Fire Station 5 Hook & Ladder Hefeweisen

Brewed by Portland Brewing Company (Pyramid)
Style: Wheat Ale
Portland, Oregon USA

Stu Stuart of Belgian Beer Me! told me not to get too hung up on the particular style of a beer. I believe it to be good advice. If the label states it to be a porter but it is really more like a stout, and I thoroughly enjoy it, then does it really matter that the label states that it is a porter? Probably not. That is one of the problems with Fire Station 5’s Fire Hydrant Hefeweisen, however. The term "hefeweisen" conjures up an image, an aroma, and a flavor. I expect it to be unfiltered and hazy, with notes of both wheat and citrus. The pour delivers an ale that is mostly clear. The bottle claims that it is unfiltered, but it appears to be thoroughly, even meticulously, filtered. The body is clear yellow, capped by a large white head for a few brief moments. There is almost no lacing to speak of. The aroma and flavor are both of wheat and lemon. The flavor also has a bit of graham cracker hidden within. Then, pulses of alcohol and metal unexpectedly punctuate the flavor at irregular intervals. This is completely different from other hefeweisens I have had. It was definitely not what I expected. The bottled claims it to be a hefeweisen and RateBeer claims it to be a wheat ale. I claim it to be neither. My recommendation it to pass on this one.

Pours from 12 oz bottle somewhat hazy yellow, forming little to no foamy head. Bottle says "Fire Hydrant Hefeweisen", Utica NY. Aroma of Spices and such. Flavour was of hops, wheat and bananas. Minimal carbonation, with a floral ending. Overall an OK hefe (even though its technically wheat ale), but not what I consider top notch.

Bottle says brewed in Ukiah, CA. From a 12 oz bottle, poured a hazy yellow with a fizzy white head and almost no lacing. Nose of grains and citrus hops. Medium mouthfeel. Flavor is mild and of wheat and light hops. Not much finish.

Golden cloudy pour with a fizzy white head. Yeast and grain dominate the rather weak aroma, with a touch of hops and citrus. Flavor is really similar to the aroma. Medium body, and not much finish. Not bad for a 6 buck 6 pack.

Bottle. Pours aslightly hazy golden with a small white head. Aroma of wheat and yeast. Taste is the same as aroma. Medium thin mouthfeel with a mild amount of bitterness. Not bad.

The aroma is metallic with wheat, yeast, lemon, and hops. (Oddly it kind of smells like a gym.) The appearance is hazy amber with a small head. The flavor is like the aroma and not what I expect from a hefe. The palate is thin. I can drink this but I am not going for more.

Bottle... Poured an unfiltered orange with a beige head that faded quickly. Aroma of grains and citrus hops. Lots of carbonation with flavors of estery fruit and lemon, wheat, and some hops. Finish of spices and citrus.

Pours a four finger off-white head that fades slowly to a thin layer leaving a little lace. Cloudy amber color. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Yeasty lemon nose. Flavor is wheat, yeast and lemon with a lemon finish. $1.25 for a 12oz bottle from John’s Marketplace Portland, OR.