Denisons Weissbier

Brewed by Denison’s Brewing Company
Style: German Hefeweizen
Toronto, Canada

On tap at Volo. I was quite surprised by this one. Orangeish-yellow pale colour. Smell was sweet and reminiscient of banana peel. Flavour was immediately of bananas, cloves and citrus with a very very light hint of lemon. Mouthfeel was medium and it had quite a nice body to it. I was surprised to find something so good for so cheap, and the ratings here confirm that I’m not the only one who thinks so. EDIT: Had a very bad pint recently at Volo that tasted like it was fermented in corn. Not sure if there are QC issues with the brewery, but I was just taken aback by the major change.

Pint at Volo. Radiant clouded gold body under an effusive white head. Aroma of banana and citrus, with the banana dominating. This comes through nicely in the body, with accents of citrus. Wow...this is what Hoegarden can only dream of.

Tap at Rhino. Hasn’t been the same since it left Black Oak. Yeasty citrus banana aroma. Pale, cloudy yellow with thick white head. This was a 4 and one of the best but must be still trying to work out cobwebs. You can tell from the taste that it isn’t consistent anymore, hit and miss. Taste still has the citrus banana yeast but not as intense as it used to be. Hope they get it right soon because I’m getting tired of waiting.

On tap at Castle on King. Orangey-yellow, quite cloudy. Appearance reminded me of pineapple juice. Small head. Strong aroma of slightly overripe bananas (it also reminds me a bit of a dental dam -- but perhaps I’ve encountered an exquisitely aromatic dental dam at some point during my youth.) Some clove is also present. The beer rolls through the mouth in a manner that is somehow notable. Orange peel is prevalent. I’m reminded of wild rice at the end of each sip. Sweet and loads of citrus. Banana also joins the flavour as it warms. Medium bodied. Leaves a faint, sodium-like aftertaste. "Bombastic" comes to mind. Bombastic and delicious.

Probably the best of this style I’ve had. Banana and lemon are very evident in the aroma and an overall smooth and fruity character makes this a very enjoyable tipple. Creamy head with sweet finish. Excellent!

Wow... this is a wheat beer that is almost chewy in its flavour. There is a depth and richness to this wheat that is not typically present in the style. The banana flavour is quite strong, but not the only one, with other elements such as cloves and other spices. This beer is equally appropriate in the winter or the summer, as it is refreshing, yet substantial. A classic.

Tap - Deep yellow with nice white head. Aroma of spices, wheat, banana, cloves. Same flavors. Sweet.... well balanced.

Michael Hancocks's Weizen is a perfect example of Bavarian Hefe-Weizen. The nose is filled with fresh banana and clove aromas, the middle is loaded with yeasty complexity and the lingering finish begs another sip (or pint!) A true classic!