Hefe Weizen
East End Brewing Company

Decent hefe. Biggest knocks are there’s too much of a tang and not enough banana for it to score high points for me. Hefe’s shouldn't have bitterness or tang to them. Smells and looks good. If you like a hint of bitterness/tang, and want a refreshing beer for summer and can get it at a good price point, not the worst option.
5.9% from a can.

Poured from the can into a wheat ale glass.

Deep dark barss clarity, with little touches of rising carbonation. White chocked topped head with three fingers, and a big foamy snapping cap.

Huge amounts of phenolic clove, and almost herbal touches of cut grass for the aroma. Slight edge of peanut butter as well with a faint honey sweetness as well. Quite a good impressive nose.

Palate seems to be somewhere in the middle. Nutty strangely with classic phenolic flavors, but definitely missing more of the fruity quality particularly the banana like esters. Slightly numbing finish but not terribly. Manages to stay in the ball park of expectations.

The aroma and appearance sort of hints of something a bit more grand, but the basic quality comes with some minor deviations. Fairly enjoyable, just wish there was more of a classic malt and ester flavor to this. Overall though it's pretty solid so can't complain.

 

 

So nana!!!!!!!!!

Working on cleaning up the backlog of notes I have. Sample enjoyed at the Steel Mill Saloon.

No can date but picked up last week in PA
Pours a large creamy foamy 2+ finger head that just bows over the top of my chalice, good retention and messy lacing, hazy cloudy pale orange color

Nose nice creamy dough wheat, a bit of honey, vanilla cake, banana, a bit of citrus, lemongrass, floral spice notes, rich cake batter with vanilla-orange icing

Taste brings more creamy doughy wheat, very rich creamy cake batter, vanilla cake, orange icing this time, little candied orange and dried sweetened pome fruit, fair banana as well, mild generic citrus, lemongrass, vanilla spice blending with bananas foster late, generally fairly sweet with a semi sweet semi dry finish, a bit of floral mild spicy hop bitterness on the finish, a touch yeasty late mostly on burps

Mouth is med bod, fair creamy, med to higher foamy carb

Overall quite a nice hefe, glad I grabbed a 6-pack of this, it will be a great hot summer beer

 

 

CAN courtesy of my friend who brought it from the brewery for me. "Hefe Weizen."

Wheat. Clove.

No banana. No bubblegum. No orange peel. Doesn't taste very fresh. Wheat isn't gummy...this doesn't seem high in wheat (probably less than 50% wheat malt). Thin 2-row pale malted barley is prominent. No Noble hop grassiness or Saaz crackery/grassy hop flavour.

Not a well brewed or balanced hefeweizen by any stretch, but it's drinkable for what it is. Most homebrewed hefeweizens I've tried are better, not to mention many widely distributed expressions of the style.

D+ / NOT RECOMMENDED

***
12/05/20 can:

Mediocre but not awful.

C- / BELOW AVERAGE

 

 

 

This is one bad ass Hefeweizen. A small head that does not disapate quickly. Color is more of that of a Kristalweizen. A bit lacking on the nose for a weizen. This is it’s only drawback. Exploding banana/clove on the palate. Very creamy and full bodied for a weizen, bordering on the side of a Weizenbock but not fruity or cloying. Rich and creamy. A great beer.

It is what it is if you like this type of beer

My first from East End. I hope to visit one of their two taprooms while in Pittsburgh. Dedicated. At it since 2004.
Their hefe was decent, but I was at a reception, so it is best I don't write a review from memory.
Like many hefes from American crafters, it is hard to approach the yeast of the Bavarian masters by comparison.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed Monkey Boy.

Smooth, subtle wheat beer with hints of banana and spice. Great in the summer and very drinkable. Light, not overwhelming but interesting flavor. Mildly carbonated and refreshing.