Ayinger Bräu-Weisse

17-Dec-05 (22 oz bottle: Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA) Oh yeah, a rerate was definitely in order on this one. Purchased at a truly reputable store, I have no fears about whether this will be a good bottle. The bottle opens with a fairly loud phhhttt, and the beer pours about two inches of white, creamy head with tight beading. Retention is superb as several minutes later, I still have a quarter inch cap, though this is partially aided by significant carbonation bubbles rising through the beer. The color is medium straw and slightly hazy, so the streams of carbonation bubbles are plainly visible and combined with the wonderful head retention make for a visually stunning beer. The only problem is the lack of lacing on the glass. The very enticing nose projects a prominent banana aroma with very light clove and wheat. Banana again plays a prominent role in the flavor initially, but this fades a bit in the finish to allow the wheat flavor to come to the forefront. Bitterness is low but not missing, sweetness is mild, and a slightly spicy character makes brief showings from time to time. The overall flavor is very pleasant and enjoyable, but shows proper restraint, giving an air of classiness. A small complaint is that the flavor tails off a bit too much late in the finish rather than showing resilience on the palate. Body is light-medium and very well carbonated for a lively and exciting mouthfeel. I’m not a certified beer judge (yet!), but I consider this to be a textbook example of the German Hefeweizen. It just needs a better finish to be the "be all, end all".

12-Sep-05 (12 oz bottle: Cost Plus in La Jolla, CA) Bought this bottle from Cost Plus, so a rerate might be in order, we’ll see. It pours a pale orange-golden color and is fully cloudy. The white head is tall, fluffy and white in color. Unfortunately, it’s all downhill from here. The flavor shows moderate wheat maltiness, and banana starts mild and finishes with more gusto, the clove is in deep hiding the entire time, and it tastes a bit stale and cardboardy. Not bad, but tastes "old". The nose is funky and fruity when first poured, with no sign of anything resembling a Hefeweizen, but I guess once the funky aromas subside, I’m getting more banana. Light-medium bodied, and lightly carbonated, but the stale flavor just sits on the tongue. This beer isn’t horrible, but I imagine it is much better when purchased at a real beer store. It definitely improved the longer it sat in the glass (up to a point, obviously). Based on my experience with beer purchases at this store, I will not spend my money (on beer) there again. (6, 4, 6, 3, 12, total: 3.1)

500 ml bottle. Hazy, yellow-golden body. Aromatic, white, fluffy head. Lemony, citrus, and bananas, bubblegum. Apples and flowers. Smooth and refreshing in the mouth. Quite quenching with flavors of tart apples and fruity and floral notes. Candy sweet with banana, apple and bubblegum . Champagne notes and effervescense. Dry yet sweet and tart...Second glass. Got a lot more sediment from the bottom of the bottle. After activation, poured an amazingly white, fluffy and flagrantly floral aroma. Great taste and texture. Orange citrus and lively carbonation. Almost a Sprite or 7Up flavor, maybe the limon twist. Fruit, lotsa fruit. Maybe a little but of a barnyard mustiness. This could quite possible be my favorite German Hefe.

Filling aroma of wheat, banana, yeast, vanilla. Pours a very pale, cloudy yellow with a bit of yeast on the bottom and a thick, foamy head. Taste is peppery, with banana, wheat, a touch of sweetness and no bitterness. Delicious!

A nice thick head with a nice, spice/clove smell with a hint of bananna. It was a very crisp beer, with wonderful flavor.

Bottle. Unclear yellowish with large dense head. Straight forward hefewizen; sweet, bananas, cloves, full - a meal in itself. Very easy drinking.

Crystal clear through the golden beer. Thick and fluffy head created that sticks around for some time. Aroma has a hint of spice with a huge smell of banana, bubblegum and yeast. The flavor is more light than the aroma had made me believe but still a nice serving of banana and yeast to be found. Has a little bit of spice and zest in the aftertaste which makes this brau weisse different than the other Ayinger i had. Again, another lassic example of the style from Ayinger.

Pouring gently from bottle elicits a profuse, frothy white head that is mostly lasting. Appropriately cloudy yellow and highly effervescent. Aroma was of slightly green bananas. Nice and light on the tounge, a little tart like sourdough bread. Has a clean tart finish, not especially hoppy. Would recommend!

has a nice sweetness to it and it still has a nice flavor to it. this is good example of hefeweizen