Here’s an interesting beer that, quite frankly, I wasn’t sure would work: Samuel Adams Harvest Hefe. Now, this is a hefeweizen first and foremost, but a spiced one. Boston Beer calls this a Wheat Ale with a Touch of Cinnamon & Nutmeg on the six-pack carrier; on the bottle label they describe it as Hazy Golden with Spicy & Sweet Notes. In addition to loving great brew, Boston Beer simply adores their ampersands.
I enjoyed a bottle of Samuel Adams Harvest Hefe in late August, but having a cold at that time I couldn’t fully appreciate the spice. About a week and a half later, I popped another on an unseasonably fall-like Sunday afternoon. I was loving the weather as fall is my favorite time of year, and the beer was a perfect complement.
From the website:
This beer puts a seasonal twist on a traditional hefeweizen with the addition of warming fall flavors. Aromatic notes of cinnamon and nutmeg complement the slightly sweet and clove flavors characteristic of the style, making for a bright, spiced beer that is perfect for fall.
Ingredients, also from the website:
HOP VARIETIES Hallertau Mittelfrueh and Spalt Spalter Noble hops
MALT VARIETIES Samuel Adams two-row pale malt blend, White Wheat
Samuel Adams Harvest Hefe has an alcohol content of 5.4% by volume with 14 IBUs. I paid just $8.54 for a six-pack at Target.
Samuel Adams Harvest Hefe pours to a cloudy orange amber color with a thick rocky head and a pungent spicy nose of clove and nutmeg. Taking a sip, I love the tart wheat up front and the robust spice in pursuit. The clove really pops here, it’s like chewing a handful of that dry powerful spice; those little spiked beauties really work their magic here. They are accented perfectly by the slightly less assertive but no less distinct nutmeg. Cinnamon is the least pronounced spice going on. The finish is full of tart wheat but mostly drying spice.
What a wonderful, novel beer. Cloves are thrown off by Bavarian wheat beer yeast and adding more of them is a stroke of genius. The lovely drying spice would make this a perfect accompaniment to the holiday bird. I’ll try just that at Thanksgiving, but for now I am really enjoying Samuel Adams Harvest Hefe. It’s hedonistically delightful if not stylistically exact, and sold at a bargain price. What’s not to love?
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