El Jefe Weizen Ale
Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub

El Jefe Weizen AleEl Jefe Weizen Ale
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From:
Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub
 
Washington, United States
Style:
Hefeweizen
ABV:
4.5%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.6 | pDev: 14.17%
Reviews:
54
Ratings:
112
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 10, 2023
Added:
Mar 12, 2005
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  9
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BuckeyeNation:
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Significantly cloudy amber-orange, emphasis on the former. The actual yeast particles aren't as readily apparent as they are in most hefes, they simply blur and soften the color of the beer. Atop the liquid is a head of regal white, a color that I just made up (it means closer to pure, bright white than to ivory). Even though the cap is semi-firm, it slowly melts rather than maintaining its structure as it falls. Random thick chunks of lace stick to the glass.

Hale's El Jefe has a far, far better nose than the vast majority of American wheat beers (Three Floyds Gumballhead excluded, of course), in large part because it's so vibrant. It's also sweet and intensely banana-like with an underlying tropical character; passionfruit perhaps. This is a fruit punchy nose and a good one.

I got a sense of the flavor when I had to slurp the head to keep it from overflowing the glass. When the foam is this loaded with flavor, you know something good is going on. Again, I can't help but compare this beer to the legions of truly crappy American pale wheats that every brewer and his brother tries to foist off on us. Although this isn't lip smackingly outstanding beer, it is head and shoulders above most of its peers.

It's acceptably malted with a jacked-up flavor that has to be coming from hops. Yeast just isn't this fruitysweet. In no way is El Jefe in Gumballhead's league, but it does remind me of that beer in terms of the amount and type of flavor. It's tropically fruity and tangily sweet and I seem to find something new each time I sip.

The light body doesn't come close to losing its composure and even manages just a hint of slick mouthcoating on the longer than expected finish. The mouthfeel is soft and airy and fits the flavor and the (presumed) mission statement perfectly. There's no letdown in terms of carbonation either; it's lively, but not overly so.

El Jefe (The Boss) is aptly named. It's a kick-ass American weizen that does what it must to stand out in a sea of utter insipidness. It delivers loads of flavor, good flavor, to a style that often lacks imagination. A solid effort that would be a summer staple if I lived in the Pac NW.
Apr 14, 2005
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.46/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Best American hefeweizen I’ve had to date. Only complaints are a little too light weight, and not enough sediment. Pours out a hazy orange golden with medium foamy head. Head could be a little creamier and have a bit more substance. Aroma is normal weizen, bananas, bubblegum and wheat. Body is a bit thin, but taste is right on the money. Good job from Hale’s.
Dec 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Apr 28, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Jul 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.52 by csmrx7 from Canada (AB)

Aug 11, 2018
Photo of Edward_36
Rated by Edward_36 from Washington

4.25/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This is as close to a true Bavarian brew from the region of Schweinfurt Germany where I once lived. It is a very smooth and full bodied wheat ale.
Apr 23, 2018
 
Rated: 3.69 by rarigney from Washington

Jun 14, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by frontalot from Washington

May 14, 2017
 
Rated: 3.54 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Jan 23, 2017
Photo of gandres
Reviewed by gandres from Philippines

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce can poured to glass
sight: yellowish orange pale hazy, small off white foam that disappears quickly
smell: fragrant not a lot of aroma
taste: low bitterness
abrupt finish, low bitterness lingers, strong carbonation but drops quickly oa: good beer , not to look for
Drank: 11/2/2016 9:15 PM
Nov 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.1 by Ajlvt from Washington

Aug 29, 2016
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

3.57/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12 oz. can - Poured into weizen glass:

Pours hazed to clouded golden with a thin white head that quickly disappears. No real lacing to speak of.

The smell is of banana/clove with a hint of lemon.

The taste is of banana, citrus (lemon), wheat tang. Clove comes on pretty strong in the finish, in a somewhat mettalic way.

Pretty smooth, crisp, appriopriately light-bodied. Could be creamier.

It's not up there with the best of Bavaria, but it is a decent interpretation of the style overall.
May 13, 2016
 
Rated: 3.73 by Erik-P from Canada (BC)

Apr 22, 2016
Photo of ckornmannn
Reviewed by ckornmannn from Washington

4.22/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a can into a stein. Hazy yellow with a tenacious dense head of foam. Wonderful aroma of yeast sweetness and hints of citrus. Slightly astringent and quite effervescent. Peppery, a little bit of citrus. This is a really nice hefeweizen!
Apr 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.12 by Tpop1005 from Canada (BC)

Apr 10, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by DamienI from Washington

Jan 27, 2016
Photo of Jeffsta1
Reviewed by Jeffsta1 from Washington

3.79/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
A really good hefeweizen.

Pretty tan-gold color, a bit cloudy. Very fine in the head, barely off-white.

Smells nice, mild, hints of citrus.

Taste is clean: wheat, smallest bit of mild hops, lemon/tangerine. Some odd notes of sweet, soapy, bubble gum.

Mouthfeel is light to moderate.

Overall a fine beer, easy to drink, good with food. A go-to-beer when a heavier beer isn't indicated. Perhaps a shade less good than Pyramid, but I've not had them side-by-side.
Jan 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.36 by KensWorld from Florida

Dec 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.48 by 22Blue from Kansas

Dec 20, 2015
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from California

3.83/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I'm serving this in proper glassware - a clean tall Weizen glass. The pour starts off with a tall head and shrinks to a creamy 1 finger ring with whipped lacing on the sides. The body is light honey colored with amber tints. 90% hazy.

I smell Mandarin Oranges, lemon, fresh flowers, marshmallow, and banana. Medium strength.

Not a whole lot to remark on except for a distinct wheat presence with a float-y orange/marshmallow taper. A moderate hop presence accompanies the beer with lemon pith and grapefruit rind. Ends on orange and peel.

Rather light for a Weizen, but still retains a bit of creaminess to not totally push it off the base. Mild to moderate carbonation. Ends crisp.

A fair try at a Hefeweizen but nothing too spectacular. I'd pass on it next time I'm in Seattle.
Nov 21, 2015
El Jefe Weizen Ale from Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 112 ratings