On tap at Liberty Craft House, suspect doppel-hefe combo never truly connects both German styles. But its hefe-like banana breading and clove-cinnamon-nutmeg spicing and bock-like toffee-cocoa-pecan conflux offer pleasantries for sweet-toothed brewhounds.
On tap at Seven Lakes Station, admirable flagship hefe features louder hop spicing and richer body than typical stylistic fare. Sweet banana-clove entry gains zesty lemon-orange tang and herbal cologne notion above Graham Cracker-like wheat spine.
On tap at Ambulance, refreshingly singular “Northwest-styled” Cascadian(?) hefeweizen lets stylish banana-clove sweetness take a backseat to lemony grapefruit and pineapple tartness and herbal respite in similar fashion to some sourer saisons, perhaps. Dank spelt-like oats dryness and grassy hop astringency provide earthen bottom for citric-herbal finish.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, Napa Valley blood orange adjunct felt abruptly above hefe-styled banana and clove sweetness. Plastique groating coats blood orange influence while funky herbal wisps remain low-key.
In a 32-ounce crowler, quirky hefe brings raw-honeyed lemon souring, herbal chamomile spell and orange juice-splashed vodka nip to stylish vanilla-caked banana and clove tartness. Off-putting vegetal murk sets back obtuse citric-spiced plantain finish.
On tap at The Oath, amplified winter wheat ale coalesces Citra-hopped lemony orange tang, mild banana-clove-bubblegum sweetness and light white-peppered herbage above terrified wheat spine, picking up estery white grape remnant as well as wispy peach, pear and quince illusions at jubilant citric-spiced finish.
On tap at Ambulance, atypical hefe lets sour lemon rot and herbal lemongrass consume, but not overwhelm, stylish banana-clove expectancy. Closer to a muskier Belgian wit, perhaps, its white-peppered citric spicing and white-wined lemon pie tartness gain ground on setback banana-clove sweetness and malted wheat refuge.
Tangy citric hop spritz gains hefe-styled banana, clove, bubblegum and vanilla sweetness above delicate brown-sugared Graham Cracker spine. Lemony grape esters lighten the blanched yellow-fruited finish.
Mild and metallic canned hefe needs sweeter lemony banana tartness, more distinct coriander-clove spicing and thicker doughy wheat spine. Spritzy carbolic briskness brings lemony orange misting.
On tap at Tiff’s, mellow light body (paltry 3.7% ABV) too watery to compete with true German hefes as muted lemony banana-clove expectancy stays distant and candied orange snip flutters anonymously.
Unconvincing lighter bodied hefe lacks distinct banana-clove sweetness that softly fades away and gets sideswiped by an unexpected saison-like lemony grapefruit souring and salt-peppered (Belgian) yeast herbage.
Stylish departure relies more on sour lemon spritz and phenol-hopped acidulated malting than understated banana-clove expectancy. Ancillary vinous green grape esters and tart gooseberry notions add to slightly soured citrus nature (while smoked beechwood nuances come out of nowhere). On tap at Pennings Farm, mid-level hefeweizen sustains dry sour-candied lemon tartness while lowering stylish banana-clove sweetness above light wheat wafer base.
