Hefeweizen is a type of German wheat beer that is brewed with at least 50% malted wheat and is known for its distinctive yeast, unique appearance, and refreshing qualities. With its cloudy look and highly carbonated mouthfeel, hefeweizen is a popular choice for beer enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Those interested in purchasing hefeweizen can explore various online options, such as Total Wine & More, GotoLiquorStore, and Drizly, which offer a range of hefeweizen beers for delivery or pickup. Additionally, beer lovers can utilize resources like the Find a Brewery feature on CraftBeer.com to locate breweries near them that serve this delightful German brew.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Hefeweizen beer style | German-style, American-style, Bavarian-style, Wheat Ale, German Weizenbier, Belgian Witbier |
Hefeweizen beer brands | Weihenstephaner, Schofferhofer, Erdinger, Paulaner, Spaten Franziskaner, Hacker Pschorr, Hofbrau, Potosi, Three Floyds, Dovetail, RAR, Sprecher, Great Dane, Holzlager, Stevens Point, UFO, Ayinger, Sketchbook, Väsen, Urban Chestnut, Wise Man, Liquid Mechanics, Andechser, Widmer Brothers, Pinkus, Waktenburger, Firestone Walker, Fly Llama, KC Bier, Commonhouse Aleworks, 1623, Pyramid, Destihl, Live Oak, No Label, Schneider, Wallenpaupack |
Hefeweizen beer flavours | Banana, Clove, Nutmeg, Vanilla, Bubblegum, Green Apple, Citrus, Floral, Caramel, Apricot, Blueberry, Bread, Spice, Malt, Yeast |
Hefeweizen beer appearance | Cloudy, Amber, Pale, Hazy, Straw-coloured, Golden, Dark |
Hefeweizen beer mouthfeel | Fizzy, Smooth, Dry, Tangy, Sparkling, Pillowy |
Hefeweizen beer alcohol content | Low to moderate |
Hefeweizen beer bitterness | Low |
Hefeweizen beer carbonation | High |
Hefeweizen beer sweetness | Malty, Moderate |
Hefeweizen beer phenolic character | Clove, Medicinal, Smoky |
Hefeweizen beer glassware | Weizen vase, Weizen glass, Schooner, Vase-shaped glass |
Hefeweizen beer serving temperature | N/A |
Hefeweizen beer food pairings | Watermelon, Salads, Guacamole, Tortillas, Shrimps, Smoked Salmon, Weisswurst, Mozzarella, Burrata, Feta, Goat Cheeses, Seafood, Egg dishes |
Hefeweizen beer purchase options | GotoLiquorStore, Drizly, Total Wine & More, Local liquor stores, Breweries |
What You'll Learn
Online beer retailers
There are several online beer retailers where you can purchase Hefeweizen beer.
GotoLiquorStore
GotoLiquorStore offers German-style Hefeweizen beer for delivery from local stores. To see pricing and availability in your area, you will need to enter your address on the website.
Drizly
Drizly is another online retailer that sells Hefeweizen beer. The website includes information on the history of Hefeweizen beers, their taste, and food pairings.
Total Wine & More
Total Wine & More offers a wide variety of Hefeweizen beers, including Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, Schofferhofer Hefeweizen Grapefruit, Erdinger Weissbier, and Spaten Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, among others.
CraftShack
CraftShack is an online retailer that offers craft beer, including Hefeweizen. They have a range of Hefeweizen beers available, such as Abnormal Beer Co Abnormal Abnormalweiss, which has spicy notes of clove and fruity notes of banana and citrus.
CraftBeer
CraftBeer is a website that provides information on German-style Hefeweizen beers and allows users to locate breweries that serve this style of beer. The website also offers a newsletter with information about German beer and other types of beer.
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German-style hefeweizen
The history of hefeweizens is closely linked to the Bavarian Purity Law, which was enacted in 1512 and prohibited brewers from using any ingredients other than barley, hops, and water. However, the rulers of Bavaria at the time, the Dukes of Wittelsbach, were lovers of weizenbier and created a loophole called the Weissbierregal, allowing a single brewery to produce wheat beer. In the late 20th century, hefeweizens made their way to America with a wave of German immigrants, and the style was further popularised by craft brewers in the 1980s.
Today, German-style hefeweizens are widely available and can be purchased online from specialty liquor stores and beer retailers, as well as directly from some breweries. When purchasing hefeweizen, it is important to consider the freshness of the beer, as the distinct yeast profile can be altered over time. Some popular brands that offer German-style hefeweizen include Weihenstephaner, Paulaner, Erdinger, and Hacker-Pschorr. These beers can often be found in liquor stores or purchased directly from the brewery, either online or in-person.
