El Jefe Weizen Ale | Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub
Brewed by:
Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub
Washington, United States | website
Style: Hefeweizen
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by cvschaller on 03-12-2005
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 52 | Ratings: 103
Reviews by kickerofelves:
4.25/5 rDev +19%
kickerofelves, Apr 15, 2012
More User Reviews:
4/5 rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue III:
Pours out a hazy golden-orange brew, head retention is par for the style. Aromas of green bananas, pear juice and faint lime are mixed with an underlying breadiness and chalky yeast. Very smooth with a semi-chewy medium body. Lots of wheat and yeast on the tongue, hops and herbal phenolics drop a substantial smack of bitterness on the palate with a long linger. Light on the fruity esters with suggestions of pear, banana and kiwi. Hint of bubblegum in the middle right when the maltiness rises with some sweetness and breadiness. Finishes a little dry with lots of lingering flavor.
Impressive, this tastes like a fresh German Hefeweizen, fresh meaning right from the source and not shipped from another continent. Kudos to Hale's for getting this style right!
★ 814 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue III:
Pours out a hazy golden-orange brew, head retention is par for the style. Aromas of green bananas, pear juice and faint lime are mixed with an underlying breadiness and chalky yeast. Very smooth with a semi-chewy medium body. Lots of wheat and yeast on the tongue, hops and herbal phenolics drop a substantial smack of bitterness on the palate with a long linger. Light on the fruity esters with suggestions of pear, banana and kiwi. Hint of bubblegum in the middle right when the maltiness rises with some sweetness and breadiness. Finishes a little dry with lots of lingering flavor.
Impressive, this tastes like a fresh German Hefeweizen, fresh meaning right from the source and not shipped from another continent. Kudos to Hale's for getting this style right!
★ 814 characters
2.98/5 rDev -16.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A solid effort, but this does not come close to Franziskaner or even Paulaner. Pours hazy gold with a puffy white head. Good aroma of bananas and candied sugar, with some wheat. The taste is dominated by the wheat and yeast, but fades towards the back with the sweetness taking over. Enjoyable and worth a try, but you'll end up wanting to drop the same amount of money on a better beer next time.
★ 397 characters
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A solid effort, but this does not come close to Franziskaner or even Paulaner. Pours hazy gold with a puffy white head. Good aroma of bananas and candied sugar, with some wheat. The taste is dominated by the wheat and yeast, but fades towards the back with the sweetness taking over. Enjoyable and worth a try, but you'll end up wanting to drop the same amount of money on a better beer next time.
★ 397 characters
3.46/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.8/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.73/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.9/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle poured into pint glass. Pale yellow and fairly hazy. Medium thick white head forms nicely.
Traditional yeasty citrus-wheat aroma. Big bubbles float up through the beer.
Flavor is dead on for an American/German-style hefeweiss. Very lemony/citrusy. Good wheat flavor, not just for show, and fresh. Moderate bitterness. A good bit of clove. The only fault I can find with this beer is that the lemon flavor is a little strong...I wonder if there's something added.
I should note that my bottle had a bunch of sediment firmly in the bottom -- agitating it produced a much cloudier pour with no damage to the flavor, while reducing the carbonation nicely.
Having moved to Seattle from Boston this could totally challenge UFO as my every day drinking hefeweiss.
★ 773 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
22oz bottle poured into pint glass. Pale yellow and fairly hazy. Medium thick white head forms nicely.
Traditional yeasty citrus-wheat aroma. Big bubbles float up through the beer.
Flavor is dead on for an American/German-style hefeweiss. Very lemony/citrusy. Good wheat flavor, not just for show, and fresh. Moderate bitterness. A good bit of clove. The only fault I can find with this beer is that the lemon flavor is a little strong...I wonder if there's something added.
I should note that my bottle had a bunch of sediment firmly in the bottom -- agitating it produced a much cloudier pour with no damage to the flavor, while reducing the carbonation nicely.
