Town Brewery Trove--Witzig

A hefeweizen from Whitby, Ontario, Witzig comes from Town Brewery and it contains 5.2% alcohol. Witzig is sold in 473mL cans. It’s a hazy golden wheat beer that pours with considerable carbonation and a surprisingly thin layer of white head.

Witzig has a scent that sure ain’t bashful. It packs a real wallop of clove backed with some substantial banana esters. The flavour plays like the aroma, but slightly miniaturized. It has a classic banana and clove profile, and it turns gently toward bitterness at the finish. The beer possesses a mellow and smooth texture.

An agreeable, summery sipper, Witzig is a good take on the hefe style that doesn’t steer far from the traditional blueprint. It’s a well made little brew, though I wouldn’t have minded if the flavour were as aggressive as the nose.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Das Spritzhaus Hefeweizen

A brewery that seems to be picking up steam in Southern Ontario is the Abe Erb Brewing Company, an outfit out of Kitchener. In recent months, a variety of their ales have found brief lodging in my refrigerator, before finding their way into my gullet and then into the pages of this blog. And so far, they’ve delivered the goods.

 

On a glorious Friday afternoon (half day off from work!) I decided to kick off my weekend with a 473mL can of their Das Spritzhaus Hefeweizen. Low in booze (4.7%) but big in yeasty aromatics and fruit esters, Das Spritz is a hazy, verging in cloudy, golden ale with a sunny colour and a vibrant cover of brilliant white suds.

Like a classic European wheat beer, Das Spritz has a flavour that blends banana, citrus, and spice. It has a largely mellow mouthfeel that has a bit more carbonation than I expected.

Sweet but not stifling, and light but not watery, Abe Erb’s take on the hefe style is a quality beer, particularly if you are faced with the daunting prospect of a beautiful summer afternoon with no responsibilities until dinner time. If I had to pick something to complain about (not an easy task when enjoying a free Friday afternoon), a bit less fizz and a touch more alcohol—just up it to 5!—would have pumped the score up another half-point or so.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Kelly’s Contraption

Named in honour of the motorcar developed by John B. Kelly in Blythe, Ontario in 1883–apparently pre-dating Henry Ford’s effort by four years–the beer, styled Kelly’s Contraption, is billed as “New World Hefeweizen” and comes from Cowbell Brewing Co. aka Blyth Brewing & Distilling. Like Kelly’s antediluvian auto, the 5% alcohol, 15 IBU ale comes from Blyth, ON.

Kelly’s has a cloudy golden hue, under a thick, off-white head. There is a punchy nose, with yeasty notes, some slight clove spiciness, and a dose of banana esters. Like a classic hefe, this new world edition has yeasty profile, a flavour with banana and orange notes, and a dose of spices. The beer is thin-bodied, but refreshing. 

Really, Kelly’s Contraption is a summertime brew, but it came my way in November, via my ol’ pal LW. Despite the unseasonal quaffing, I found the beer to be a pretty convincing Ontarian imitation of the classic Teutonic style. A bit thin, sure, but clearly well-made. Like the other Cowbell offerings that I’ve enjoyed, K’sC was a quality brew that, while not exceptional, was very good.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Northern Maverick Hefeweizen

When I uncapped a frosty 500mL bottle of hefeweizen from Toronto's Nothern Maverick Brewing Co., I was immediately struck by a waft of banana scent. Upon decanting my 500mL bottle of the 5% alcohol wheat beer, that initial impression was confirmed, and joined by some spice notes and a yeasty quality.

The beer was cloudy amber (a bit darker than I expected) with a thick fog of bright white head. Banana and orange were the executive flavour notes, over a mild yeast workforce. Hops were only barely evident as a slight crackle at the finish.

