American...Hefeweizen?

Yes you are. Try the beer before judging it or their advertising.

The Hefeweizen style isn't as "protected" as Kölsch is. Try labeling a US beer as a Kölsch and you'll hear all kinds of outcry about that style being unique to Cologne, Germany.

 

wanna get really upset? actually buy the beer. one of the reasons i started brewing was bc of how many times breweries ripped me off to the tune of $12-15 a six pack selling something that wasn't what it said.

 

The Kölsch protection is only applicable in the EU. In the US, you might hear "all kinds of outcry" from a tiny minority but, according to the TTB regulations, Kölsch is merely a name "...that still have geographic significance (qualifier required)".

Hefeweizen, OTOH, while having no geographic significance:

It's safe to say that even if it was given significance or added to the TTB class designations, "American Style Hefeweizen" would be good enough for the TTB.

 

It's definitely a marketing thing, which we Americans do so well. I do think they should have used "American style Hefeweizen" right on the label, which they do use in the product description. They essentially went right up to the line, jumped across it, and back. Germans are very particular about their specs. A German Hefeweizen uses German yeast, has at least 50% wheat and uses a Noble hops variety with little aroma. I've never had this particular beer and their description leaves a lot to be desired, but it indicates they used a hop that has a "citrusy" aroma/flavor profile. That's the "American" part. Since they had labeled a Hefeweizen, then you would expect to only get those bubble gum, banana and/or clove characteristics. Intentionally or not, in my opinion, they mis-labeled the beer - it is a German style Hefeweizen that they Americanized with American hops. That's my opinion based on the information I have. If it really bothers you that much, I suggest you write the brewery and politely ask some questions about the ingredients and description. I've done that many times and have been surprised how open most breweries are to answering legit questions. I'm sure it is a decent beer, but I'm sure you can find some local breweries that make a more authentic German style Hefe, either that or stick with the real thing. Cheers!

 

Wouldn't odell easy street wheat be an example of an American hefeweizen? It's served with yeast, a clean american yeast. It features more hops than a German version, and American hops at that. It's what I would expect from a bees labeled as such.

 

Chris, as you already know my homebrewed beers are indeed bottle conditioned.

Are you of the opinion that a kegged version of Weihhenstephaner is not a Hefeweizen?

Cheers!

 

I said "bottle conditioned or something equivalent." A kegged Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen is a Hefeweizen and a kegged Weihenstephaner Kristallweizen is not a Hefeweizen despite the two beers being extremely close. I realize most people on BeerAdvocate normally wouldn't view beer styles this way in the big picture. While I believe what I said above, I also believe that a Hefeweizen is at its heart a bottled beer style even if it isn't a requirement. The bit in my post that you removed from the quote was important in that it illustrates the inescapable change of beer styles.

 

On that we can agree!

Cheers!

 

If I see a statement like, "our interpretation of a.... beer" then I thank them and run the other way. Even the phraseology of "xyz-style" sends out a huge warning signal.

On Hefeweizen, I will share a short story. I was at Firestone Walker in Buellton, Calif., and the waitress was having trouble talking about the beers on tap, so she excused herself and returned with one of the brewers who also tended bar. I ordered a beer and about ten minutes later he returned with a .3L Hefeweizen also poured in a Hefeweizen glass, and asked me to try it out. I went bananas over it, the best hefeweisss I've ever had outside of Germany. Somehow I drank two more of them that night. I left with a mini-growler (no more room in the cooler at that point). They loved the feedback and I loved the bier. Oh, he brought a couple of others over to sample as well.

 

Jack, that selectiveness seems to imply that you disagree with Weihenstephaner for not considering their Kristallweizen a Hefeweizen. Out of curiosity, is that the case?

 

Nope. Since the Kristallweizen is filtered to remove the yeast I do not consider that beer to be a Hefeweizen.

I was simply trying to stay 'focused' on the topic of Hefeweizen and packaging. Frankly I did not read "something equivalent" as pertaining to a kegged beer. I suppose that is a 'disconnect' between you and me?

FWIW I would consider a cask beer to be 'equivalent' to a bottle conditioned beer but that is a non-Hefeweizen topic (unless you have seen a Hefeweizen that was packaged via cask?).

Cheers!

P.S. For completeness I personally enjoy drinking draft Hefeweizen beer; no absolute need for these beers to be bottled (or canned) for my enjoyment of this beer style.

 

I can hardly believe that so much is made about the use of "hefeweizen" for a wheat beer with yeast -- just not the "right" yeast. Nothing (or almost nothing) to see here. Now about IPAs . . . .

 

I am more curios that someone recommended Full Sail. Every beer I’ve had from them is very mediocre.

 

The only Full Sail beers I have had were under the “Session” banner (in stubby bottles) and I would use the term “solid” to describe those brands.

Have you had any of their ‘specialty’ (or seasonal) beers? Do you consider those be “mediocre” as well?

Cheers!

 

FWIW, there's a pretty strict protocol for how to bottle condition a hefeweizen. it's not just bottling with some yeast in suspension.

 

I used to buy their core lineup when shopping at Trader Joe’s. Stuff like their classic ipa, Amber, etc. never had their session stuff. I have heard good things about their lager and black lager. I don’t really think about those beers when thinking about full sail. And when I say mediocre I am not saying they are bad but not a brewery I would recommend. I guess I need to check out their season beers…:cheers.

 

Well, FWIW I would characterize the beers I had as being 'solid'. Perhaps another way to phrase it: beer quality commensurate with the price (which was cheap for me).

But maybe not your 'cup of tea'?

Cheers!

 

That's what the OP was discussing.

https://fullsailbrewing.com/session_beers/session-wheat/

 

In contrast I have only had two of the Full Sail Session brands: Lager and Black Lager.

Cheers!

@GetMeAnIPA