Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier

Brewed by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu (InBev)
Style: German Hefeweizen
Munich, Germany

Wow, I actually found an import that doesn’t taste like an import! Very smooth wheat beer. Great malt flavor that dominated.

Draft. Really a great hazy yellow-orange in color. Nice, tight head. Some lacing. Dense-looking. Aromas are banana and very light spice -- heavier on the yeast. Creamy on the palate. Lots of yeast again, with a fine complement of banana and apricot. Slightly thin on the finish.

Bottle at Frankfurt Airport (the only good thing about my flight interruption). Hazy blonde. Wheat, banana nose. Bitter and wheaty, slightly yeasty sherbert. Mouth is banana milkshake, some bitterness. Pretty watery end. Quenching and refreshing.

Very nice pour of golden brown and easy large head. Nice mouth feel, very carbonated and is b-a-n-a-n-a-s! Great beer.

Sweet sweaty aroma. Cloudy caramel colour with no head. wheaty yeasty with a hint of spice.fizzy. Not very nice at all would not buy it again.

Bottle at The Headkeeper (Greensburg). Pours a hazy yellow, fluffy white head. Aroma is wheat, malt and yeast. Flavor is more of the same. Nice beer to have with a good tapas meal.

Poured from a 500ml foil-topped bottle and served in a weizen glass. This hefe poured a hazy, darker golden hue with a thick head of fluffy off-white foam. Excellent retention throughout the glass. Some slippery lacing was left behind. The aroma of the beer consisted of fresh bananas, wheat, light citrus, and a light clove spiciness. The fruitiness took a back seat in the flavor. A healthy dose of spicy yeast and clove was followed up by mild notes of banana, creamy wheat, and a touch of orange and lemon zest. The mouthfeel was medium-bodied and softly carbonated. Very smooth and highly drinkable. A nice example of the style.

Definitely one of the better Hefe-Weizen beers. Nice aroma and taste of wheat and fruit. I would rank it towards the top but definitely would prefer a Weinstephaner.