at Sunswick 35/35 in Astoria, Queens on 5/22/11.
Review taken from notes.
A - This beer pours a hazy golden yellow color. It has a nice white head on it. The head has good retention, and it leaves some nice lace on the glass.
S - It smells of wheat, banana, and clove up front. There are also some other fruity notes present, and well as some yeast. It doesn't smell as full as I'd like it to.
T - The taste starts off with wheat and banana. I am also getting clove, pear, and even some white wine. The finish leaves a lingering spiciness. The flavor seems a tad watered down.
M - This has a light to medium body and lower carbonation. It goes down pretty easy. There is some lingering spiciness left on the palate.
O - This has pretty good drinkability. It goes down smooth, and I think it would be very nice on a hot summer day. Overall, I thought it was a nice hefe, i just wish the flavor was a little fuller. It's definitely worth checking out though.
May 27, 2011Review taken from notes.
A - This beer pours a hazy golden yellow color. It has a nice white head on it. The head has good retention, and it leaves some nice lace on the glass.
S - It smells of wheat, banana, and clove up front. There are also some other fruity notes present, and well as some yeast. It doesn't smell as full as I'd like it to.
T - The taste starts off with wheat and banana. I am also getting clove, pear, and even some white wine. The finish leaves a lingering spiciness. The flavor seems a tad watered down.
M - This has a light to medium body and lower carbonation. It goes down pretty easy. There is some lingering spiciness left on the palate.
O - This has pretty good drinkability. It goes down smooth, and I think it would be very nice on a hot summer day. Overall, I thought it was a nice hefe, i just wish the flavor was a little fuller. It's definitely worth checking out though.
Reviewed by LusciousJackson from Illinois
2.78/5 rDev -25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
2.78/5 rDev -25.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Poured into a 10 oz nonic at Fat Jacks in Bloomington, IL. This may be due to it being a newer tap(mine was the second pour), but this is by far the haziest beer I've ever had. Held to light, it's barely translucent. A beautiful bright orange, just a bit odd looking. Feels like I'm looking at thin, melted orange sherbet. About a half finger of orange tinted head sets on top and leaves great big fluffy lacing all over the glass.
I'll agree with some other reviews that the nose on this one is a but lacking. I pick up the classic hefe notes. Wheat, bit of banana and bubblegum. There's something a bit unpleasant back there though. Dare I say manure? It's certainly an organic scent though and what the hell, we all apparently love "horse blanket'" so who knows.
Surprisingly a boringly tame aroma led to an unbalanced taste. The taste is HEAVY on the spice. Overwhelmingly so. It puts a spice taste in the back of my throat the I'm not sure I'm a big fan of. The carb is appropriate but I'm left constantly drinking in an attempt to push out the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is luxurious and coats my mouth nicely. Too bad it's not the best beer for it.
I was excited about this one. An inviting little sixtel of a draft only from a great California brewery makes it all the way to downstate Illinois. Unfortunately it kind of disappoints. It's drinkable, but there are much better options.
The mouthfeel
May 26, 2011I'll agree with some other reviews that the nose on this one is a but lacking. I pick up the classic hefe notes. Wheat, bit of banana and bubblegum. There's something a bit unpleasant back there though. Dare I say manure? It's certainly an organic scent though and what the hell, we all apparently love "horse blanket'" so who knows.
Surprisingly a boringly tame aroma led to an unbalanced taste. The taste is HEAVY on the spice. Overwhelmingly so. It puts a spice taste in the back of my throat the I'm not sure I'm a big fan of. The carb is appropriate but I'm left constantly drinking in an attempt to push out the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is luxurious and coats my mouth nicely. Too bad it's not the best beer for it.
I was excited about this one. An inviting little sixtel of a draft only from a great California brewery makes it all the way to downstate Illinois. Unfortunately it kind of disappoints. It's drinkable, but there are much better options.
The mouthfeel
Wine Country Wheat from Bear Republic Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
32 ratings
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