Brewery: Ilkley
Beer: Wit Marie
ABV: 4.5%
Style: Witbier
Date: 11th April 2013
Venue: The Tap, York (Pint)
Clear for a witbier with a finger foamy white head. This has a hint of spice that desperately tries to keep things interesting. It largely fails. Drinkable but forgettable. Never mind.
Rating: 2.5 (Average)
Brewery: Treboom
Beer: Myricale
Style: Wheat Ale
ABV: 5%
Date: 9th April 2013
Venue: The Tap, York (Pint)
As this was brewed in aid of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust I felt compelled to have a pint of it. Apparently it’s also got some “bog myrtle” in it. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not. I certainly didn’t taste anything massively out of the ordinary. Similar in a sense to the Adnams Kristal White I had the day before in that it’s basically a clear golden wheat ale that delivers some tangy citrus but not all that much else. This one is better bodied than the Adnams effort though thankfully so the flavour actually stays in your mouth for more than a brief moment. Fairly enjoyable.
Rating: 3.5 (Give it a try)
Brewery: Adnams
Beer: Kristal White
Style: Wheat Ale
ABV: 4.2%
Date: 8th April 2013
Venue: Ye Old Starre Inn, York (Pint)
This is a funny wheat beer this one. Closer to a Belgian Witbier than a Hefeweizen, but at the same time it’s not really applicable to that style either. Rather inconsequential taste, with standard citric notes coming through only briefly. Smells slightly too tart. Clear appearance for a wheat beer. Unusual but not particularly interesting.
Rating: 2 (Not Recommended)
Brewery: Locher
Beer: Appenzeller Weizenbeer
Style: German Hefeweizen
ABV: 5.2%
Date: 29th March 2013
Venue: Restaurant Ried, Zermatt (Bottle)
Always on the look out for new wheat beers, and this one is pretty decent. A Swiss hefeweizen that comes in an appealing swingtop bottle. Smells quite bready and is very cloudy in a similar light way to Edelweiss or Weihenstephaner rather than the darker Schneider varieties. Little bit too sweet until the end when there is a fairly pleasant bitter aftertaste. Not bad, but not one to seek out if not in the area.
Rating: 3 (Worth a shot)
Brewery: Schneider Weisse
Beer: Tap 1 (Mein Blondes)
Style: German Hefeweizen
ABV: 5.2%
Date: 1st March 2013
Venue: North Bar, Leeds (Pint)
This is a lighter version of the classic Schneider wheat beer with a cloudy blonde appearance. It has a mall head and an almost buttery aroma, which is very appealing. Being a huge fan of Schneider Weisse (Taps 6 and 7 are probably my favourite ever beers) I have been waiting for a chance to try this for ages and it really does not disappoint. Strange that it is not more common in the UK because it is a real delight. Try it if you get a chance.
Rating: 4.5 (Highly Recommended)
Brewery: Bristol Beer Factory
Beer: Bristol Hefe
Style: Wheat Beer (German Hefeweizen)
ABV: 4.8%
Date: 14th February 2013
Venue: Home (Bottle, purchased from Trembling Madness in York)
The citrus and banana aroma on this beer is to die for, very appealing. It’s not as cloudy as most beers in the style, but that’s not a problem. What is a problem is the slightly alarming tart finish on this beer. A bit of tartness in a Hefeweizen is par for the course but this one seems a little jarring. There are some decent flavours on display here, even if they are a bit underwhelming, with a nice jolt of spice added into the mix. Overall, this counts as a solid effort but it isn’t something I would rush back for, especially with the best beers in the style being available at cheaper prices!
Rating: 3 (Worth a shot)
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