Suggestions for an all MN Hefe Blind Taster

My notes do not include a direct beer v beer color comparison.

I described the Fair State as "Hazy yellow / straw" color.

I described the Schell's as "A very pale orangish-gold, heavily carbonated, a bit hazy".

"Orangish-gold" sounds darker than "yellow / straw"!

Recall, I was comparing against the Summit BW box, and IIRC, the Summit was the darkest of the four I tasted.

(OK, so I'm not the greatest note taker when doing a comparison tasting... )

 

I don't recall specifically. but I do remember huge banana and clove aromas and flavors - what I would expect from a top shelf Hefe. The reason I was curious about batch variation was you comment about putting it in a bracket with Summit and I think we were both in agreement that Summit was average at best on their Hefe release this year.

I might just need to go back to TH to re-calibrate! And then head to Utepils.

 

Thanks for the Update, have not been to Utepils, that will be next very soon, Surprised at FS being #1, one of my favorite locals for brew , i thought the hefe was weak in smell and especially taste, also under carbonated, makes me think i will try another.

 

Does Schells employ a decoction in their Hefe?

 

@ZAP, you and I have always seemed to want the same things out of a hefe (lots of esters: banana, and clove). I've always agreed with you completely on the greatness of Schell's Hefe, and the late Harriet Wooden Weizen, but I've always wondered what you saw in Town Hall's hefe that I didn't. I've never thought it was a bad beer be any means, but I've never thought it deserved any praise either. It has always had some banana and clove esters, but they've never been as pronounced as I prefer. Plus the body was always thinner, and less chewy than what I want in the style.

For years I rarely ordered it. If I'd find myself wanting a lighter style beer while at Town Hall I'd order their really good Dortmunder instead of their okay hefe. I'd try it at least once every summer, but it was usually just one pint then onto something else. Oddly enough, in light of your recent experience, I've liked it much more the past two years than I have previously. I still wouldn't put it anywhere close to Schell's, but it seems fuller in flavor, aroma, and body than it used to be. I've actually been ordering it frequently this year.

 

They do not--I know they do a 3 step mash (ferulic acid rest, 62C, 72C, then mashout).

 

I just so happened to talk to a Fair State guy today. He said the hefeweizen was the first beer they brewed at their production brewery. The first batch was too heavily carbonated but other than tweaks to adjust carbonation, all batches should taste the same. I told him I thought there was a flavor difference from the recent cans I drank and the first ones of the season.

 

I talked with a Fair State rep during a tasting this week. I thought the Fair State Hefe was less flavorful and thin compared to Schell's and told him I missed that in the FS version. The FS rep (brewer?) said that he found the Schell's Hefe cloying and that FS made their version easier to drink for the summer.

I asked him why Fair State didn't print easy to read dates on their cans and he said there is a date pressure pounded into the bottom of the cans that only he could read as only the brewery really need to know dates. He then picked up a can looking for the indented date code and couldn't read it.

 

Lol. He sounds sort of like a doofus.

 

I agree. I love Schell's Hefe - one of my favorite beers. The Fair State Hefe I sampled was thin/watery but I bought some to give it another shot since it is in cans that I can take with me outdoors easily this weekend.

 

Hmmm. I bought a 4pk last night after all this talk about it being better this year and I could have sworn I saw a date on the bottom of the can. Haven't cracked it yet. It's suppose to hit 90 on Saturday so I'll report back!

 

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154787160462066

Wow, this is really cool!

 

I think you are dead-on. I have always thought Fair State's Hefe has been a poor example and have never understood the praise.