Rock Bottom Chicago Walleye Hefeweizen

Draught at the brewpub
Cloudy blond color. Spicy aroma. Thin body, but quite good flavor, simple, with nice banana.

Draft… DLD’08… Cloudy, straw-colored ale with a small, creamy, white head. Good retention. The nose is comprised of smoke, overripe banana and clove along with only a rumor of some sort of mint. Medium-bodied with a skim-milk mouthfeel and dancing carbonation. Sweet, fruity and spicy… lightly tangy. Finishes spicy, fruity and sweet.

I arrived at the brewpub after a good walk on a hot Chicago day, so I knew I needed a hefeweizen. It did a good job at quenching my thirst as it cooled me off, but was somewhat of a disappointment. The head of the cloudy, pale yellow brew collapsed way too soon for the style. The aroma was basically banana and little else, the usual cloves and mild acidity not really very much there. The flavor, too, was mainly just banana and the finish was bitter like an orange pip. So I had a stout next.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=444>Rock Bottom Chicago, Chicago, IL<font size=-1>

Tap at RB Chicago: Hazy yellow hue with a small fizzy head and some lace. The nose detected some banana and lemon, but little spice or for that matter wheat. The taste resembles a weizen if you add about six ice cubes and let them melt in my Ayinger. Some yeast and spice, lemony twang but way too weak. The feel is lively and refreshing, it’s best attribute. More akin to a unfiltered American wheat than a hefeweizen. Why do I deserve this?

At RB Chicago: I’d have sworn this was a wit, but they said it was their HW ... Tart with light banana tinges and mild yeastiness. Hint of a spicy edge.