Shiner Hefeweizen

Brewed by Spoetzl Brewery (Gambrinus Company)
Style: Wheat Ale
Shiner, Texas USA

Another half-hearted attempt by Shiner. Has the unfiltered body that isn’t offensive, however, doesn’t deliver like a true Hefe. The taste starts with more, like it’s going to bring it, but it falls on its face. Just like the lager. Barely tastes like a Hefe. Don’t come here if you like wheats or Hefeweizens, etc... you’ll be dissapointed.

Poured into a tall pilsner glass to appreciate fully. The snow-white head is fairly large.... This brew is noticeably cloudy and a golden, orangish-yellow color. Smells of orange peel and lemons. Very citrousy, but you can pick up a hint of yeast. Tastes of oranges, sweet malt, and a hint of lemon. Sitting by the pool on a hot summer day, you could drink these easily all afternoon and be refreshed with every sip.

Well, this is my second, and not because I drank the first one.... I actually found a dead tick in the bottle when I poured it into the glass. So down the drain it went! Hesitantly, I cracked open this bottle in hopes of a better offering.... this one without Lyme Disease attached. Pours with a great head and decent retention. Cloudy straw yellow, indicative of style. The nose is yeasty, with some wheat and vegetable in there as well. Flavor is somewhat disappointing from hereon. A bit of biscuit, some sort of hint at citrus, but the clove that the brewery touts is so hidden that it can only be noted in the finish, and that’s with a fresh palate. Not complex enough for me. It goes down well enough during warm days, but isn’t quite as crisp as I was hoping, and the lingering biscuity-hop wasn’t as well-received as I thought it might be. No banana, no real clove, no real citrus... only wheat, yeast... honest mediocrity in every way.

Glass, came with a lemon (was at a restaurant) Not much of an aroma over the lemon to be honest. However it looked great. Flavor was smooth yet very light for my taste, lemon left a mild citrus taste. Not bad, but not great either.

Bottle, admittedly warmer than ideal. Pours cloudy marigold with billowing fluffy head and vigorous carbonation. Impressive retention, yet poor lacing. Initial sniff is disappointing metallic and chlorine, but as the foam dissipates, aromas of wet wool, lemon/lime zest, spice, and sugar cookie dough come forward. Also vague scents of pinesol and wood smoke. Flavor is lemony tart, poolwater, horsey. Flabby palate, gritty texture. Citrus aftertaste. Totally inappropriate and off-style. Overall, the best I can say is that it’s not horrible.

Bottle @ D’s 6 packs, PGH, PA. Pours hazy yellow with white head. Aroma is malt, citrus, and spices. Flavor is wheat and citrus, but as my friend said when sipping it, "This tastes like cleaner."

From a bottle purchased at the Green Township "Krogers" - Pours a yellow , effervescent liquid with... wait... Where TF is the banana smell? The clove smell? Bleach! Tastewise... this is watery crap posing as a hefe... avoid it folks, unless you’re seriously looking for a lightweight lager posing as a hfeweizen!

For a quick and cheap take on the style, this one works. Not sure why it isn’t considered a hefe. Sure, it is weak in appearance (only slightly cloudy), mouthfeel (pretty thin for the style), and flavor (a little watered down, some bananas, but very low spicing), but it was enjoyable overall, rather refreshing. Aroma was weak, some citrus and grainy malts. Boring if you’re looking for a great hefe, but this was an ok beer, definitely not like an American Wheat.