My first experience with a Northern Marverick brew, I found their Hefeweizen to be quite well executed, if not anything to garner effusive praise. The only shortcoming of this beer, described on the bottle as a "classic Bavarian hefeweizen", is an underwhelming mouthfeel. It was a bit thin and would have benefited from a bit of crispness. Still, on an unseasonably warm September day, this summery ale was a welcome bit of refreshment. I wouldn't have minded a second.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Bolt Brewery Flight

After arguably making a mistake at San Diego's Bolt Brewery by ordering a strong and sweet double chocolate stout on a hot afternoon in Southern California, I opted for a flight of 4oz tasters for my next Bolt experience. The four I selected were Bolt's Hefenweizen, Loca Lemon, Hoppy Lager, and Deez Hops DIPA.

 

The hefe was a 4.2%, 13 IBU brew. It was somewhere between yellow and milky. It had a yeasty, tart nose. The flavour maintained the yeastiness, but not the tartness. It was actually a pretty mellow, mild-mannered little brew. I'd have liked a bit more oomph, but it was fine.

 

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

The Loca Lemon checked in at 5.3% and 13 IBUs. It was a pale, straw-coloured beer with little head. It had a lemon-lime soda scent--sweet and citrusy, with a slightly chemically aroma. It's flavour was along the same lines--very sweet, fizzy, and lemony. 

Way too saccharine for this guy to revisit, it was still a refreshing and interesting ale--something full strength for fans of radlers and shandies. It should be said that it was also wildly refreshing.

 

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

The third entry in my Bolt Brewery flight was their Hoppy Lager. A pale and fizzy golden brew, the HL was clear and packed a floral hops aroma. It had a thin, crisp mouthfeel and a moderately hoppy flavour. Dry through the finish.

 

Bolt's Hoppy Lager was one of the better offerings that I sampled during my visit to their satellite brewery. It was unique and innovative, although it not without its flaws. I did like the floral hops drive, though.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

The final entry in my Bolt Brewery flight was their formidable Deez Hops Double IPA. At 9.2% alcohol and 83 IBUs, this was a pretty jumbo brew. It was a clear and brassy India Pale Ale, and arrived with very little head.

Deez Hops had jumbo bitterness through the nose, with resinous, slightly sweet hops properties. Boozy and sweet initially, but bitter and bold to the finish, this was definitely my favourite Bolt beer that I sampled during my hour in their establishment. It was a tad sweet, but this was balanced against a juicy bitterness that sold me hard.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Hey Day

A hefeweizen from Vancouver, British Columbia, Hey Day is a representative of Granville Island Brewing Co.'s "Under the Bridge Series." Sold in 473mL cans, the hefe is a cloudy orange grog with a thick white head. It contains 5% alcohol and 15 IBUs.

To my nose, this wheat ale smells potently of bananas. The flavour has a similar bent, though supplemented by a light spice note. The mouthfeel is mellow and mild, with little bitterness and much refreshment.

I liked this beer alright, but found it to be a bit too sweet for comfort. All in all, a fine wheat that I may well repurchase, but nothing remarkable or momentous.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Collective Project: Hefeweizen

My second brush with the Collective Arts Brewing Collective Project was their 5.5% alcohol Hefeweizen. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, this heffy was orange-gold, cloudy, and effervescent, but decanted from its 355mL bottle with very little head.

To the nose, I picked up the classic notes of banana and spice, as well as a slight orange peel flourish. The flavour contained those same fruit notes, as well as some yeasty fluff. As well, there were some clove or all spice notes particularly evident as the beer warmed.

 

In some ways, this was a classic Hefeweizen. The banana notes screamed wheat beer, as did the faint spiciness. The downsides were the limited head and a too sweet finish. This beer could have been more refreshing, but it still delivered a nice summer feel.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Lawn Chair "Classic" Weisse

As a longtime fan of comically unnecessary quotation marks, I found myself instantly drawn to Hop City Brewing Co.'s Lawn Chair "Classic" Weisse. What is that punctuation supposed to suggest?

This beer hails from Brampton, Ontario. The 473mL can is Miami teal and is emblazoned with a "classic" lawn chair. Lawn Chair contains 5% alcohol. It's a bright golden brew--slightly hazy and pours with a thick, white head that faded quickly. I noticed some floaties, but these seemed to be spice particles. The very aggressive aroma has considerable spiciness, a hint of black pepper, and, as advertized on the can, a touch of clove. It's also accompanied by some chill fruit. The flavour begins very sweetly, with wheaty notes and loads of fruit esthers. There's a bit of spice to bring up the rear, but in a restrained fashion.

