Your Hefeweizen

Yet, Michael Jackson wrote in his 1977 World Guide to Beer:

"Fruit juices and essences are not normally added to the South German brew (weizenbier), but a slice of lemon enhances the fruity tang."

and in 1982's The Pocket Guide To Beer:

"(Weizenbiers) are served in tall, narrow, vase-shaped glasses, usually with a slice of lemon, although some drinkers eschew this embellishment."

Many have suggested that adding the lemon is an American affection, meant to accompany the blander "American Wheat" style, but Jackson's quotes clearly pre-date the revival of wheat beer in the US (Anchor's Summer Ale in '84 being the first but Widmer's soon after).

How "traditional" it is/was is debatable, but Jackson must have seen it enough to make note of it. Even earlier, I recall US bars in the early 1970's that specialized in German draught and bottled beers adding lemon to the 500 ml bottled hefeweizens poured into weissbier glasses. Again, they must have gotten the idea somewhere.

 

Nothing. (not even blue moon)

 

He does NOT say anything about it being traditional in Germany. Actually states the opposite. It is not the norm, but in his experience, he believes it does enhance the beer.

 

A good hefe should stand on it's own IMO. The only time I get them to add enhance the flavor of say Blue Moon or something similiar.

 

Keep fruit or any other garnish out of my beer.

 

Neither did I: "How "traditional" it is/was is debatable..."

So then you read the second quote as:

"(Weizenbiers) are served in tall, narrow, vase-shaped glasses, for me usually with a slice of lemon, although some drinkers eschew this embellishment."

Here's another Jackson quote (this time from his 1993 The Beer Companion) in a section entitled The Lemon Question:

"When I first encountered South German wheat beers, they were often served with a slice of lemon floating in the glass."

Now, as I said in my first reply, whether it was ever prevalent enough ["often" in Jackson's experience in the 1970's] to be called "traditional" is debatable, but suggesting it was done by/for Jackson seems far-fetched. Clearly, lemon was being added to hefeweizen before Jackson wrote of it, in Germany and in the US, and before the creation of US "wheat beers".

 

A Radler is generally pilsner and lemonade, or sprite, not hefeweizen. I have seen a radler, only in Bayern, made with a weizen beer, but generally it is pilsner.
It is however, semi-common to see people order a bananenweizen, a hefeweizen with a little banana juice added, which, admittedly, is kind of tasty.

 

Can one explain how you juice a banana? LOL

 

"Hold the paradise." This goes for my bourbon drinks and my beer.

 

I like it both ways depending on my mood of the moment.
FYI-During my two years in Germany where the style originated, the majority of the many bars I visited served hefeweizen with the lemon.

 

I go to the opposite extreme and stick an entire banana into my hefes.

 

You are kinda fruity though. So you naturally add the fruit!
HA HA HA HA! Just playing.

I say Nada x3- Hate fruit in beer.

Cheers!

 

How about a whole stick of clove too? Whole peppercorns?

Cheers!

 

A good hefeweizen would be flavorful enough to not require any fruit wedge
Why do you think everybody puts a lime in their Corona?

 

I spent time in Bavaria last year and saw absolutely none of it. Of course you can get weissbier mixed with cola or banana, or lemon, but that is like a completely different drink.

 

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If it needs fruit to taste better I won't drink it unless its all a friend has in the fridge. Like my father always said "there's the beer you like and then there's free beer."

 

nothing

 

just the beer

 

No fruit! It's an affront to the beer!!