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Session Wheat
Full Sail Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Full Sail Brewing Company
- Oregon, United States
- Style:
- American Pale Wheat Beer
Ranked #162 - ABV:
- 5.4%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #26,255 - Avg:
- 3.56 | pDev: 9.27%
- Reviews:
- 18
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 09, 2022
- Added:
- Jan 07, 2016
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 12
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good


Notes:
Session Wheat premium American-style Hefeweizen. Session Wheat is medium bodied and refreshing, featuring aromas of malted wheat with a citrusy hop finish.
Session Wheat Premium Hefeweizen will be available year round in Session’s signature 11 oz. stubby bottles in 12-packs, 6-packs and on draft. 5.4% ABV, 24 IBUs. When it grains, it pours!
Session Wheat Premium Hefeweizen will be available year round in Session’s signature 11 oz. stubby bottles in 12-packs, 6-packs and on draft. 5.4% ABV, 24 IBUs. When it grains, it pours!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by odannyob from Colorado
4.12/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tastes good. Has a nice, warm glow to it. Goes pretty good w/Salt & Vinegar chips, too.
Feb 09, 2022Reviewed by MaltsOfGlory from Oregon
3.38/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.38/5 rDev -5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
11oz bottle
Pours a finger of white head into my hourglass. Retention is below average, fades within a minute or two. Initial lacing looks decent. Body is a cloudy orange, with very few bubbles coming up. Looks fine so far.
Nose is pleasant, inviting. A touch of wheat, ever so slightly bready, and a hint of orange. A little sweetness. Very strait forward, but that is to be expected with the style. Quite nice.
Flavor is somewhat minerally, with a light wheat flavor carrying the palate to the finish where a tiny bit of fruit esters pop up for a second. Overall a subtle flavor, again not too uncommon, but generally not my jam. Opens up a little bit as the beer warms, and the finish does do a little bit of work. Decent.
Carbonation is extremely high. Body is relatively light. Maybe just a touch of sweetness. Bitterness is nearly undetectable. Overall, mouthfeel is fine.
Drinkability is fine, it has barely enough flavor to keep me intrigued.
The appearance turned out pretty poor, zero lacing.
Overall it’s serviceable, but until it warms it’s on the lower end of the flavor spectrum for a style that is already in short supply of that.
Apr 07, 2020Pours a finger of white head into my hourglass. Retention is below average, fades within a minute or two. Initial lacing looks decent. Body is a cloudy orange, with very few bubbles coming up. Looks fine so far.
Nose is pleasant, inviting. A touch of wheat, ever so slightly bready, and a hint of orange. A little sweetness. Very strait forward, but that is to be expected with the style. Quite nice.
Flavor is somewhat minerally, with a light wheat flavor carrying the palate to the finish where a tiny bit of fruit esters pop up for a second. Overall a subtle flavor, again not too uncommon, but generally not my jam. Opens up a little bit as the beer warms, and the finish does do a little bit of work. Decent.
Carbonation is extremely high. Body is relatively light. Maybe just a touch of sweetness. Bitterness is nearly undetectable. Overall, mouthfeel is fine.
Drinkability is fine, it has barely enough flavor to keep me intrigued.
The appearance turned out pretty poor, zero lacing.
Overall it’s serviceable, but until it warms it’s on the lower end of the flavor spectrum for a style that is already in short supply of that.
Reviewed by hoptheology from California
3.73/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
11 oz stubby poured into a sierra nevada swirl glass. Nice slightly hazy honey color with a fluffy finger of white head.
Aroma reminds me of childhood. Bubble gum and nickels. Slight toasted dusty grain, crisp apple, and cotton candy. Slight creamed corn. Very sweet aroma.
Flavor starts with some slight grain and metal. Hints of peaches, apples, and bubble gum. Nice apricot essence, slight yeast pepper, slight alcohol. Ends on grain dust and slight metallic presence. This knocks it down a bit.
Feel is crisp and slightly burning, of course this is on somewhat an empty stomach. Lots of ethanol breaths coming forward. Dry finish.
Overall, I think this gets a worse rep than it deserves. It's an easy drinking wheat ale and for its normal price ($6.99/6 pack) it's properly priced.
Jul 05, 2018Aroma reminds me of childhood. Bubble gum and nickels. Slight toasted dusty grain, crisp apple, and cotton candy. Slight creamed corn. Very sweet aroma.
