Wheat Beer Buying Guide: Best Brews To Try

Wheat beers are typically brewed with a higher proportion of wheat to malted barley, and there are several styles within the category, including American wheat beer, German Hefeweizen, and Belgian Witbier. Wheat beers are often hazy, fragrant, and nuanced, with a range of flavours from tropical fruit to banana and citrus. They tend to be light in colour, with a nice head when poured, and are known for being easy to drink and refreshing, especially during hot summer days.

Some of the best wheat beers available include Allagash White, Samuel Adams Summer Ale, Jack's Abby Blood Orange Wheat Radler, Blue Moon Belgian White, Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, and Lagunitas Stoopid Wit. These beers offer a range of tasting notes, from citrus and spice to banana, yeast, and fruit, making them perfect for different occasions and food pairings.

Best American Wheat Beers

Wheat beers are brewed with a higher percentage of wheat in proportion to malted barley, which is typically used to make beer. There are many different styles of wheat beer, including American wheat beer, German hefeweizen, and Belgian witbier.

Allagash White

Region: Maine

ABV: 5.2%

Tasting Notes: Yeast, Citrus, Spice

Allagash White is a hazy, Belgian-style wheat beer spiced with coriander and Curacao orange peel. It has a light body and citrusy notes, making it perfect for the summer. It also has a deep, complex spice profile that makes it enjoyable all year round.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale

Region: Massachusetts

ABV: 5.3%

Tasting Notes: Citrus, Spice, Hops

This seasonal wheat ale from Samuel Adams is affordable and flavourful. It is made with a citrus blend of orange, lime, and lemon peels, along with grains of paradise spice. It has a bright citrus palate and a reasonable ABV, so you can enjoy a couple without feeling weighed down.

Jack's Abby Blood Orange Wheat Radler

Region: Massachusetts

ABV: 4%

Tasting Notes: Orange, Yeast, Fruit

This beer from Massachusetts-based brewery Jack's Abby Craft Lagers is a fruit-forward blood orange infusion that redefines the classic German-style radler. It is refreshing and low in alcohol, making it ideal for hot summer days and nights.

Lagunitas Stoopid Wit

Region: California

ABV: 6.3%

Tasting Notes: Floral, Tropical Fruit, Honey

Lagunitas Stoopid Wit is a refreshing witbier with a bounty of fruity flavours. It is brewed in the Belgian style with orange peel and coriander, with the addition of American-style hops. It has notes of orange, lemon, white grape, apple, pear, and floral rose-lavender.

St. Clair Brown Honey Wheat Ale

Region: Napa, California

ABV: 5%

St. Clair Brown's Honey Wheat Ale is beautifully cloudy in the glass and has lemony, saison-like aromas. It has a super light body and almost no bitterness on the finish, making it easy to love.

ODell Brewing Easy Street Wheat

Region: Fort Collins, Colorado

ABV: 4.6%

This unfiltered American wheat beer from ODell is subtly citrusy with a creamy mouthfeel and crisp carbonation. It is a great beer to pair with a meal and is offered year-round for good reason.

Best German Wheat Beers

Wheat beer is made with a higher proportion of wheat to malted barley than regular beer, and different strains of yeast are used for different styles. German wheat beer, or Hefeweizen, is typically fruity, light, and fragrant, with a fluffy mouthfeel and a distinctive banana-and-clove yeast character.

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

A Bavarian classic, this is a fruity, light, and fragrant wheat beer with a distinctive banana-and-clove yeast character. It pairs well with food, especially Obazda, a brie cheese spread that is a specialty of the region.

Ayinger Bräuweisse

Described as a "classic Bavarian unfiltered wheat beer", Ayinger Bräuweisse is golden, fruity, and thirst-quenching.

Live Oak Hefe Weizen

This Texas-based brewery's Hefeweizen is described as having signature flavors of vanilla, clove, and banana.

Andechser Weissbier Hell

This German wheat beer embodies the "Andechs lifestyle": it's finely yeasty, tangy, and sparkling, and it refreshes and renews the thirst for more.

Urban Chestnut Schnickelfritz

This German-style wheat beer features typical clove, nutmeg, vanilla, and banana-like aromas and flavors.

Sketchbook Brewing Cumulus

A traditional, refreshing German cloudy wheat beer with a delicate balance of banana and clove aroma and flavor.

Best Belgian Wheat Beers

Wheat beers are brewed with a higher percentage of wheat in proportion to malted barley, and there are different styles within the category, each bringing different flavours. Belgian wheat beers, or witbiers, are often brewed with spices and citrus, and can be paired with food. Here are some of the best Belgian wheat beers:

Allagash White

Allagash White is a hazy, Belgian-style wheat beer spiced with coriander and Curacao orange peel. It has a refreshing balance of citrus and spice, with yeast, citrus and spice tasting notes. It is light-bodied and citrusy, making it perfect for summer, but it also has a deep, complex spice profile that makes it a good choice all year round. It is widely available and has been consistently well-crafted for over two decades.

Lindemans Lambic Beers

These spontaneously fermented beers are a refreshing example of fruit-flavoured Belgian wheat beer. They have fruity, citrus and vanilla tasting notes, and are best paired with intensely flavoured or spicy foods. The kriek, for example, goes well with spicy pad thai, and the cassis is a good complement to grilled or barbecued meats.

