Pyramid Imperial Hefeweizen

04-Apr-08 (22-oz bottle: BevMo in La Jolla, CA) Don’t expect this beer to resemble a fine German Hefeweizen in any way. As the small, bubbly, tan head dissipates at a rapid pace, it sounds like a bowl of Rice Crispies. Within 30 seconds, the hazy, bright-amber body has no crown whatsoever. The nose doesn’t smell much like a Hefeweizen either; it’s malty and sweet with a hint of hops, but there’s hardly a suggestion of fruity or spicy yeast components. The flavor is sweet and fairly caramely with moderate banana, a hint of spicy and a fairly bready finish. There’s a gentle tartness to help balance the sweetness, and the light, dusty hop flavor in the finish is pleasant. Full-bodied on the palate with medium carbonation. The beer comes dangerously close to weighing down the palate with a stale mouthfeel, but the light tartness and dusty hop dryness and bitterness come to the rescue. I can’t say I’m a fan of taking a traditional style and "imperializing" it, but even though this beer doesn’t bear much resemblance to a hefeweizen, it’s still pretty enjoyable.

22oz bottle-Pours a nice hazy yellow orange with a small head which emits an aroma of banana, yeast, malt, and fruit. Taste is of the same with some hops and slight alcohol thrown in. This light to medium bodied brew seems to hide the alcohol but then it pops up on you in the back end. Not a bad brew but not as good as New Glarus’s.

Cloudy, dark orangish pour with a thin head. Aroma has a lot of malt with a bit of banana and bubblegum. Mouthfeel is slighltly carbonated and there is some malty sweetness up front. Alcohol is evident and the only real hefe flavor charateristic is the banana. Really a bit harsh. Slight yeasty aftertaste.

Pours an unclear orange with a medium white froth on top. Caramel, some light sweet banana, a little bit fruity and what seems like some barrel tartness in the aroma. Tastes similar to a higher ABV version of their amber-weizen. Lots of caramel, some banana and yeast. A little bit tart but mostly sweet caramel. Some bitterness in the finish. I can honestly say this is a unique flavor, as I haven’t had something like this ever. Similar to the amber-weizen mixed with pureed apples. Medium body with light fizzy carbonation. It does cover the 7.5% well.

Hazy orange, aroma faintly of banana, more of straight shooting pale malt. Flavour is mostly pale malt, some fruity yeastiness, and mild wheat character. This doesn’t truly satisfy as a hefe, and thus fails in concept I would say. Not horrible, but why bother?