The Bottom Shelf

Samuel Adams Hefeweizen

The Sam Adams hefeweizen poured a translucent golden yellow, like any good hefeweizen should. The look of the beer was particularly cool with the carbonation rising steadily from the very bottom of the pilsner-style glass I was using. This hefeweizen has a thick white head, something you won’t find on every hefeweizen you drink.

The aroma was mostly grainy and grassy, a nice balance of the malt and hop elements pleasing the nose. The taste is mostly bitter with a grassy component, and there is a noticeable bitterness on the back of the tongue and on the swallow.

I didn’t notice any citrus component to the Sam Adams hefeweizen, and I have to admit I was disappointed about that. The main reason I enjoy the hefeweizen from the local Craftsman brewery is because of the banana that is placed on top of the beer’s citrus foundation. I look forward to the yeast imparting some fruity component to this style of beer, though nothing too strong that would remind me of a cider. In this sense, I didn’t like the Sam Adams version of the hefeweizen as much as others I have had. But it’s quality, if maybe just a little boring.