St. Bernardus Witbier

This is a classic witbier with a bit of everything a Blue Moon fan would love, but multiplied by about 20. It is incredibly tart but smooth, with a flavour likened to lemon meringue, key lime pie or lemon custard. It is carbonated with a bit more pressure than mass-market witbier, making it crisp and smooth without being overwhelming or gassy.

Hitachino Nest White Ale

Considered a must-have witbier in American craft beer circles, this beer from Japan's Kiuchi Brewery enhances the original Belgian recipe in all the best ways. The coriander gets a little added spice from a hint of nutmeg, and the sweet orange peel is supplemented by orange juice. The result is a witbier that is a bit more intense and far more flavourful than training-wheels beers such as Blue Moon and Shock Top.

Upland Brewing Wheat Ale

In the tradition of the Belgian witbier style, Upland Wheat Ale is unfiltered, allowing suspended yeast to create a cloudy, golden appearance. It is an everyday, every meal type of beer, comforting on a cold winter day and refreshing on a hot summer evening.

Best Fruit-Infused Wheat Beers

Fruit-infused wheat beers are a unique and exciting trend in brewing, offering a full-flavored, fruit-tinged drinking experience. Here is a list of some of the best fruit-infused wheat beers you can try:

Jackalope Lovebird Strawberry Raspberry Wheat Ale

This beer is a perfect summer brew, with its light and refreshing nature and Instagram-worthy pink hue. It is crafted by the woman-owned Jackalope Brewing Company in Nashville, Tennessee. The wheat provides a smooth and velvety base, while the strawberries and raspberries add a burst of tartness and a delightful berry aroma.

Allagash White

Allagash White is a classic witbier, expertly crafted by Allagash Brewing Company in Maine. It boasts a refreshing balance of citrus and spice, with coriander and Curaçao orange peel rounding out its flavour. This hazy Belgian-style wheat beer is an excellent choice for those who enjoy a complex yet easy-drinking beer.

Toolbox Das Fruit

Toolbox Das Fruit is a tart wheat ale that will tantalise your taste buds with its blend of apricots and peaches. It offers a crisp and refreshing drinking experience, making it the perfect beverage to lift your spirits after a long day.

Twin Barns Brewing Company Red Hill Raspberry Sour

This American sour fruit beer is a delightful creation from Twin Barns Brewing Company. It is brewed with malted wheat, raw wheat, and raspberries, resulting in a beautifully balanced beverage that is both fruity and slightly tart.

Creature Comforts Athena

Athena is a German-style wheat beer crafted by Creature Comforts. It undergoes two fermentations, resulting in a gently tart and refreshing beer with a blend of citric and fruit notes. Athena is an amazingly light and drinkable option, perfect for those who appreciate complexity in their beverage choices.

Weldwerks Apricot Gose

Weldwerks Apricot Gose is a masterful creation that begins with a traditional German malt bill of 50% Pilsen malt and 50% wheat malt. The addition of apricot complements the tartness of the base beer, while sea salt and coriander enhance its complexity. This beer is a perfect choice for those who enjoy a well-rounded, fruity beverage.

Best Wheat Beers for Summer

When the sun is shining, there's nothing better than a refreshing wheat beer. Here are some of the best wheat beers to enjoy during the warmer months.

Allagash White

This Belgian-style wheat beer from Allagash Brewing Company is a hazy, straw-coloured brew with a bright white head. It features a refreshing balance of citrus and spice, with coriander and Curaçao orange peel rounding out the flavour. Hailing from Maine, it has an ABV of 5.2% and is widely available across the US. It's the perfect summer tipple, with a light body and citrusy notes.

21st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon

This American wheat beer from 21st Amendment is a cult classic. Brewed with real watermelon, it's a nostalgic, crisp, and clean summer sipper. With an ABV of 4.9%, it's a refreshing and easy-drinking beer perfect for those hot summer days.

Blue Moon Belgian White

Blue Moon is a well-known and widely available wheat beer. It's a Belgian-style witbier, brewed with Valencia orange peels, giving it a delicate sweetness and distinctive citrus aroma. With an ABV of 5.4%, it's a great summer beer to enjoy with grilled shrimp or marinated chicken dishes.

Alaskan Brewing Co. White

Alaskan Brewing Co.'s take on the witbier is a hazy, effervescent, and slightly complex citrus beer. Using water from the 1,500 square-mile Juneau Ice Field gives this brew a unique profile. With an ABV of around 5%, it's a great choice for warmer weather.

Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier

This classic German wheat beer is fruity, light, and fragrant, with notes of banana, yeast, and fruit. It pairs well with food, especially Obazda, a brie cheese spread that is a specialty of the region. There's also a dark version available that offers a more concentrated sweetness. With an ABV of 5.4%, it's a great choice for a summer evening.

Samuel Adams Summer Ale

If you're looking for a budget-friendly option, Samuel Adams Summer Ale is a great choice. This seasonal wheat ale is affordable and flavourful, with a bright citrus palate and a reasonable ABV of 5.3%. It's a good option for a crowd, especially during the summer months.

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