Last fall, I took a trip to New England and spent a few days in Rhode Island. I grew up in the Ocean State, and used to write the Rhode Island column for the Yankee Brew News for a time. When I did, I would often run into Sean Larkin at Trinity Brewhouse where he was head brewer. Today, Sean no longer works for Trinity, but wanting to taste his latest brews I stopped in at Brutopia in Cranston, home of Revival Brewing.

I enjoyed a number of beers at Brutopia, but didn’t see Revival Zeppelin Unfiltered Hefeweizen there. Not to worry; I picked up a 4-pack at Liquor Warehouse in Warwick and brought them back to Georgia with me. I drank three of them in short order and then realized I ahd not taken any tasting notes, which for a beer hunter like myself is a mortal sin.

Luckily, I found the fourth and final bottle in the back of my beer fridge not long ago and popped it open, this time with tablet in front of me. Tasting notes recorded, the day saved, and another example of my beer geekiness revealed.

From the brewery website:

A classic Hefeweizen, Zeppelin is brewed with mix of Pilsner and Wheat malts from Germany and hopped with German Hallerteau hops. Hints of clove and vanilla from the traditional yeast used in fermentation round out this brew's crisp and refreshing taste.

Revival Zeppelin Unfiltered Hefeweizen has an alcohol content of 5.5% with 13 IBUs, and I paid $6.99 for my 4-pack. It’s notched as best before January of 2016, but I didn’t drink this bottle until November 13^th. Not to worry though, this beer had been refrigerated almost since I bought it, and it held up perfectly (there is yeast in it after all). Revival has their own setup at Brutopia, but this beer was bottled at Cottrell in Pawcatuck, CT. Zeppelin is the name of my grandson’s cat. A bit non-sequitur perhaps, but it amuses me to tell you this.

Revival Zeppelin Unfiltered Hefeweizen pours to a bright golden orange color at first, until I swirl the last third of the bottle and rouse the yeast. Then the beer becomes a very cloudy yellow orange in color with a very thick head of foam and a tart wheaty nose with hints of clove. Taking a sip, the beer is again tart wheaty, crackery even up front and a tad citric, with soft notes of vanilla, clove and banana that I want in a classic hefeweizen. A subtle hint of grassy hops but more tart wheat round the beer out nicely in the finish.

About ten months overdue and this one is still a very delicious hefeweizen, and my mind’s palate recalls that it tastes a lot like it did when it was younger. I can’t get this beer in Georgia, but if I could, I would buy it again. Neil’s cat says you should, too.

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.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft



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