Weizen

[Gordonstoun]

I love Bavarian Wheat Beer!

Paulaner, Weihenstephan, and Maisel are my favorites, but I don't think I ever met one I didn't like.

Maisel is the beer that swept me off my feet and ushered me into the craft-beer revolution. It's also the beer that impelled me to become a home-brewer, as it was pretty hard to find good beer in rural South Carolina in the early 1990's.

I was priveleged to meet Oscar Maisel about 10 years ago. Splendid gentleman.

How about the rest of you? Any Weizen Warriors here?

[steveh]

Two words: Schnei-der. ;)

S.

[Gordonstoun]

I had a couple yesterday. They were OK, but a little too dark and roasty for me. I prefer a very pale wheat beer.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Gordonstoun
They were OK, but a little too dark and roasty for me.

You'll grow into it. ;)

BTW - there are no roasted malts in Schneiderweisse, just a toastiness from fine Pilsner or Munich malts and a good decoction mashing. Probably that more robust flavor you found.

Look for Franziskaner too, I turned my GF on to it last year - she loves it now.

S.

[Gordonstoun]

Although I like all Bavarian wheat beers, Franziskaner and Schneider are at the bottom of the list. They're the ones I drink when I can't get any other brand. Paulaner and Weihenstephan are both way ahead of them, to my taste.

[steveh]

I need to find some Weihenstephan again - it's been historically good (connsidering it's the original), but I've always found Paulaner to be a bit bland, sort of a Hacker-Pschorr light.

I enjoy the Hacker on tap at my local quite often, and Franzi is a little smoother on the esters. But Schneider is so unique, I always turn to it. It's terrific at the source too!

Steer clear of Erdinger these days (although it could very well have been old bottles) - the last ones I had were pretty flavorless.

S.

[Gordonstoun]

Paulaner has a tartness to it that I find refreshing. I like the Belgian wheat beers for this reason, too.

If I ever win the lottery, I might open a brewery making a wheat beer that includes a Lactobacillus fermentation step!

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Gordonstoun
wheat beer that includes a Lactobacillus fermentation step!

That's called a Berliner Weisse.

Paulaner Hefe was the brew that pulled me into craft beer, but Franzi is my fav now. My sister (an avid Mich Ultra drinker) LOVES the Franzi Dunkelweisen!!

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by steveh
Steer clear of Erdinger these days (although it could very well have been old bottles) - the last ones I had were pretty flavorless.


Sadly, I agree. All of the last 3 I've picked up (Hefe-Weizen, Dunkelweiss, Kristalweiss) have all been lackluster, even though they were within their freshness window. The fresh Oktoberfest I got wasn't awful, but hardly one I'd choose over other German examples. Their best beer was their Pikantus (Weizenbock) that I got on the cheap - very nice.

1 for 5. Hmmm...a .200 average may keep you in the majors (briefly) but as a brewery, you've struck out - back to the minor leagues.

Prost!

[Gordonstoun]

That's called a Berliner Weisse.

I deliberately DID NOT refer to a Berliner Weisse. BW is drier, and at a much lower gravity, than I would brew, if I owned a brewery.

[munich1]

Does anyone have an opinion of the Hofbrau Weisse, either on tap or from the bottle? I have recently had it on tap, and found it to be on the light side, even more so than Erdinger, but still quite good. I also recently had a weisse called "Schwelmer" (NW Germany) that was pretty good, but no Schneider. And speaking of Schneider, I can't find any of it (weisse, weizenbock, etc.) that is not past its "best before end" date in my area. Some of the outlets that I've spoken to seem to believe that the date on the bottle is the bottling date, which it is not, though I have been known to buy the Aventinus even when it is beyond its bbe date due to its abv. But I generally refuse to buy expired beer if I can help it. And an aside to steveh, did you have Schneider in Kelheim or maybe at the Weisses Brauhaus in Munich? And have you by chance made it to Freising to enjoy the great Weihenstephaner beers at their source? And to Gordonstoun...do you refer to the Maisel in Bamberg, or Bayreuth?(both of which I hope to sample within two months!)
munich1 out.

[corkybstewart]

I made a 300 mile beer run today-there was also a client visit involved-and I bought my first Schnieder, but I haven't opened one yet . I also got a bunch of Ayingers, Franzikaners, and Echters. I'm a tremendous fan of Hacker-Pschorr and Erdinger. Not to mention(modestly) my own homebrewed hefeweizen.

[Gordonstoun]

And to Gordonstoun...do you refer to the Maisel in Bamberg, or Bayreuth?

Bayreuth.

http://www.maisel.com/index_2.html

Looks like we missed their Weissbierfest 2006! :(

[steveh]

Originally posted by munich1
And an aside to steveh, did you have Schneider in Kelheim or maybe at the Weisses Brauhaus in Munich?

Weisses Brauhaus im München - many times, but specially fondly reminisce of Münchner Früstuck in the open air cafe. Aaaahhh.

S.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Gordonstoun
I deliberately DID NOT refer to a Berliner Weisse. BW is drier, and at a much lower gravity, than I would brew, if I owned a brewery.

Then call it an imperial Berliner or a double berliner, but it is still very similar to a berliner if you are using the lacto bacteria.

[MeridianFC]

Originally posted by steveh
Weisses Brauhaus im München - many times, but specially fondly reminisce of Münchner Früstuck in the open air cafe. Aaaahhh.

S.

Love that Weisses Brauhaus. I have great memories of supping some glasses of Schneider and Aventinus there. Schneider is by far my favorite Bavarian Weiss beer, it seems to have all of the qualities of the style in overdrive. I can see how some might perfer the lighter more quenching varities, but still it's Georg's brew for me. That said all of the biggies (Paulaner, Franziskaner, Ayinger) are tasty. Oddly enough I don't have a lot of experience with any of the smaller/regional Weiss beers from over there, I'm usually too busy with my favored Dunkel, Hell, or other specialty.

The much missed Baltimore Brewing Co. (aka DeGroens) made an outstanding Weiss and Weissbock, to give some due to the domestic makers.

[munich1]

Originally posted by Gordonstoun
Looks like we missed their Weissbierfest 2006! :( [/B]
Yet another entry on my list of reasons to go to Germany!

[corkybstewart]

We thought about going to Germany this year but with the World Cup going on we decided to head for quieter pastures. We'll get there one of these days.

[ClockworkOrange]

Just had a Weyerbacher Hefe today and, although they do make some very nice beers, there are better choices out there for this style. Stoudt's and Penn both make a very decent Weizen.