Long Trail Hefeweizen

Brewed by Long Trail Brewery
Style: German Hefeweizen
Bridgewater Corners, Vermont USA

Enjoyed this one on draught at the brewery in Bridgewater Corners, VT, Pours to a hazy, yellow color, with a rocky head that fades, and a vibrant carbonation. The nose is a bit faint on this beer, with light aromas of citrus, pear, and hints of ripe banana. The palate is lean and tart, with some grainy, wheat malt flavor. This beer finishes with some tart wheat malt up front, then ends refreshing with some estery notes of citrus and pear. A nice, easy drinking, refreshing hefeweizen, but a bit of a dissapointment. There are much better domestic and German versions of hefeweizen out there. This beer is just a cut above average at best.

Pours a clear yellowish gold with a big white head, prior to the addition of sediment and yeast. With the bottle third of the bottle added and it’s accompanying yeast, it becomes the standard murky whitish orange to gold with a big white head. The nose is standard hefe, though the banana is really big, noticed it when first cracking this open. Wheaty aspects, and light apple-like acidity, hint of cloves. The mouthfeel is thin and slightly caustic. Not quite enough body, but still a bit fizzy. The flavor is better, but simple. Light acidity, over apples, wheat, and dominant, though not as much as in the nose, bananas. The flavor fills out a bunch with the addition of the yeast, covering up lemony tastes with a creamy though not particularly yeasty flavor. The finish is clean from the acidity, and a bit sweet. The bananas come back at the end in the aftertaste. A little grassy hops. Not a huge fan of the style, this is a bit watery, but really a thirst quencher.

The first thing I notice is bananas in the aroma, lots of bananas. Its yellow in color with a medium-big fluffy white head. Some other fruits in the aroma (especially citrus), a touch of vanilla and spice. The flavor is similar with bananas sticking out the most but more subdued than in the aroma. Its a shame I dislike bananas.

Pours a somewhat cloudy golden color with a puffy white head. Lemon and apple in the nose. Flavor was big on banana, with some citrus and spice. This would make a good summer beer, easy drinking and refreshing.

Draft @ Montana’s in Orchard Park. By far the worst hefe I’ve even had. No positive qualities besides being only $1.50 per pint. Some banana & citrus notes but lacking in body & over all quality

Pours a three finger white head that goes quickly to a thin layer leaving some lace. Cloudy amber color, yeast in bottle of bottle. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Sweet lemon nose. Starts sweet and lemony, hints of bubblegum at finish - now that’s different for a wheat. Misses the style with no wheat or yeast flavors, but it isn’t a bad beer. $1.50 for a 12oz bottle from Capital Convenience Concord, NH.

Bottle - Poured a hazy amber in color with a thin bright white head that faded to a very thin rim around the top of the beer. Aroma is quite strong of bananas, but not much of the classic "clove" mixed in. Smells somewhat artificial. Flavor is also strong of bananas without the bready/yeasty character traditional in this beer type. OK, but not my favorite...

(Bottle from Lou’s Beverage Barn) Pours a slightly yellowish light orange, cloudy.Very tall white foamy head. Nose is yeasty, sourish, citrus and spice. Mouthfeel is fairly smooth, has a bit of a bite. Sloppy spots of foamy lacing. Flavor is slightly sour with citrus and spice, a bit yeasty. Kind of tangy. Pretty good.