Wagner Valley Summer Sail Hefeweizen

Brewed by Wagner Valley Brewing Company
Style: German Hefeweizen
Lodi, New York USA

Opaque tan; slight clove notes. Fruity, with some barnyard in the aroma. Hint of acidity. Funky, unique, interesting. It is basically a German hefe, with low phenols, where there is some brettanomyces or related mutation in the US. It adds a fascinating dimension to a beer that would otherwise be an everyday beer. So while the infection/mutation is not entirely deliberate, the brewer had the good sense to keep the beer because the effect is very desirable.

The Lure:
A dessert-y herbal sprout (old cloves?) is muffled by sweet peaches and oranges which in turn are smothered by the power of restraint. A nearly headless being of a pale apricot color, attempting to hypnotize with its thousands of tiny, floating yeast particles.

The Festivities:
A yeast powder does not mingle with the stale, bloated banana sweetness. A hefty, sticky body, not helped one second by the low carbonation, awkwardly offers this obese fruity sweetness.

Transcendence:
I agree, a child’s first attempt at making Jell-O is fun to watch.

Rather clear golden colour for a hefeweizen! Nice white head, creamy and lacing. Rather strong cloves in aroma, overpowering, with maderized honeyish overtones. In mouth, not half bad, with bananas and cloves as expected, but rather thin in mouth. Actually, this bottle is more than a year old, and still decent.

Bottle. Pours a golden body with a white head. Wheat banana and some light spices. Citric with hints of copper and vegetational notes. Eh what a mess.

Thanks to my wife for carting this from NY for me. Orange-yellow with only a thin top. Banana creme essence, but the flavor also carries a bit of an odd funk to it. (#3479, 11/2008)

(Bottle) First off: Its a deep orange and a bavarian hefeweizen? Huge white chucks are sloshing around the glass. It poured nearly no hear and has no carbonation. Nose of bananas is not there - its more of an adjuct lemon. Flavour is slightly more to style though it is neither crisp nor refreshing. Its got more of a lemony, English ale that is weak on taste and strong on the water. Below average.

Pours a haT golden orange with a small buubly white head. Aroma of banana, clove, wheat and light citrus. Flavor of lemon, clove, light banana and some tart wheat.

Dark and hazy amber color with yeast in suspension and a thin head. Nice aroma of bananas and bubble gum. Weak flavor of bananas, maybe clove too. Very full and creamy body.