Hefeweiss
Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap at Kuhnhenn's brewery in Warren. Murky, murky straw-yellow in color, so full of yeasty haze that it's basically opaque. A foamy and cream white head settles nicely on top, leaving full sheets of lacing as it makes its way down the glass. An ugly duckling compared to the filtered brews out there, but beautiful in terms of hefeweizens; unfiltered and raw.

You kind of know what you're getting when you order a hefeweizen, right? At least to some degree. It's just a matter of how well each portion of it is executed, and how the proportions are laid out. Kuhnhenn's take on the classic German style has a pretty classic nose that leans to the sweet-ish side of things - good for me, as that's how I like my hefes.

Big time yeast aromas; bubblegum an sugar with clove just behind it. Plenty of fruity esters; sweet banana, pear, and a heavy, earthy undertone that plays off of everything. An easel of soft wheat contains everything; soft, dry, and sweet with and ending note of some very mild, musky and leafy hops.

Sweet banana fruits explode with the first sip, among other fruit esters, the second most notable being a lightly tart bout of pear skins. Lots and lots of wheat, yeasty bubblegum flavors, and a bit of clove and finishing lemon zest. There's a strong bready flavor that comes in about halfway through and details a beautiful "rotten banana bread" finish - one of the best aftertastes I've ever found in a hefe.

My biggest complaint is the mouth feel - it's quite watery and a little lackluster, leaving quite a bit to be desired. Hefeweizens are typically lighter beers, true, and this one is only 5% ABV, but the mouth is usually a bit creamier, thicker, and seemingly heavier, thanks to the wheat and unfiltered yeast combo... Why is that not the case, here?

Kuhnhenn never fails to impress me with their ability to provide a wide range of beer styles at their brewery while concurrently doing a great job with many of them. Hefeweizens can often be too similar, unless they have "that little something" that just stands out or works. Kuhnhenn does it here with a beautiful aftertaste. All in all, great beer with great drinkability.