As if this week's wind, snow, and cold weren't enough to remind you, winter is once again on the march. The first beers of winter started showing up on store shelves this week and as the are among my favorites, I can't wait to begin my seasonal indulgence.
This week however, we're going to stave off the lash of winter just a little bit longer and turn our attention to a style of beer more often associated with the languid days of summer. From Munich, Germany our beer of the week is Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier, which bills itself as "refreshingly different beer from Bavaria."
Green bottle. Light metallic tan label features image of a well-satisfied monk knocking back another stein.
Style: HefeweizenAlcohol by Volume: 5.0%
COLOR (0-2): Gold & nicely clouded. 2
AROMA (0-2): Wheat and banana. 2
HEAD (0-2): Bright white, good volume & lacing. 2
TASTE (0-5): Strong flavors of malty wheat and banana with notes of citrus and a little spice. Medium bodied with good carbonation. Dry finish, a bit creamy, and extremely drinkable. 4
AFTERTASTE (0-2): Follows through nicely. 2
OVERALL (0-6): Hefeweizens are my favorite summer beer and Franziskaner rates right up there with the best of them. It has loads of wheaty, fruity (but not overly so) flavor and is dang refreshing. A great choice for a beer to enjoy in the warm summer sun. Also a good way to keep thoughts of the winds of winter out of mind just a little bit longer. 4
TOTAL SCORE (0-19): 16
