Third Base Beggar Jons Hefeweizen

On draught during Great Taste of Midwest 2009 in Madison, Wisconsin. Pours a semi-hazy golden colored brew with a thick white head that has some nice retention and lacing. Aroma of banana esters, cloves, a hint of bubble gum and golden grain malt. Taste is medium bodied, soft carbonation with flavors of yeast, golden grain malt and some banana. Finish is semi-sweet and a tad spicy with a wheat and yeast aftertaste that slowly disappears. A nice solid hefe overall.

Beer #32 or 42 at GTMW, 8-9-09. If I come out of this not losing my phone, I’ll be ahead of the game. That’s where I’ve recorded all my tasting notes. Next year: Google Voice!
Even in my tiny glass that’s had 30 beers in it before, it’s a nice cloudy hefeweizen yellow, with puffy white foam. Smell is not overly spiced, just a solid wheat beer smell. Goes down nice and easy on this hot summer’s day. Not too much spice, ester or hop. Just a slight wheat spice.

Sample at the brewpub. This brew pours a hazy yellow color with a medium thin white head that burns away steadily. Thin rings of lacing on the glass. Lightly spiced wheat aroma with a touch of yeast. Light body with flavors of banana, yeast and wheat. Some sweet spices in the background as well. The finish is wheaty with a short spice aftertaste. Above average overall, and more flavorful than I would have expected given the ABV.

Tried at the 4th Annual Festival of Iowa Beers. Big banana flavor and aroma with subdued spiciness. A bit sweet.

Draft at the brewpub. Clear golden color with thin white head. No lace. Smelled of bubblegum and banana. Flavor was similar with lots of bubblegum, less banana, and minimal clove. Unfortunately there was also an annoying rubbery leather flavor. It kind of tasted like the inside of a vintage leather Nike shoe with rubber soles smells. Slightly sweet. Too bad about the shoe taste.