When serving German-style hefeweizen, it is typically poured into a weizen vase, a large, curvaceous glass that showcases the beer's colour and foam. The glassware helps to enhance the beer's carbonation and is essential to the overall drinking experience. German-style hefeweizens are best paired with lighter foods such as salads, seafood, and egg dishes, or traditional German weisswurst, a Bavarian white sausage made with veal and pork.
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American-style hefeweizen
When it comes to food pairings, American-style hefeweizens go well with summery dishes such as watermelon, salads, guacamole, tortillas, shrimp, and smoked salmon. They can also be paired with cheeses like mozzarella, burrata, feta, and goat cheese.
Some examples of American-style hefeweizen include Widmer Hefeweizen from Widmer Brothers Brewing, Mueller Unfiltered Wheat from Springfield Brewing Company in Springfield, Missouri, and Squatters American Wheat Hefeweizen. These beers can be found at various liquor and beer stores, as well as online retailers like Drizly and Total Wine & More.
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Wheat malt and yeast
Hefeweizen is a traditional Bavarian wheat beer, which gets its name from the German "Hefe", meaning yeast, and "Weizen", meaning wheat. It is brewed with at least 50% wheat malt, with the rest being Pilsner malt, and yeast that produces a signature clove and banana character. The low hopping rate allows an underlying, grainy, bready flavour from the wheat and Pilsner malt to shine through. The wheat malt is huskless, so brewers can add rice hulls to prevent stuck mashes.
The aroma and flavour of a Hefeweizen come largely from the yeast and are fruity (banana) and phenolic (clove). The intensity of these flavour qualities varies depending on the brewer, but the two are most commonly balanced. The yeast remains in suspension, giving the beer its cloudy appearance. The aroma of a good Hefeweizen includes moderate spicy clove notes and fruity banana esters. However, one of the most common mistakes in homebrewed weizen-style beers is having too much clove and banana character. Brewers should keep these compounds balanced with the overall harmony of the beer, especially the malts.
The Weihenstephan weizen yeast strain, or W-68, is considered the quintessential weizen yeast. It is now available as a dried E2U yeast from Fermentis, producing a beer that is fruity on the nose but not bitter on the palate. Other recommended yeast strains include White Labs WLP300 Hefeweizen Ale and Wyeast 3068 Weihenstephan Weizen.
Hefeweizen is best served in a weizen vase, a large curvaceous glass that showcases the beer's beautiful glow and corrals its large, persistent foam cap, given the style's characteristic effervescence.
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Food pairings
Hefeweizen is a German-style wheat beer with high carbonation and low hops, resulting in a smooth and refreshing drink with a cloudy, hazy appearance. It has slightly sweet and fruity flavours, with notes of bubblegum, banana, cloves, spices, green apple, and nutmeg.
- Summery foods: Watermelon, salads (especially those with a mix of sweet, spicy, and sour flavours), and fruits like avocado, tomato, and berries complement the beer's smooth and bubbly nature.
- Seafood: Hefeweizen pairs well with seafood, especially richer and sweeter dishes. Crab salad, shrimp or prawns (especially when grilled or cooked with herbs like rosemary), and lobster are excellent choices. Smoked salmon is also a good option, and Germans often pair their Hefeweizen with weisswurst, a traditional Bavarian white sausage made with veal and pork.
- Cheese: The beer goes well with creamy and fresh cheeses like goat cheese, burrata, mozzarella, feta, and ricotta.
- Poultry and Meat: Hefeweizen is a good match for roast chicken or pork dishes. It also pairs well with cured meats such as sausages, hams, and bacon, especially when served with potato salad and pickles. Pretzels are another classic German accompaniment.
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Frequently asked questions
You can buy Hefeweizen beer from online retailers such as GotoLiquorStore, Total Wine & More, and Drizly.
Popular brands of Hefeweizen beer include Erdinger, Paulaner, Franziskaner, Maisel, Augustiner, Weihenstephaner, and Schneider.
Hefeweizen is a type of German wheat beer that is brewed with at least 50% malted wheat. It is known for its distinctive yeast-driven fruit and spice flavours, cloudy appearance, and high carbonation.
Hefeweizen beer pairs well with summery foods like watermelon, salads, guacamole, tortillas, shrimp, and smoked salmon. In Germany, it is also commonly enjoyed with weisswurst, a type of Bavarian white sausage made with veal and pork.
Hefeweizen beer originated in Bavaria in the early 1500s. The name comes from the German words "hefe," meaning yeast, and "weizen," meaning wheat. In modern times, it has gained popularity in the United States, with many small and craft American brewers producing their own versions of this wheat beer.