Landbier Hefe Weisse
Privatbrauerei Sebastian Leidmann

From: World Wide Spirits, DE
Date: Best by 2014-01-15
Glass: Weihenstephan weizen glass

Leidmann's landbier hefweizen is an enjoyable take on the style, phenolic and yeast-forward, meaning that this was probably fermented at cooler temperatures and with plenty of speise. I enjoyed the beer, but the phenolic and yeast combination is not my favorite in a hefeweizen, as I opt for the sweeter, more bread-like, rich with banana ester variations. While certainly not the avatar of the style, if this were my locally available hefeweizen, I wouldn't hesitate ordering it.

Pours, a massive ~5cm tall head of white, smallish bubbles that yield a fairly frothy appearance. Retention is, as expected, excellent, the foam lasting several minutes in a slow decline to a 0.5cm cap atop the body for the beer for the duration of the drink. Lacing is good, with many large dots and lines clinging to the glass' walls. Body is a bright golden orange color, with light bringing out pale golden-yellow hues. Carbonation visible along the sides of a nearly opaque (90% opacity) body, high in number and activity.

Aroma is of substantial yeast contributing a bit of mustiness and mushroom character, fairly notable a nd sharp phenolic twang, some wheat and banana. Many hefeweizens take this approach, with a notable phenolic-yeast combination, which is enjoyable, but not my preferred set of scents in this style.

Overall flavor is of hearty yeast that contributes some mustiness and slight mushroom-like flavor, a notable phenolic spiciness and "twang," pleasant wheat malt, and ripe banana esters more in the background. Front of palate detects sweetness mixed with wheat, notable spicy phenolic twang, hearty yeast, bread, and light banana ester. Mid-palate tastes notable phenolic spicy twang, yeast, wheat, and light banana ester. Back of palate tastes spicy phenolics, wheat, yeast (musty, mushroom), with light banana ester. Aftertaste of surprising bread-like flavor and mild hop bitterness, with a bit of wheat and hints of phenolic spiciness.

Beer is medium to medium-light in body, with carbonation of medium intensity, resulting in a foamy (6/7) and smooth (1/7) mouthfeel that fits this beer well and is appropriate for the style. Closes semi-dry, with medium stickiness clinging to the palate and lips.