Having moved to Seattle from Boston this could totally challenge UFO as my every day drinking hefeweiss.
★ 773 characters
3.85/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hale's El Jefe pours a clearer than might be expected hefe. It's hazy - even quite hazy - but not cloudy. You really need to stir up that yeast! And, once it's in there it helps round the flavor. Golden in color. Bright-white frothy head. Retention should be better. Lacing could be better. The nose is phenolic, but plastic-like rather than banana-like. Lots of fruit. Peach. Green banana. Apple. Dull plum. Interesting. In the mouth it's light-medium in body with a crisp effervescence. The flavor shows some more of the yeasty phenolic character, but otherwise it's clean. Basic. Wheatish malt. Lots of yeasty fruitiness. Just lightly sweet. Well-balanced. Finishes short and dry. Not too phenolic. A decent American weizen.
★ 727 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hale's El Jefe pours a clearer than might be expected hefe. It's hazy - even quite hazy - but not cloudy. You really need to stir up that yeast! And, once it's in there it helps round the flavor. Golden in color. Bright-white frothy head. Retention should be better. Lacing could be better. The nose is phenolic, but plastic-like rather than banana-like. Lots of fruit. Peach. Green banana. Apple. Dull plum. Interesting. In the mouth it's light-medium in body with a crisp effervescence. The flavor shows some more of the yeasty phenolic character, but otherwise it's clean. Basic. Wheatish malt. Lots of yeasty fruitiness. Just lightly sweet. Well-balanced. Finishes short and dry. Not too phenolic. A decent American weizen.
★ 727 characters
3.36/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.8/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours an effervescent bronze with 4+ fingers pillowy sand-colored head. Stays effervescent, below average head retention & average lacing
S: Slight phenolic & pepper notes
T: Clovey & fruitty up front. Lemons, bananas, grassyness & pepper are all present as this warms. Finishes with pineapple, honey, lemony hops & a little grainyness
MF: Spritzy, somewhat soft with medium body.
Drinks pretty easy, good take on the style
★ 427 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours an effervescent bronze with 4+ fingers pillowy sand-colored head. Stays effervescent, below average head retention & average lacing
S: Slight phenolic & pepper notes
T: Clovey & fruitty up front. Lemons, bananas, grassyness & pepper are all present as this warms. Finishes with pineapple, honey, lemony hops & a little grainyness
MF: Spritzy, somewhat soft with medium body.
Drinks pretty easy, good take on the style
★ 427 characters
4.22/5 rDev +18.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a can into a stein. Hazy yellow with a tenacious dense head of foam. Wonderful aroma of yeast sweetness and hints of citrus. Slightly astringent and quite effervescent. Peppery, a little bit of citrus. This is a really nice hefeweizen!
★ 246 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a can into a stein. Hazy yellow with a tenacious dense head of foam. Wonderful aroma of yeast sweetness and hints of citrus. Slightly astringent and quite effervescent. Peppery, a little bit of citrus. This is a really nice hefeweizen!
★ 246 characters
2.6/5 rDev -27.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
22 oz bomber w/ no bottled on or best before date.
Hazy golden straw, smallish head for a hefe, only two fingers high and rapidly dissipating.
Aroma is mildly banana and very light clove.
Flavor is mostly lemony with a slight spice finish.
I bought this because el jefe is my nickname, that's what I get for going for the gimmick. Probably wouldn't buy again.
★ 373 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
22 oz bomber w/ no bottled on or best before date.
Hazy golden straw, smallish head for a hefe, only two fingers high and rapidly dissipating.
Aroma is mildly banana and very light clove.
Flavor is mostly lemony with a slight spice finish.
I bought this because el jefe is my nickname, that's what I get for going for the gimmick. Probably wouldn't buy again.
★ 373 characters
2.5/5 rDev -30%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
22oz bottle into 23oz Weizen glass. First bottle of this type for a Hefeweizen.
