Franzaskaner Hefe-Weisse - Week of 5/09/11

A Hefe-Weisse is a German style of wheat beer. The "Hefe" prefix means "with yeast".  After the yeast poops out it's yummy alcohol, instead of being filtered out, it's kept in the beer. That's what gives this beer it's unfiltered and cloudy appearance. Yeast is high in B vitamins, and many believe that drinking unfiltered wheat beers can help stave off hangovers (According to my extensive studies, only drinking in moderation and staying well hydrated can really prevent hangovers).  The Franziskaner Weissbier is one of the best examples of a classic German Hefe-Weisse.  Notice the strong aromas of banana and clove.  These come directly from that yummy unfiltered yeast.  These sweet tastes cut through the dryness of the wheat, creating a well balanced and refreshing finish.  If you order one of these beers in a bar, you'll almost always get served one of those bacteria-laden wedges of stale lemon.  That's why I always order my beer WITHOUT FRUIT!  The lemon not only over-sweetens this beer and throws off that great balance of flavor, it also completely destroys that fluffy white head, muting the aroma of banana and clove that the poor little yeast strains sacrificed their lives for.  This is one damn good beer... drink it the way it was intended.

 official rating: A-