Flavor starts with some slight grain and metal. Hints of peaches, apples, and bubble gum. Nice apricot essence, slight yeast pepper, slight alcohol. Ends on grain dust and slight metallic presence. This knocks it down a bit.
Feel is crisp and slightly burning, of course this is on somewhat an empty stomach. Lots of ethanol breaths coming forward. Dry finish.
Overall, I think this gets a worse rep than it deserves. It's an easy drinking wheat ale and for its normal price ($6.99/6 pack) it's properly priced.
Reviewed by BeerBobber from Nevada
3.67/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.67/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a hazy gold with a foamy white head that goes away quickly.
Wheat on the nose with some citrus and some spice, like clove.
Definitely getting the wheat on the taste with a bit of citrus and some clove spice like in a Hefeweizen. Taste could fit for a Hefe light.
Mouth is fairly light and has a little wet on the finish.
Overall this is a pretty decent wheat beer with nothing really over the top yet nothing offensive as well. I like this offering from the Full Sail Session line. I think this would fit in nicely for a good summer beer.
Mar 17, 2017Wheat on the nose with some citrus and some spice, like clove.
Definitely getting the wheat on the taste with a bit of citrus and some clove spice like in a Hefeweizen. Taste could fit for a Hefe light.
Mouth is fairly light and has a little wet on the finish.
Overall this is a pretty decent wheat beer with nothing really over the top yet nothing offensive as well. I like this offering from the Full Sail Session line. I think this would fit in nicely for a good summer beer.
Reviewed by metter98 from New York
3.43/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.43/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
A: The beer is yellow in color—through the haze it looks like there is a little bit of carbonation and some fine particles floating in suspension. It poured with a quarter finger high bright white head.
S: Faint aromas of citrusy hops and wheat are present in the nose.
T: The taste has some flavors of wheat along with hints of citrusy hops. There is a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels a bit more than light-bodied and a little rough on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The smell and taste of this beer are a little muted, but otherwise it is very easy to drink and sessionable.
Serving type: bottle
Jan 14, 2017S: Faint aromas of citrusy hops and wheat are present in the nose.
T: The taste has some flavors of wheat along with hints of citrusy hops. There is a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels a bit more than light-bodied and a little rough on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The smell and taste of this beer are a little muted, but otherwise it is very easy to drink and sessionable.
Serving type: bottle
Reviewed by MinerBob from Oklahoma
2.85/5 rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2.85/5 rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Nothing special very light on flavor could be a session beer like Budweiser because of the lack of flavor. Smell and color are fine completely unremarkable.
Dec 23, 2016Reviewed by josiahschlender from Oregon
3.59/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.59/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Got this in a Session mixed pack. I've long had a soft spot for the original Session as one of the few really good and readily accessible lagers anywhere you can buy beer here in Oregon.
Poured from the stubby bottle into my snifter, color is an attractive rich gold. White head faded quickly and didn't leave any lace. Pretty clear (not cloudy like Widmer), with bubbly carbonation.
Smell is very pleasing yeasty and doughy malt notes. I just wish it was a little more robust; I feel like I have to take a big whiff to appreciate the aroma. Flavor is pleasing as well, with doughy malts and a hint of tartness and yeast. It finishes pretty clean and quick.
Personally I wish American wheat beers weren't called hefeweizen, since so few approach the complex nature of their German counterparts. This is an excellent change of pace in the Session line that will pleasingly quench your thirst and go well with lots of different foods. Just don't have any expectation of a big true Hef.
Nov 19, 2016Poured from the stubby bottle into my snifter, color is an attractive rich gold. White head faded quickly and didn't leave any lace. Pretty clear (not cloudy like Widmer), with bubbly carbonation.
Smell is very pleasing yeasty and doughy malt notes. I just wish it was a little more robust; I feel like I have to take a big whiff to appreciate the aroma. Flavor is pleasing as well, with doughy malts and a hint of tartness and yeast. It finishes pretty clean and quick.
Personally I wish American wheat beers weren't called hefeweizen, since so few approach the complex nature of their German counterparts. This is an excellent change of pace in the Session line that will pleasingly quench your thirst and go well with lots of different foods. Just don't have any expectation of a big true Hef.