Pours a cloudy orange-yellow hue with an almost non-existant head. All that's there is a thin rim along the glass.
Just a touch of banana and clove, along with a bit of citrusy aromas. Very light.
A little more clove and banana in the flavor, and like the aroma, just a touch of citrus. Lighter bodied with high carbonation.
This one just wasn't impressive to me. It seemed to light, almost watered down. No horrible flavors, but just boring.
★ 528 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
22oz bottle into 23oz Weizen glass. First bottle of this type for a Hefeweizen.
Pours a cloudy orange-yellow hue with an almost non-existant head. All that's there is a thin rim along the glass.
Just a touch of banana and clove, along with a bit of citrusy aromas. Very light.
A little more clove and banana in the flavor, and like the aroma, just a touch of citrus. Lighter bodied with high carbonation.
This one just wasn't impressive to me. It seemed to light, almost watered down. No horrible flavors, but just boring.
★ 528 characters
3.4/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance- Reasonably cloudy gold/yellow with a decent, but not great white head. Head settles out VERY quickly, leaving no lace.
Aroma- Good, clean, failry sour aroma. Smells of fresh lemons. Not much in the way of banana or clove. Smells very tart. Hmmm...
Taste- Tastes fare more interesting than it smells. Fairly sour and tart with a bite at the back of the throat. Lots of green apple in the aft-taste. Hint of banana and clove. Not as much as some hefes. Kind of spicey for a hefe, but it's not unpleasant. Missing some things I expect in a hefe, but it's interesting enough to where I wouldn't mind trying another one.
Mouthfeel- Medium body for hefe, but not as chewy as you might expect. Good carbonation level. Nice CO2 bite.
Drinkability- Very refreshing. Still lacks something I expect in a hefe, including the clove and banana. But I would definately give this a whirl.
★ 896 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appearance- Reasonably cloudy gold/yellow with a decent, but not great white head. Head settles out VERY quickly, leaving no lace.
Aroma- Good, clean, failry sour aroma. Smells of fresh lemons. Not much in the way of banana or clove. Smells very tart. Hmmm...
Taste- Tastes fare more interesting than it smells. Fairly sour and tart with a bite at the back of the throat. Lots of green apple in the aft-taste. Hint of banana and clove. Not as much as some hefes. Kind of spicey for a hefe, but it's not unpleasant. Missing some things I expect in a hefe, but it's interesting enough to where I wouldn't mind trying another one.
Mouthfeel- Medium body for hefe, but not as chewy as you might expect. Good carbonation level. Nice CO2 bite.
Drinkability- Very refreshing. Still lacks something I expect in a hefe, including the clove and banana. But I would definately give this a whirl.
★ 896 characters
3.71/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a weizen glass. Pours a medium straw amber with light gold notes with a thin white head that dissipates to patches. Aroma of wheat, mild citrus and banana and clove. Flavor follows with semi-sweet wheat, mildly bready and light banana and clove, developing more lemon citrus before a mild wheat, slightly tart finish. Light bodied with active carbonation. A good domestic take on a hefeweizen with a classic balance of flavors, but a bit on the light side; I was left wanting a bit more robustness in the pleasant flavors. The light touch made the slight tartness a bit more noticeable than it should have been. Still a good, enjoyable light hefe.
★ 659 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Poured into a weizen glass. Pours a medium straw amber with light gold notes with a thin white head that dissipates to patches. Aroma of wheat, mild citrus and banana and clove. Flavor follows with semi-sweet wheat, mildly bready and light banana and clove, developing more lemon citrus before a mild wheat, slightly tart finish. Light bodied with active carbonation. A good domestic take on a hefeweizen with a classic balance of flavors, but a bit on the light side; I was left wanting a bit more robustness in the pleasant flavors. The light touch made the slight tartness a bit more noticeable than it should have been. Still a good, enjoyable light hefe.
★ 659 characters
El Jefe Weizen Ale from Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub
3.57
out of 5
based on 103 ratings.