Chevalier Hefe Weizen
Bridge Road Brewers

It would be a crime not to comment on the packaging of this beer. Bridge Road has raised the presentation stakes significantly in this country with the beautiful wine-like label and heavy duty 750ml bottle. This is benchmark packaging, not just in OZ but the globally as well. Anyway – the beer. Pours a massive billowing head but shows excellent retention. Vibrant cloudy orange. Nose of slightly rusty malts and a hint of fruitiness; good but not great. Fruity palate in the right proportions and sweet backs filling out the mouthfeel. The only problem is that its all bit subdued – I’d like to see more overt hefe character coming through. Early days (still) for these guys and the beer will get better.

 

a) Poured a cloudy amber copper. Off-white, coarsely bubbled head which sinks. Good effervescence. I think there's been a bit of secondary action here.
s) Banana bread, metallic hop note, yeasty
f) Malty, estery, perfumy, tropical fruit, toffee. Too much crystal I reckon; it's cand- sweet rather than wheat-sweet. I think that it may have been in the bottle a little bit too long....getting those aging malt notes a la Coopers Vintage..
m) Smooth, touch cloying
d) Touch to sweet for mine, not refreshing.

Nice presentation in a 750ml champagne-style bottle. Just capped though, no corking.

Pours quite dark for a hefeweizen. A deep amber but with the traditional cloudy hefe body. Nice fine-bubbled head, but not billowy. Fine carbonation. It doesn't look that true to style, but it does look good.

Slight hefe yeast nose. Not a lot of banana or clove, but it does have the slightly latexy bubblegum character to it. Not bad, a decent weizen nose.

Taste is genuinely reminiscent of the true German Weizen style, but it does have a slightly pungent bitter character on the back palate. Whether it's an overaccentuated hop bite or something else, it rankles a bit.

Clearly the bubblegum character is dominant here as well. It gets almost a little overpowering, but it's a true hefe character, which is commendable.

Overall, this is pretty good. It has true hefe characters to it, and is a pretty good example style-wise. It doesn't have the transcendent qualities which would set apart a stellar Weizen, but it's very drinkable. Well done Bridge Road!

A - Poured from the 750ml bottle a hazy orange amber colour with a large off white head. Medium lacing.
S - Banana esters and some slight spice notes.
T - The banana and spice is there as well as a bit of tartness
M - Medium mouthfeel, medium to low carbonation.
D - Good balance and a nice refreshing beer.