Reviewed by Troy-Hawaii from Hawaii
3/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3/5 rDev -15.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Part of a variety 12-pack $13.88 Foodland
Hazy golden color
Medium-light mouthfeel
Medium carbonation
Slight fruity taste, really watery, not much going for it
Overall not that great. Plus they only give you 11 oz. instead of 12. Would not buy again.
Oct 20, 2016Hazy golden color
Medium-light mouthfeel
Medium carbonation
Slight fruity taste, really watery, not much going for it
Overall not that great. Plus they only give you 11 oz. instead of 12. Would not buy again.
Reviewed by TheSixthRing from California
3.57/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.57/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - Pours hazy and orange in color with an off-white, finger width head. Fair retention, resulting in a thin, broken layer of suds. No lacing.
Smell - Primarily wheat with lesser notes of citrus, spice and a hint of yeastiness.
Taste - Follows the nose. Wheat flavor upfront and throughout, while lesser notes of citrus (lemon and a touch of orange) and spice make up much of the rest of the flavor profile. Bready sweetness on the finish with lingering hop notes.
Mouthfeel - Light-to-medium in body with moderate, tingly carbonation. Smooth with a crisp finish.
Overall - I don't know why certain American breweries like to put Hefeweizen on a wheat beer that clearly isn't, but I do know it bugs me. This one is no exception. I like this beer. It's solid for what it is, but don't be jerks and put 'Premium Hefeweizen' on the label, because it's clearly not that. For that, I gotta knock it down some.
Oct 11, 2016Smell - Primarily wheat with lesser notes of citrus, spice and a hint of yeastiness.
Taste - Follows the nose. Wheat flavor upfront and throughout, while lesser notes of citrus (lemon and a touch of orange) and spice make up much of the rest of the flavor profile. Bready sweetness on the finish with lingering hop notes.
Mouthfeel - Light-to-medium in body with moderate, tingly carbonation. Smooth with a crisp finish.
Overall - I don't know why certain American breweries like to put Hefeweizen on a wheat beer that clearly isn't, but I do know it bugs me. This one is no exception. I like this beer. It's solid for what it is, but don't be jerks and put 'Premium Hefeweizen' on the label, because it's clearly not that. For that, I gotta knock it down some.
Reviewed by constantine_272 from Oregon
3.73/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.73/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had this on draft. Surprisingly really nice beer. A bit of rye spice on the nose. Lots of milky creamy wheat flavors with white French bread and a medium green vegetation hop finish. This wheat bucks the trend of tasting like lemonade right out of the glass; it only has a hint of citrus rind towards the end but that's it. I say, if you want a wheat beer to taste like lemon it should be up to the consumer to decide to put fruit in and these guys seemed to agree. The finish was slightly dry delivering a good clean finish. There weren't any great standout features, but the beer was surprisingly well crafted and balanced considering the slew of Full Sail Session variants in recent years. All the components worked well together and nothing seemed out of place. Nice job.
Aug 19, 2016Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.29/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
3.29/5 rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
11 oz bottle of Full Sail Session Wheat in Oregon.
Pours with a hazy lemon-gold body topped by fine white head that leaves lots of lacing stuck to the glass.
Hops, yeast, and light roasted grains in the aroma.
Moderate strength flavor is mild overall for style but relatively hoppy and bitter. More subtle banana component with negligible clove.
Jul 29, 2016Pours with a hazy lemon-gold body topped by fine white head that leaves lots of lacing stuck to the glass.
Hops, yeast, and light roasted grains in the aroma.
Moderate strength flavor is mild overall for style but relatively hoppy and bitter. More subtle banana component with negligible clove.
Reviewed by Skywave from Oklahoma
3.63/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.63/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours to a nice frothy permanent head and good lacing. Aroma is bready, lemony and slightly spicy. Flavor is grainy and fruity with a spicy aftertaste. Mouthfeel is light and a bit grainy. Overall a tasty American style cloudy wheat beer.
Jun 26, 2016Rated by ControlVolume from Colorado
3.75/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Boring wheat, but not bad, dont pour in yeast
Jun 16, 2016Reviewed by mmmbeer89 from New Mexico
3.57/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.57/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
This ranks up there with the better hefenweizen beers that I've tried, I'm not a big fan of the style but this one seems different than most of the others. It has a lighter taste.
Jun 08, 2016Reviewed by Spikester from Oregon
3.87/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Hazy gold with one finger of white head. Some rings of lace on the sides.
