Hefeweizen

The Hefeweizen is the quintessential Bavarian wheat beer, one of the great pillars of the German brewing tradition. Its name literally means yeast wheat, referring to its cloudy appearance and the unfiltered yeast that remains in suspension. It has centuries of history in Bavaria, where for centuries only the nobility had permission to brew it, and today it is one of the most recognized beers in the world.

In the glass, it shows a straw-yellow to golden color, almost always cloudy, crowned by a spectacular, very fluffy and persistent white foam that is the hallmark of the style. On the nose, the famous weizen yeast combo appears: ripe banana, clove, vanilla, and bubble gum, over a cereal base of fresh bread and wheat dough. On the palate, it is creamy and velvety thanks to the wheat, with a medium body, mild sweetness, very high and refreshing carbonation, almost non-existent bitterness (10-18 IBU), and a long, aromatic finish. The alcohol content is between 4.9% and 5.6%.

It is brewed with at least 50% wheat malt (often more) and Pilsner malt as a base, very discreet noble German hops, and the unmistakable weizen yeast, responsible for all its characteristic aroma. Fermentation at a somewhat high temperature enhances the esters and phenols.

It is the perfect companion for a Bavarian beer breakfast and pairs with white sausages (Weisswurst), pretzels, salads, fish, seafood, roast chicken, Thai food, or mild cheeses. It is served between 5°C and 8°C in the characteristic tall weizen glass.