Inexpensive Imported Wheat Beers

I picked up Paulaner in 12-packs at some time in the not-so-distant past. Think it was like $16 or so.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/124/1256/

I personally don't like it as much as the Weihenstephaner (although that particular beer is in the running for my favorite regardless of style), but it's about a third the price if you can find it in 12-packs. Maybe give that a shot.

 

Hacker Pschorr, Franziskaner, Hofbrau, and Paulaner all seem to be in the same price range around here -- and usually the budget buys.

Now I know you said you weren't interested in American "Wheat" beers, but SN's Kellerweis and Gordon Biersch's Hefeweizen are both brewed as Bavarian style Weizens, not "Pale Wheat Ales," and they're both worth checking out -- G-B's probably being priced the best.

 

I can get a case of Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier for in the low $30's in some stores here in NJ. No need to look elsewhere;-)

 

Although not an import I would have said yuengling summer wheat but I think they do not distribute to Oregon. It was good but too much of a banana/ bubblegum bomb to me. I can appreciate it but not my style. Unibroue from Canada has Blanche de Chambly which to me was much like a Hefeweizen not a wit but the boundaries are slim anyways.

 

Where in jersey do you live?

 

Weihenstephaner Vitus
Ayinger Weizenbock
Julius Echter Hefeweisen

 

I'd be curious to know what you are paying for Weihenstephaner and how much more it is than your local craft beers that makes you consider it expensive. Locally it's priced the same or a little less than most local craft beer and the same is true for the other hefe imports. Not calling you out for your spending habits just trying to understand your retail market as it sounds very different from my own.

You should be able to find domestic hefeweizens--and I mean hefeweizens in the German vein rather than American--from Oregon and if not Oregon than California or Seattle. Gordon Biersch almost certainly distributes their hefe into your area. It's not a bad hefe at all.

 

3-4$ wienstephaner vitus 500ml is a winner

 

Unibroue's Blanche de Chambly is a good wheat beer, although might be pricey compared to Paulaner Hefeweizen. Hofbrau would be another option that shouldn't be too bad.

 

Franziskaner is good and available in 12 or 16.9 oz. In PA I can usually find it for under 30 per case of 12's or about 38 for a case of 16.9's. Always around 9 dollars per six pack, cheers!

 

Another vote for Hacker Pschorr, should be available & reasonably priced.

 

Weihenstephaner hefeweizen is usually very reasonable priced and is a world class beer.

 

You can't beat the offerings of Weihenstephaner.....namely their Hefeweissbier!! Delicioso! Although you are looking for something else

 

All of the ones from greater Munich should be good. I'd do a price comparison of Paulaner, Erdinger, Hacker-Pschorr, Franziskaner, Weihenstephaner, Hofbrau, Ayinger, Kloster Andechs, Konig Ludwig, and Schneider. Depending on your stores, any of them could also be priced lower than the others.
In terms of flavor profile, Erdinger has the least amount of fruit esters. Schneider and Ayinger tend to be more earthy. Andechs is hoppy when fresh. The others tend to be more on the fruity (banana) side. Weihenstephaner and Hofbrau especially.

 

There´s a german hefe in a can called Oettinger, it´s awesome and very cheap here in Mexico. I don´t know if they sell it in the US. 2 dollars for a 500 ml can.

 

erdinger has such a different flavour profile,im not sure id recommend that one

 

Definitely. I tossed it on there just because some people only like that one, but I'm not a huge fan of most of their beers. There are so few esters going on in it, it's almost lager-like. I do think Pikantus is pretty good, but it's more like a normal bock than anything else.

 

Good suggestions here. As an alternative to Weihenstephaner, I think I've liked Hacker Pschorr most. However, for me, Weihenstephaner Hefe is so good that I don't really look anywhere else.

 

i like their urweisse but their regulars are too pilsner-esque for me.
not that i dont like pilsners,i just dont want my hefes taste like one