Smell is bread malts and a bit of yeast.
Taste is lightly sweet malt level with some of yeast. A slight bit of lemon Hops are just enough to balance.
Mouthfeel is light to medium and has just enough carbonation. The finish is lightly tart and medium dry.
Overall a nice wheat beer for summer time consumption. I bought this in a mix pack with three beers of four styles.
Apr 22, 2016Smell is bread malts and a bit of yeast.
Taste is lightly sweet malt level with some of yeast. A slight bit of lemon Hops are just enough to balance.
Mouthfeel is light to medium and has just enough carbonation. The finish is lightly tart and medium dry.
Overall a nice wheat beer for summer time consumption. I bought this in a mix pack with three beers of four styles.
Reviewed by alexrichman from Oregon
3.66/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.66/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
L) Pours a hazy gold, small head that quickly dissipates and doesn't leave much head or lacing.
S) Hints of spice with sourdough in the background
T) Nice spice on the front end resembling clove and black pepper. A bit of green apple followed by strong notes of bread/toast with a bit of tartness that carries through. A nice firm bitterness emerges on the backend.
F) Easy drinking, relatively low in carbonation, a bit thin but appropriate for the style.
O) This is a really nice, easy drinking hefeweizen. By far my favorite of Full Sail's session line. Will be picking up more of these throughout the summer.
Apr 13, 2016S) Hints of spice with sourdough in the background
T) Nice spice on the front end resembling clove and black pepper. A bit of green apple followed by strong notes of bread/toast with a bit of tartness that carries through. A nice firm bitterness emerges on the backend.
F) Easy drinking, relatively low in carbonation, a bit thin but appropriate for the style.
O) This is a really nice, easy drinking hefeweizen. By far my favorite of Full Sail's session line. Will be picking up more of these throughout the summer.
Reviewed by Zac88 from Oklahoma
3.69/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.69/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
I was surprised by how easy and smooth this beer is. Usually I'm not the biggest wheat beer drinker but I thought this beer was very easy on the wheat after bite. I would say this beer taste a little earthy, maybe a little lemon grass and just smooth wheat taste. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a light beer.
Apr 02, 2016Rated by Oregonbrewdude91 from Oregon
4.24/5 rDev +19.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev +19.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Love this stuff on a sunny day it's cheap refreshing and so tasty!!!! Buy some now
Mar 05, 2016Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California
3.34/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
3.34/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
Enjoy by: 4/23/16.
Pours a murky golden-orange with a foamy tan head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of wheat, grain, earth, grass, and slight yeast aromas. Taste is much the same with grain, earth, grass, and slight yeast flavors on the finish. There is a very mild amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is an above average beer that calls itself a hefeweizen, but I am not getting any of the fruit or spice qualities like you find in the German examples.
Serving type: bottle.
Feb 10, 2016Pours a murky golden-orange with a foamy tan head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of wheat, grain, earth, grass, and slight yeast aromas. Taste is much the same with grain, earth, grass, and slight yeast flavors on the finish. There is a very mild amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is an above average beer that calls itself a hefeweizen, but I am not getting any of the fruit or spice qualities like you find in the German examples.
Serving type: bottle.
Reviewed by Reidrover from Oregon
3.62/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.62/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
11 oz bottle from a 12 pack purchased from Fred Meyer in Beaverton. $11.99 Pours an attractive cloudy golden with a small bubbly white head. Aroma is weird..burnt corn..along with small mount of pepper and hay..but its nice. Taste similar to aromas but with a touch of banana cream pie and weak ginger. Palate stands out on this one..its quite well carbonated, not thin though and dry so the drinkability for me is very much there. A nice American Wheat Ale at a cracking price...another one they should have kept for early summer.” -
Jan 30, 2016Reviewed by tempest from New York
3.9/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a great example of the American pale wheat style. I'd put it on par with a flavorful blonde ale. it's a clean beer and the citrus hops are mild, letting the lightly toasted wheat flavor really define the beer. It reminds me of the wheat bread hit you get in a great German hefe before the clove and banana rolls in. The aroma is heavy on the yeast, but that's my only knock. A fine American wheat to drink in your backyard.
Jan 14, 2016
Session Wheat from Full Sail Brewing Company
Beer rating:
82 out of
100 with
32 ratings
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