Uncle Billys Haystack Hefeweizen

(Sample at Uncle Billy’s on August 2, 2008) Served with an orange wedge… at first sight this looks like grapefruit/orange juice. Solid, cloudy. I notice that none of these samples seem to have much head. After a good amount of citrus goodness goes straight up my nose (there I go again), I feel the full aroma. Spoiled by the orange, I remove it. I still smell the rind on my fingers. Suddenly every encounter I’ve ever had with an orange flashes through my mind. Its aroma is citric, nothing more really. It’s flavor, though… you can actually taste some hay (unless that’s all psychological), with serious orange and lemon. Not sure why they would add an orange wedge to intensify this. I think I’d be drinking orange juice if I had left it in. I dig the palate, though. Thick, well-constructed. Lively, but not carbonated, tangy. Tastes natural, alcoholically, of course. Really not that bad.

On tap at the brewpub; nice cloudy yellow color with an average white head. Aroma was predominantly banana/bubblegum. Lacked much spicing or balance in the flavor. Found it a bit sweet; lacked great flavor for me, but it definitely was solid. The beer looked and smelled really good.

Pours a medium-dark golden/yellow/brown color with a medium white head. Aroma is of banana and yeast. Flavor is of banana and some spice. On tap.

Deep, cloudy yellow, candy sugar sweet aroma. Aroma is also very dirty, dirt earthen and beertank-like. Very cloudy, Small lacing. Fizzy mouth feel but not overly so. Just enough to be differently satisfying. Bold strong wheat flavor, accentuated by the fizz, but the taste is a little watery on the finish. Taste also has orange citrus flavor. The fizz lingers on the finish for a minute or more which is very satisfying.

Draught. Lemon and banana aromas with various yeast subtleties. Cloudy yellow with a good white head. Hardy and refreshing. Good balance of acidity and bitterness with some spice and ester presence.