Short # 15 | Franziskaner | Hefeweizen | 5% ABV
Hefeweizen | München, Germany, | Rating: 93/100
From BeerAdvocate: “A south German style of wheat beer (weissbier) made with a typical ratio of 50:50, or even higher, wheat. A yeast that produces a unique phenolic flavors of banana and cloves with an often dry and tart edge, some spiciness, bubblegum or notes of apples. Little hop bitterness, and a moderate level of alcohol. The “Hefe” prefix means “with yeast”, hence the beers unfiltered and cloudy appearance. Poured into a traditional Weizen glass, the Hefeweizen can be one sexy looking beer. Often served with a lemon wedge (popularized by Americans), to either cut the wheat or yeast edge, which many either find to be a flavorful snap … or an insult and something that damages the beer’s taste and head retention.”
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Posted by vinobello on November 17, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Mark I just ordered a case of Spaten Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel for a friend. He actually wanted the Dunkel Lager but didn’t know the name and just told me Spaten Dunkel. He told me the beer was really good and I was wondering if you tasted the Dunkel version. I tried to order the Weihenstephaner Dunkel wheat beer but they were out. Let me know if you have tried a Dunkel wheat because I really want to try one.
Is this beer better than Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier? That one is my favorite wheat but I have not tasted the Spaten.
Posted by thehopry on November 17, 2010 at 10:27 AM
The Dunkel is just a darker version of this. It’s been a very long time since I’ve had one, but I would think this one is better. Just my preference though.
Posted by trevor on November 17, 2010 at 10:51 AM
I personally prefer the more subdued flavor of the Dunkel, but it is all personal preference. The Wiehenstephaner would be a great choice if you can find it. Not saying the Franziskaner is bad, but I would recommend the Weihenstephaner over the Franziskaner if it’s an option.
Posted by MattR on November 17, 2010 at 10:09 AM
I had a really bad experience with this beer some time ago. To this day, I know this beer as “veggie-beer”, just to give you an idea. I may try it again, though, after this review.
Posted by thehopry on November 17, 2010 at 10:14 AM
Probably a dumb question (so I apologize), but have you had other Hefeweizen? There’s always a chance with any beer that you got a bad or expired one.
Posted by Louie on November 17, 2010 at 3:40 PM
Somehow I haven’t tried this – I’ll have to go out and get some. My go-to hefeweissbier is Weihenstephaner, which I think is pretty close to the style standard, but clearly there are more I need to try. Good review!
Posted by thehopry on November 17, 2010 at 3:48 PM
The Weihenstephaner is also very good. You can’t go wrong with either. In fact, when I say this one is in my top three…well…so is the Weihenstephaner…
Posted by Dennis on November 17, 2010 at 11:35 PM
You got something on your lip there. But in all seriousness, i love your site. Keep up the excellent work. Sometimes i open a beer that you have reviewed and drink with you. My wife isnt very into this stuff, and i find it more fun to drink with someone who likes/knows beer.
Posted by thehopry on November 18, 2010 at 11:17 AM
Something on my lip? You mean hair?
Posted by Kelly on November 18, 2010 at 10:23 AM
Pour that Hefe all into the glass. That yeast at the bottom is the best part!
Posted by thehopry on November 18, 2010 at 11:18 AM
Roger that…
Posted by Daniel Harper on November 18, 2010 at 1:06 PM
This was probably the first beer I drank that made me open my eyes and go “wow!” I do prefer it in a weizen glass, though.
I’m definitely going to shoot a review of this one soon. Nicely done.
Posted by thehopry on November 18, 2010 at 1:38 PM
Thank you sir… Yeah I’m kind of weird with glasses, but I’ve always felt that there really aren’t any rules as long as you just pour the thing in a glass. I know people who love IPAs that insist on drinking them from the bottle. I don’t get it, but hey… At least I got them off the mass produced garbage.
Posted by LaeliaPumila on November 18, 2010 at 1:57 PM
I was so glad to hear you praise this beer, I had it on draft a few months ago and totally agree that it is one of the classics. I actually liked it better than Weihanstephaner myself, but I think that’s because I’m a total banana-head and the Weihanstephaner is a little more elegantly restrained in that regard.
Your comment about how similar this is to some Belgians like La Fin Du Monde was really interesting. Do you think the similarity comes from the yeast (IE, do the hefeweizen brewers in Germany use a yeast similar to the Belgians) or from the use of wheat? If it’s the wheat, then why do most American wheats taste so different from the German/Belgian ones?
Thanks as well for including so many low-ABV beers in German week – I now have lots of new things to go shopping for!
Posted by thehopry on November 18, 2010 at 2:08 PM
I agree with you on the comparisons of Weihenstaphaner and Franziskaner. Both are amazing beers and at any time I may like one over the other. I actually scored the Weihenstephaner higher (if you want to check it out – it’s session # 61). And finally, I absolutely know it’s yeast that makes that estery banana flavor and not the wheat. The wheat gives it the bready character.
Posted by Jamison Moeckel on November 18, 2010 at 9:30 PM
I gave this beer a B+ I did not like it as much as you did I have tried several other Hefes I liked better. I know for certain this one is not in my top 3 or even top 5 for this style. Don’t get me wrong I still gave it a B+ its a good beer. Cheers Mark I hope you review Schneider Weisse aka tap 6 some time soon. If this was a 93 I would love to know what that beer would be…..