Kellerweis
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

KellerweisKellerweis
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From:
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
California, United States
Style:
Hefeweizen
Ranked #16
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,642
Avg:
4.04 | pDev: 11.88%
Reviews:
1,418
Ratings:
4,180
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 22, 2024
Added:
Mar 12, 2009
Wants:
  383
Gots:
  769
Our Bavarian-style wheat beer is complex with flavors reminiscent of banana bread and spicy clove. This hazy-golden beer glows with suspended yeast, creating a velvety texture and refreshing finish.

Kellerweis is one of the few wheat beers made using the traditional Bavarian method of open fermentation, which allows the ingredients to shine and creates vast depth and character in this hazy-golden beer. To serve, pour two-thirds into a glass, swirl the bottles and add the rest.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by StoutHunter:
Photo of StoutHunter
Reviewed by StoutHunter from Michigan

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I picked up a bottle of Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen yesterday for $1.49 at The Lager Mill. As far as wheat beers go the only one I have been drinking lately is Oberon, so I thought I would switch it up a bit and go for a Hefeweizen that I have been meaning to try for a long time. No visible freshness date. Poured from a short 12oz brown bottle into a weizen glass.

A- The label on this beer is pretty plain and it is the typical mountain scenery just with a golden yellow background. It poured a hazy pale golden yellow color with a big four fingers worth of fluffy white head that died down to a thick layer that stayed for a while then disappeared and it left some spotty lacing.

S- The first thing I pick up is a large bread and biscuit like aroma from the malts. Then I pick up that signature banana aroma I have come to expect from this style, there is usually some clove accompanying it but on this brew the cloves have been replaced with a large amount of lemon zest that makes for a somewhat unique aroma. The yeast adds some nice fruit esters and I can only smell a slight amount of grassy and earthy hops. This beer smells like a mix between a Hefeweizen and an American Pale Wheat Ale.

T- The taste follows the nose nicely and is pretty similar. I get a lot of those bready flavors from the malts that have just the right amount of sweetness to them. Just like in the aroma the bananas are the most prominent flavor and they are followed by that signature clove spice that I was afraid it wasn't going to come through but somehow it skipped the aroma but showed up in the flavor. The fruity esters from the yeast are nice and I feel like that the lemon zest sticks out the most. There was a very slight sour and bitter aftertaste that was very subdued but worked nicely with this brew.

M- Smooth, crisp, medium light bodied and a good amount of carbonation.

Overall I thought this was a good Hefeweizen. This beer doesn't seem like a true Hefeweizen to me, it is more like a hybrid of that and an American Pale Wheat ale, it had the banana and clove flavors from a Hefeweizen and the citrus and mouthfeel of a American Pale Wheat Ale. I liked the combination of the two styles and I won't deduct any points for it. I thought the flavors could have stuck out a little more but to me the best thing about this beer was it's drinkability, it went down really smooth and it really hit the spot after playing 18 holes of disc golf on a nice sunny Sunday afternoon, this beer makes for a great summer first quencher. Usually I go for Oberon on a day like this, but I felt the need to switch things up (since I have been drinking more then my fair share of Oberon) and I am glad I did. I could see buying a six pack of this for BBQing or playing disc golf but I really can't see it becoming one of my standbys. If your a fan of wheat beers give this one a try, it's a nice refreshing brew. I guess I need to go back to the store and see what other Sierra Nevada beers I have overlooked.
Jun 13, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of Brainsurgerystudio86
Reviewed by Brainsurgerystudio86

5/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I’ve been saying (& will continue to say) for many years that Kellerweis is, without question, one of the best American examples of a traditional German Hefeweizen that has ever existed. It’s unfortunate that this is no longer available in packaged form. However, if you are lucky enough, you may be able to find it on draft exclusively at either of the brewery locations.
Feb 22, 2024
 
Rated: 4 by ctbeerman1 from Connecticut

Sep 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.44 by Beergod420 from Michigan

Feb 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by heymikew from California

Jan 22, 2022
 
Rated: 4.15 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Oct 13, 2021
 
Rated: 4.04 by Taenim from Maine

Sep 06, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jul 19, 2021
 
Rated: 2.7 by Dentist666 from Russian Federation

Jun 20, 2021
Photo of Elemental19xx
Reviewed by Elemental19xx from Illinois

3.87/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I think their label got it right on the nose "Our Bavarian-style wheat beer is complex with flavors reminiscent of banana bread and spicy clove. This hazy-golden beer glows with suspended yeast, creating a velvety texture and refreshing finish." This is one of the few beers where the label is spot on. Very much so enjoy the banana bread flavor going on, as well as the very smooth finish.
Jun 11, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Rerate, 355 ml bottle, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. I turned the bottle upside down before opening. Hazy yellow colour, small white head of poor retention. The aroma has notes of citrus, and less pronounced notes of cloves and banana. There are also some less pleasant hints of solvent. The flavour is also citrussy, with moderate notes of banana and cloves. Fizzy mouthfeel.

Original rating: 355 ml bottle, at Peter Gift, Aarhus, Denmark. Deep golden colour, no head at all in the shiny glass, probably due to the pub’s ignorant use of rinse aid / rinse agent. The aroma and flavour have some of the typical notes of a hefeweizen (banana and cloves), but this beer was far from the best h.w. I’ve had (and I love hefeweizens). Fizzy mouthfeel.
May 10, 2021
Photo of TommyG22
Rated by TommyG22 from Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Very good American Hefeweisse.
Apr 10, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by hester7 from Texas

Mar 05, 2021
 
Rated: 3.61 by mattjp03 from Alabama

Mar 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by mikerieder from South Dakota

Feb 28, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Chipwells from Georgia

Feb 05, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by Pisshhead from Ireland

Oct 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Samnem from Pennsylvania

Sep 28, 2020
Photo of Nvrmind16
Reviewed by Nvrmind16 from California

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
As white beers go this is a good one. A summertime treat with diverse flavor notes, a great showing by Sierra Nevada who is more known for their IPA,s
Jul 09, 2020
Kellerweis from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 4180 ratings