Natural Wheat

[steveh]

Paulaner Hefe-Weizen, Paulaner Brewing, Munich, Bavaria - 16.9 oz bottle. 03.04 drink-by date - so, is that March of '04, or April of '03? Based on this review, I'd guess March of '04 - unless this beer just holds up well.

Pours (into an appropriate Weizen glass) a hazy gold color, typical of Bavarian Hefeweizens. White, soft-serve ice cream head, also typical of the style. Much carbonation showing in the glass. Head settles to a thicker-than-usual bubbly film with nice lacing in its wake.

Lemon citrus and clove nose with unmistakeable wheat malt peaking through.

Crisp, malty blend of wheat and Munich malt flavor. Citrus and clove back with the hint of Tetnang or Saaz hops in the finish.

Thin to medium body with spritzy effervescence. A slick mouth feel similar to cask or bottle conditioned English ales - no doubt due to the yeast dossage used in this Hefe.

I picked up a bottle of this brew based on another, less than favorable, review elsewhere on the forum. I like Bavarian wheats, but I usually tend toward Hacker-Pschorr because my local has it on draft, or Schneider Weiss - my favorite. However, while the Paulaner is not full of the yeast character typical with the other offerings from Munich, I found it very refreshing and drinkable with nothing at all offensive. I'll be sure to remember the Paulaner the next time I'm faced with a decision between Weizens.

S.

[BREWERDLUX]

Schneider Weiss gets my thumps up as well.....Very nice mixture of clove, vanilla and banana

[steveh]

...not to mention Schneider's Aventinus!! Mmmmm -

S.

[BREWERDLUX]

I remember the first Dopplebock I had, I swore it was pancake syrup....Now they be tasting pretty good! Weizenbock is the shiznits!!!!!!!!!!!11

[steveh]

Shiznits?

Weizenbocks have such a different character than straight bocks (or doppels) - yummy, but sneaky!

S.

[ratman03]

Paulaner Hefe is solid. Julius Echter is very good as well. Schneider might be the best, and they have a green labeled bottle that's supposed to be and old recipe or something. Anyone tried it?

[steveh]

Originally posted by ratman03
Schneider might be the best, and they have a green labeled bottle that's supposed to be and old recipe or something. Anyone tried it?

The Wiesen Edel-Weisse (Noble Wheat)? I've had it in the past - it was good, but I remember thinking I still liked the Schneider Original better - and the Aventinus best.

Funny that the Wiesen Edel isn't listed on Schneider's site. Hmm.

S.

[ratman03]

The Wiesen Edel-Weisse (Noble Wheat)? I've had it in the past

I've been meaning to try the Edel-Weisse.
I always see the Aventinus but never buy it. Review forthcoming though...

By the way, steveh, nice use of the word 'nonplussed' on your review of PU. You must be a reader :D

[steveh]

Originally posted by ratman03
By the way, steveh, nice use of the word 'nonplussed' on your review of PU. You must be a reader

Yeah, but my lips get pretty tired real fast! ;)

S.

[BREWERDLUX]

Julius Echter is a good wheat beer. I was stationed about 30 kilometers from the brewery when I was in the military. Went to the brewery once, was really neat. Kinda on the side of a mountain next to the river. Wurzburg.

[steveh]

Originally posted by BREWERDLUX
Wurzburg.

Wurzburg am Main? One of my favorite cities in Germany. It was probably the Echter Dunkelweizen my friends and I were drinking at a neat little outdoor fest in Wurzburg's main square one year. And they ran out! It wasn't my fault, I swear! ;)

S.

[BREWERDLUX]

That be it.... I was stationed in Schweinfurt. Great area for good beer. Binder, Wurzburg, Jever and Schweinfurt Brau Pils was pretty good too. Drank allot of weizens when I first got their, but wound up drinking more German Pils after I figured out it was what the locals drank and was cheaper....

[chazwicke]

I forgot about Jever. I used to buy it by the case in the early 80s. Was a good session beer. Is it still Imported? I love the Schneider Beers. Especially the Adventus. The Bavarian Hefe's win hands down in my book. I love the banana / clove esters. Yum!

[steveh]

Originally posted by BREWERDLUX
That be it.... I was stationed in Schweinfurt.

Dude - when were you stationed at Schweinfurt? On my first Oktoberfest trip to Munich (1990? 91?) my friends and I hooked up with a bunch'a Gee-Eyes at the Spaten Scottenhammel tent! We partied till closing then made arrangements to hook up with them a few days later in Schweinnie. We stopped on the way from Berlin to Frankfurt when dropping one of the crew at the Flughoff to catch a plane.

We never hooked up with the soldiers 'cause I guess they were on duty, but left word that we'd been there. That's how we ended up in Wurzburg - it was the first place we could find a room - in a hotel across the street from the Wurzburger Hoffbrauhaus - yeah, big trouble! ;)

I have 2 friends from Stuttgart, and after a good Hefeweizen, Jever is their favorite brew - odd, considering it's a Northern German Pils and they have Dinkel-Acker in their back yard. Grass is always greener I suppose.

S.

[BREWERDLUX]

I was there from 11/89 through 2/02..... and you know what....? I never went to Octoberfest...Went to every other fest in the whole damn country, but missed the Grandaddy. Went to Munchen several times though. I would not trade those times for anything, but I wish I knew as much about beer as I do now..Whew what a time I would have!!!!!!!!!!

[steveh]

Originally posted by BREWERDLUX
Went to Munchen several times though. I would not trade those times for anything, but I wish I knew as much about beer as I do now..Whew what a time I would have!!!!!!!!!!

When I go to Munich I just let the history of the ages roll over me - that is such a cool town. One of my goals in life is to have a personal krug in one of the locked cages at the Hoffbrauhaus! "Herr Steffen, ihre dunkel bitte." ;)

S.

[chazwicke]

I'm with ya Steveh. I have enjoyed Munchen many times!