Märican Biere Bought and Drunk...

Someone told me they feel Polaris tastes like ice blue hard candies. Now I can't escape that. Luckily it's not too strong. I don't know about Polaris being used in anything German, but it works in saisons. Funkwerks made a single-hop saison with polaris that I really enjoyed.

 

Have you tasted this beer? If so, what do you think about this beer?

Cheers!

 

Had this in 2014 in Bamberg.... -
SHIPA Polaris | Kehrwieder Kreativbrauerei

My notes say mint and menthol... hmmm... "...
Interesting but different; or is it different but interesting? Anyhow, prosit!!"

 

I saw this at my local store but was hesitant since I had never had anything from Lakefront before. Decided to buy a six-pack based on your recommendation and I am really impressed by the beer. American maibocks can be hit or miss; this one is definitely a hit. So, thanks!

 

FWIW -- I went back and updated my 2016 review, when this beer first came out, and bumped the score up a little. I think they were still tweaking the recipe back then, but now they seem to have it down. I just bought my third six-pack of the Lakefront last week.

 

I found a case of it yesterday in a tiny beer place. The box has a label with the date 14 2 18. It looks like a typical white beer in the glass, cloudy with a tall, very white head. I did not detect any yeast at the end of the pour. Typical, medium mouth feel for a Weihenstephan. I find it to be more bitter and less sweet than Hopfenweisse. A decent beer and good to see experimentation with a wheat.

Next weekend is Springtoberfest at Sierra Nevada in NC. I'm hoping they have it on draft. It's not on now.

Interesting to see the Freising bear on the box too....

 

So, finally had a chance to try the Braupakt... with all due respect to both breweries that I admire, this collaboration was not necessary. Overly bittered Weissbier is not a good thing, the long lingering aftertaste reminded me of poor American attempts at this style. Will never drink again.

Carry on.

 

As someone whose palate gets quickly stunted by over-bitter and lingering of badly balanced hop blends I was not effected this way by the Braupakt -- and yes, that surprised me.

 

Sorry - wanted to like it. Tasted like a pale ale with cara malts fermented with wheat beer yeast. Had dozens of these during the craft beer boom years from craft brewers wanting to also do a wheat beer and it tasted like it. My apologies to all offended but this was a poor execution IMO.

 

Only "wheat" beers I had during the Boom® had no resemblance to a Bavarian Wheat. I find this one really does. I honestly like the way SN & Weihenstephan balanced the Weizen yeast character with Pac Northwest hops without going overboard. I honestly expected what you say you tasted, but was pleasantly surprised.

Ah well, different strokes.

BTW (to all) -- since this beer was brewed in Germany, I put a link to my review over in the Bayernbiere Bought and Drunk thread.

 

Had my first Braupakt today.

I like it. My feelings fall somewhere in between @steveh and @einhorn's.

I'd prefer a straight up Weizen, but I enjoy what they did here. Not overly bitter/hoppy, Hefe yeast character smelled great up front. Tasted like a Hefeweizen with a hoppy finish that lingers for a while.

It's well done, but the hoppy finish is unwarranted in my opinion. Just a personal preference. The hops didn't interfere with the banana/clove notes at all. But they still felt slightly out of place, and a TAD too bitter and hoppy.

That being said, looking forward to having my other two bottles I picked up. For no other reason than that I don't get to have a "Weihenstephan" Hefeweizen this fresh very often.

Finally, @steveh, Summerfest is out. Having my first of the season, bottled 3/26. Less than a month old! And damn...

 

Wait... what?

I guess I jumped into this beer expecting something a little different from the usual Hefeweizen -- and I was surprised that it wasn't over-done in the usual "innovative" way -- at least to my palate. I was also surprised at how well the fruitiness of the hops balanced with the Weizen yeast. Just pretty tasty to me.

Now, would I exchange it for a traditional Hefeweizen if that's what I was craving? A definite no there. Still like true Bavarian Hefeweizen better, but I was impressed with the Braupakt.

Saw it here a week-and-a-half back -- picked some up last Thursday and been enjoying a few over the weekend. As good as it ever was.

 

Ha, yes, I sort of contradicted myself there didn't I?

I more or less meant exactly what you wrote above. That it wasn't overdone in the usual "innovative" way.

But I still felt it was a tad too hoppy. The hops lingered a bit too long in the finish, and showed up too quickly. As in, I got the typical Hefeweizen flavors, but those were quickly displaced by bitter and fruity notes. But it was far from an American hoppy wheat beer (for example, Lagunitas Lil' Sumpin'). And well done overall.

But I have only had one bottle, and didn't really take notes, going off of memory. I have two more to try. For what it's worth, I don't recall liking Hopfenweisse in the past.

 

Agree, my SN Summerfest batch is drinking great as well. Love this beer. Bottled 3/24 from Mills River. Hopefully, will see it in cans soon.

 

Braupakt just showed up here today. I'm going in with an open mind, but don't expect miracles. It took me years to warm up to Hopfenweisse and I wasn't a huge fan of their kristall weizenbock. Still, every now and then something like this can be good. New Glarus made some hoppy weizens that I enjoyed. I still wish they'd just send us Tradition instead. It annoys me how few dunkels make it stateside.

 

Chris, my prediction is that you will enjoy drinking Braupakt. This beer tastes more like a traditional Hefeweizen than a 'hopped up' Hefeweizen IMO. Yes, there are aspects of the American aroma hops there but IMO the brewers made judicious use of them so the hop aromas/flavors very much compliment the yeast derived flavors (i.e., banana & clove).

Cheers!