No. 09 American Hefeweizen
Gella's Diner & Lb. Brewing Co.

Light foggy yellow. Looks more like a pilsner. Aroma is light bready malts with a touch of clove and banana bread. Flavor profile is more banana bread. Bread is accompanied by toasty, earthy malts and lightly spicy hops. Mouth feel is medium-thin with a watery texture. Overall, it diverts from the hefeweizen pretty widely.

Draft.

 

 

On tap. Poured a hazy, straw-yellow color with a small, white head of foam. It smelled of clove and yeast with a hint of banana. Lots of hefeweizen spiciness, but not enough banana. Still pretty tasty.

Wheat and light clove aroma, no real hefe character. Flavor lacks hefe esters as well, but has grassy hop notes, and a moderately bitter finish. Not enough wheat, either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another I-70 gem. Gellas Liquid Bread is a great reason to stop in Hays for the evening if you ever find yourself 4 hours west of KC on I-70. Unlike a German hefe, there are no hints of banana in the flavor (compare for instance to Konig Ludwig Hefe or Weihenstefaner Hefe - totally different character), and this is a much lighter feeling beer.

A - Pours clear with a pretty minimal head. I don't know that any of the LB offerings are all that heady (not a knock) and it may be the result of drinking from a growler for a couple days. No particulates to speak of.

S - Not overwhelming - can't say I've noticed its odor in the past.

T - I should speak to what I like about Gellas - although they produce ales, and I am primarily a lager guy, their ale products tend to go down like lagers. That is a very high compliment. The best way to describe this hefe, is that it tastes like a lager while feeling like an ale. A slight hoppiness, but enough malt to remind you Hays was settled by Volga Germans.

M - Clean and pure.

Overall, I recommend it. Not a pure or true hefe, but a terrific beer in its own right. Hays is a great small town, and Gellas is one of the things that makes it great.

 

Reviewed from notes. On tap at the brewpub in August 2009.

Pours a hazy yellow color with a white head that starts at about two fingers but recedes quite quickly with minimal lace left behind. The aroma is fairly faint wheat with a light amount of orange and lemon. The taste is almost entirely grainy wheat with just a tiny bit of citrus. Light and crisp. Pretty plain, though nothing is actually wrong with it, brewing wise.

Not impressed with this offering from Lb. A very light looking pour, almost straw. Semi-cloudy. Right off the bat the grains hit and give an air of starch and scratch.
Malts are sweet and gritty; aroma is strong and overbearing. Some citrus throughout. I wouldn't normally put fruit in beer, but this one could use an orange or lemon wedge. It's a bit harsh and scratchy.

Another offering from this gem in nowhere, Kansas. Poured off the tap a classic, cloudy, bleached-yellow color with a one finger pure white head. Decent retention and very nice lacing. Soft aromas of lemon, orange and dry wheat. The taste was distinctly fresh wheat with a backbone of mild hops. Hints of lemon zest and a crisp finish when the semi-bitter hops cuts through. Creamy mouthfeel and light carbonation. Medium body has surprising gumption for a light beer. Very summery, drinkable and apropos for the style. Recommended.