When you hear the word “Hefeweizen”,
you probably think of Germany, and maybe Bavaria in particular. Well, if
you’re a beer enthusiast you do anyway. When thinking of the American
variant of hefeweizen, however, many beer lovers think of Oregon, home of
some of the biggest selling examples of that style, one of which is
Nor’Wester Hefeweizen.
Hefeweizens, at least the ones brewed in Bavaria, are famous for their
unique phenolic character. Heavily suggestive of clove, banana, and
sometimes vanilla, the style is also known as “Weissbier”, or white beer.
They are bottled with yeast that is generally decanted into the glass and
lends to the cloudy appearance. In German, the term “Hefeweizen” means
literally “yeast-wheat”, meaning a wheat beer that is bottle conditioned
with yeast.
Here in America, breweries like Nor’Wester, Widmer, and Pyramid brew wheat
beers bottle-conditioned with yeast. They don’t, however, always use the
distinctive strain of yeast that imparts those unique banana-clove notes
found in German Hefeweizens. Yeast isn’t always something that people
consider when they think about the flavors arrived at in beer, but it can
and does make an important contribution to the flavor profile of just about
every beer you taste.
Nor’Wester Brewing opened for business in March of 1993. From the beginning,
their main offerings were hefeweizen and a dunkel (dark) variant. The
company had a hard time competing with Pyramid and Widmer, who offered
similar beers, and eventually Saxer brewing bought out Nor’Wester’s brands.
Nor’Wester brews their Hefeweizen with malted wheat, two row pale malt, and
a bit of Munich malt. It is hopped (lightly in my opinion) with Tettnangs,
Hersbruckers, and Mt. Hoods. The alcohol content is about average at 5.3% by
volume. Bitterness comes in at 20 IBUs, and original gravity at 1.048.
Nor’Wester Hefeweizen pours to a cloudy yellow color with a thick, creamy
white head formation and a crisp and tangy nose. The palate is very smooth
and light-to-medium in body with a crackery crispness and a touch of citric
hops. There’s a flavor here very akin to chewing a handful of fresh wheat
malt. The finish is slightly tart with little bitterness. By the same token,
the beer is satisfying and refreshing. This is a perfect warm weather beer,
not overpowering and very drinkable. A slice of lemon is a nice complement
to Nor’Wester Hefeweizen, again especially in the warm weather.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For
reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.