Water Street Bavarian Weiss

Brewed by Water Street Brewery
Style: German Hefeweizen
Delafield, Wisconsin USA

Pours a semi cloudy golden colour with a small white head. Lighter then one would expect, still maintains a generous amount of wheat flavor and a distinct banana taste. Very refreshing and citrusy, finishes crisp with plenty of citrus fruit.

On tap at the Milwaukee location, slightly hazy gold hue, with a small head, nice yeasty, bananaish, cinnamon roll. nose, with some good clove spicy accent, with a fruity faint ripe apple note, and some honeyed pale and wheat malt aromas follow through on a medium-bodied palate with a yeasty, fruity banana purée character, with a wheaty, sweet pale malt note, with some spicy accents of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, with an apple struddel flavor, leading towards a fruity, sweet malty, acidic finish.

I was hardly blown away by this beer, but it seemed to meet the requirements for a not-bad hefeweizen - it was a cloudy dark yellow color, it was heavily spiced (coriander/clove) with some minor backing notes of fruitiness, it had a substantial head, and it was pretty drinkable. Appearance was not bad, although I wish it was served in a beer-clean glass (had it on-tap at a Trattoria at Oakland & Locust in the Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee), although as I noted above the head was a bit strange looking, like merange on a lemon pie. Aroma was definitely hefeweizen-like, with spice dominating. Flavor was very light with more spice and some acidic character. Minimal fruitiness. This beer was fairly drinkable, and not bad, but hardly among my favorites. Nonetheless, I would weakly recommend this beer.

On draught at the brewery/brewpub in Delafield, Wisconsin. Pours a semi-clear, unfiltered golden brew with a fast dissolving white head that dissipates clean. Aroma of light banana, cloves with more yeast scents than most others detected. Taste is well carbonated, light bodied with some acidic character with some banana, cloves and yeast. Finish is slightly metallic but has a light banana and a hint of yeast aftertaste.

On tap downtown. Pour was miserably clear, had to be partially filtered, although some light haze was present. Lots of carbonation, small head, weak lacing, appearance sub par. Flavor wasn’t my favorite take on the style, lots of sour citrus, lemons, not enough other fruity esters playing a key role, nor was their that full feeling, almost bready aspect to the beer. Flavor and mouthfeel both could have been classified as watery. Disappointing product in America’s purported German Beer city.

Date: 06/21/2007
Mode: Draft
Source: Brewpub, Milwaukee

hazy dark yellow, scant white head, light clove aroma, sweet banana flavor, well balanced with the clove, light bitterness

Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

It was unfortunate that my glass arrived with a lemon slice in the beer. That clearly affected the flavor. It seemed to be a pretty classic hefe. That is such a great style and no lemon "help" was required.

On tap at Water Street - Delafield. Poured an almost clear medium golden with rising carbonation and a little head. Aroma was of sweet bananas and cloves with some bubblegum.. rather nice concoction. Flavor held up well with sweet banana and lots of bubblegum along with mild complementary cloves.. well-balanced. Felt quite nice on the palate.. good balance and flow.