Lawn Chair is too sweet to be refreshing and it lacks the subtlety that makes for a truly excellent wheat beer. Still, it does have a modestly enjoyable flavour. Would I buy it again?  I imagine that I might. Should you? I guess. It's nice stuff on a hot day.

Rating: 6.0 out of 10.

Okanagan Spring Summer Weizen

Okanagan Spring Summer Weizen is a seasonal release from the Okanagan Spring Brewery in Vernon, British Columbia. It's a wheat beer that clocks in at 5% alcohol and comes in 341mL bottles. It's a very pretty specimen too--cloudy and golden, topped with a white head.

The bottle talks about an apricot flavour, and that's definitely the first thing that I noticed in the aroma. The sweet nose is dominated by apricot. The flavour is also apricot heavy, thought the mouthfeel is disappointingly thin. I wanted this beer to be sweet, but it's actually quite saccharine. Still, the flavour is quite compelling. It's a somewhat unusual take on the what beer formula. In behind the apricot flavour, there are also notes of banana.

If this beer was a bit sharper, a bit more carbonated, and a bit crisper, it'd get a great grade. Even so, it's unusual enough and sufficiently flavourful for solid marks. i you like apricots, you'll dig this potion. I picture it pairing nicely with grilled chicken of fish out on the patio.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Ayinger Bräuweisse

Ayinger Bräuweisse is an "Authentic Bavarian Hefe Weizen" brewed by Brauerai Aying in Aying, Germany. It's sold in 500mL bottles with a cool, old school label, and clocks in at 5.1% alcohol.

A.B. pours a well-carbonated, yellow-orange colour. It is very cloudy and topped by a cumulus cloud of very white head. It has a bready aroma that gives off notes of fruit and a gentle hint of spice. It has a thin, smooth mouthfeel--very mellow but not quite as flavourful as I'd hoped. There are some faint citrus notes; it's yeasty and refreshing. There is very little aftertaste--only the faintest whisper of bitterness.


Ayinger Bräuweisse is a pleasant enough beer, but perhaps a bit too subtle for my tastes. I crave a bit more body in my wheat beers.

Rating; 6.5 out of 10.

Tree Hefeweizen

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!  If you're watching the game, make sure to get your beer on, but be responsible.  Don't drink and drive!

Tree Hefeweizen comes from the Tree Brewing Co. of Kelowna, British Columbia. It comes in big ol' 650mL bottles and contains 5% alcohol.  It pours a sunny orange colour--very cloudy, amply carbonated, and topped with a thick layer of off-white head. It has an aroma of citrus and banana, with a slight dusting of spice--possibly clove.  The Hefeweizen has a wheaty body that contains some fruit notes.

Overall, this is a mild, approachable wheat beer. It's a lovely summertime tipple that will quench your thirst and hold your interest.  My previous experiences with Tree beers have been on the hoppier end of the beer spectrum.  This foray into wheat beer is certainly different, but Tree proves that it's up to the task.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

Gourd-geous Brews--Weiss O'Lantern

Weiss O'Lantern is an intriguing brew from Beau's All Natural Brewing Co. of Vankleek, Ontario.  It's billed as a "spiced strong beer" and as a pumpkin weiss. It's sold in 600mL bottles featuring a pretty cool scarecrow in a pumpkin patch. It contains a healthy 5.6% alcohol.


W.O. has the hazy golden colour of a harvest moon and it's topped with a lusty white head. Compared to some of the other pumpkin beers on offer this year, the pumpkin aroma is fairly mild, supported by some autumn spice notes. Notwithstanding the aroma, there is a pretty solid pumpkin-y foundation in the flavour. A healthy dose of spice builds on that flavour.  The label says it contains ginger, and it comes through effectively.

This is a cool take on pumpkin beer.  The considerable pumpkin flavour is held in check by an interesting spice profile and some understated hefeweizen refreshment. Definitely worth a try.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.