Live Oak - Hefeweizen Review

When you’re new to craft beer and looking to get into the lively, complex, and strange, your first stop is likely a hefeweizen. But what is a hefeweizen? It’s all in the name. In German, Hefe means yeast and weizen means wheat. So, it’s a yeast-wheat, or better said, it’s a Bavarian wheat beer fermented with ale yeast at higher temperatures to bring out odd and wonderful flavors of banana, clove, and bubblegum. But you don’t have to go to Bavaria to get one because they are closer to home than ever.

Live Oak out of Austin, Texas, produces many traditional beers with high quality ingredients and techniques, and we’re expecting no less with their Hefeweizen which they describe as having ample wheat malt, few hops, and clove, banana, and vanilla flavors from their unique yeast strain. 

This is shaping up to be a great hefeweizen, but the proof is in the pub glass (or Weizen glass if you have one), so let’s see how this 5.3% ABV and 10 IBU classic shapes up.

First Impressions:

• On the Eyes--Hazy, straw-colored, and topped with a thin head that diminishes quickly. A hefeweizen should be nice and cloudy to keep all that yeast character intact.

• On the Nose--Clove and banana entice like a spiced dessert, and thankfully, this one’s not shy about being a hefe, which is the first step in being a successful hefe.

• On the Palate--Effervescent and light in body, this hefe pops with the traditional banana, clove, and gentle wheat sweetness and character. The snappy effervescence plays well with the smoothness of the wheat malt. Very little hop presence, as expected, and the sweet banana and mild clove linger gently in the finish.

Final Thoughts:

Hefeweizens can be odd and even off-putting on first sniff and taste, especially if new to the world of craft brewing and/or venturing over from the IPA side, but they are a wonderfully light and complex wheat beer that opens the palate to many new styles. And there are many options out there nowadays from very good brewers.

Live Oak’s Hefeweizen is one of those good options. It ticks all the boxes: light, smooth, complex with flavors like clove and banana, and really easy to drink. And if you’re in Texas, it comes from a dedicated brewer right down the road.

A good hefe can be a gateway to strange and wonderful Euro beers, so don’t be deterred. Be brave!

Cheers!

Mr. Brew