Bayhawk Hefe Weizen

Brewed by Bayhawk Ales
Style: German Hefeweizen
Irvine, California USA

Had this one on draught as one of the house brews at "Claim Jumpers" in Lombard, Illinois. Pale, hazy orangeish pour with a thick head, served with a lemon. VERY heavy citrus taste, and a bit light on the breadiness I like from other wheat beers, but other than that, this one wasn’t too bad, although it was my least favorite of the three I tried.

A nice mild hefeweizen, pretty light on the palate with significant citric tones. Another worthy effort but just a little light in body.

Bottle (Foothill hefeweizen): Hazy golden hue with lasting fizzy white head and minimal lacing. The aroma has notes of banana, lemon, clove, musty yeast and light bitter hops. The taste starts with a twangy citric tone with a minor hint of spice and bitters on the finish. The feel is lively and clean, thin-bodied. Not a bad American version but could have used less citrus and more spice.

Explodes out of bottle with a 5+ finger white head that fades quickly leaving no lace. Cloudy amber color. Medium bodied and medium-strong carbonation. Nose is faint wheat. Starts sweet/sour cider flavor and finishes smooth but sour with traces of yeast. $3.99 for a 22oz bottle from Liquorama Upland, Ca.

On draught at Old Baldy in Upland, CA. The beer is a hazy yellowish color with a medium thin white head that diminishes fairly quick. Thin rings of lacing on the glass. Mild wheat aroma with touches of fruit and spice. Medium, clean body with flavors of sweet fruit and wheat, plus a touch of spice. The finish is fruity with a short wheaty aftertaste. Unmemorable overall.

Cloudy orange color with a small white head. Definite strong citrus flavor, a little too strong. Light bodied and refreshing however. Not bad.

On tap under the Primo Blue Hawaiian moniker at the Yardhouse in Pasadena. Fairly faint herbal and mild banana aroma in what otherwise was closer to a pale lager. Unfortunatley the flsvors didn’t lend any surprises - seemed like a watered down hefe or American wheat. Thin texture and mildly funky finish. Drinkable but not a good representation of the style.

On tap @ Claim Jumpers in La Mesa: Served with a wedge of lemon which I wasn’t even given an option if I wanted one or not but it did help make this beer a tad bit more drinkable. Aroma is faint and simple with minimum amount of grains for smell. Appearance is a cloudy glowing yellow and thin white creamy head. The flavor was empty and lacked real substance to qualify this beer as a German hefe but I quickly quaffed it down to get it off my table and not let it ruin the rest of my dinner.