Schofferhofer Kristallweizen

Country - Germany

Percentage - 5.0%

Brewing Company - Binding-Brauerei AG

This is a top fermenting beer presented in a 500ml bottle (as you can expect any good wheat beer to be found in) When poured this is a crystal clear golden colour beer with a thick white head providing an appealing aroma of wheat and clove associated with a hint of banana. There is a sharp taste of hops that dissipates to a mild lingering malt flavour followed by a dry finish. This is a pleasant tasting beer but is lacking body and flavour. If this were an Australian Wheat Beer we would describe this as a great effort but this is a German Wheat Beer and whilst "Kristall" tends to be less flavoured than a "Hefe" there is no excuse for this beer to be so bland (especially in comparison to a Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier) Unfortunately this beer does not excel or excite in any way but remains a drinkable but not impressive beer.

Verdict - Great

Mudgee Wheat

Country - Mudgee, Australia

Percentage - 4.7%

Brewing Company - Mudgee Brewing Company

Mudgee Brewing Company is located in an old wool store in Mudgee's main street. Mudgee Brewing commenced production in 2007 bringing back a long tradition that ended in 1956. Mudgee was the largest operating small town brewery with the wonderful "Mudgee Mud" claiming a place in brewing history.
This is a traditional European style lager brewed using wheat malt. The use of Bavarian yeast gives the beer a cloudy straw coloured appearance with an aroma of clove and a hint of wheat. The beer is similar to wine and contains properties found in Belgian Wheat beer. Its quite apparent the beer has its roots in the wine country but  for all this though we do not find this an enjoyable beer and would not purchase another.

Verdict - OK

Snowfresh Edelweiss Weissbier

Country - Austria

Percentage - 5.0%

Brewing Company - Hofbrau Kaltenhausen

Presented in a 330ml bottle embossed with a mountain range around the circumference, when poured this is a hazy gold colour beer with a white head. The beer has a strong candy aroma similar to that of Banana Vok with strong notes of bubble gum and banana confectionery. There is minimal lacing as the beer is imbibed.
Wow! What a different tasting wheat beer possessing many of the great qualities of a Hefe.The beer is light on the palate with a sweet burst of flavour. Bubble gum qualities dominate the mouth making this an incredible beer with an excellent unique flavour. This magnificent beer only has one draw back, there is not enough of it! The beer will surprise the most learned beer connoisseur ( especially when stored until the last day of the brew date as it is bottle fermented) This is an excellent well balanced, enjoyable beer that can be imbibed year around.

Verdict - Excellent

St Bernardus Wit

Country - Belgium

Percentage - 5.5%

Brewing Company - Brouwerij St Benardus

When poured this is a hazy straw coloured beer with a white head. There are no distinguishing characteristics in the aroma, just a hint of some chemical. On tasting there is a sickly sharp off- wheat taste mixed with unripe orange and banana. The beer has a medium body and carbonation on the palate with a long lasting bitterness. Each successive sip makes the beer hard to endure. This is a departure from what is generally considered to be a Wit Bier making us think what are the Belgium breweries trying to achieve? It seems these brewers have moved so far away from the German Purity Laws they can no longer produce a tasteful beer!

Verdict - Terrible

Redback Original Wheat Beer

Country - WA, Australia

Percentage - 4.7%

Brewing company - Matilda Bay Brewing Company

This beer claims to be the benchmark of Australian Wheat Beer. In 1993 Redback was awarded grand champion at the Australian Internation Beer Awards (AIBA) and in 2003 it won another gold medal in the Wheat Beer Class.

When poured into a St George stein, this is a clear gold coloured beer with a reasonable white head. A strong aroma of wheat is present and the taste is strong with wheat and citrus that is slightly on the dry side. Despite the awards we feel this beer is one demential in comparison to a Wicked Elf or a Wheinstephaner. The Malcor (A homebrew produced by Mal and Corky) beats it hands down.

Verdict - Good

Charlotte's Hefeweizen

Country - Snowy Mountains, Australia

Percentage - 4.7%

Brewing Company - Snowy Mountains Brewery

Named after Charlotte Adams a pioneering female, who was the first woman to climb Mt Kosciuszko in 1881.
This is a top fermented unfiltered wheat beer, that when poured is a pale cloudy gold beer with good carbonation and a small head. There is an alluring aroma of wheat and fruit. Boasting four malts (Wheat, Pale, Munich and Crystal) combine to make a full bodied beer. The first sip has an initial burst of bitterness but overall this is a poor imitation of a premium hefeweizen. A nice beer but not in the same class as Erdinger, Franziskaner or Weihenstephaner.

Verdict - Good

Franziskaner Kristallklar Weissbier

Country - Germany 

Percentage - 5.0%

Brewing company - Spaten Franziskaner Brau GmbH

When poured this is a light gold coloured crystal clear beer with an impressive frothy, foamy head and a medium effervescence is present. A mild aroma of wheat is evident. This is a medium body beer with the flavour of wheat, citrus and mild spices, but with a watery mouth feel. Weihstephaner Kristallklar is an overall good quality beer. Tony states, when comparing this to the Franziskaner weissbier 'Franziskaner Kristallklar is like a snake without the venom'. Brewed according to the German purity laws using nothing but hops, malt, yeast and water. This is a filtered German wheat beer with the same delicate hoppy dryness as the Franziskaner Weissbier but with a more grassy zestiness and a crisper finish.

Verdict - Excellent

Franziskaner Weissbier

Country - Germany 

Percentage - 5.0%

Brewing company - Spaten Franziskaner Brau GmbH

Franziskaner is the oldest privately owned brewery in Munich, the Franciscan friar on the label has been the trademark since 1935. This is a top fermentation beer noted for the agreeable carbonation levels and zesty wheat flavours. Plum, clove and banana build the flavour base of this wheat brew in the right combination.
When poured this is a yellow straw coloured unfiltered beer with an excellent creamy head, with an enticing aroma of wheat and banana is evident. This beer is full bodied with a nice soft mellow mouth feel. Signature tropical fruit flavours appear, followed by a hint of clove. A crisp beer with a clean finish.

Verdict - Exceptional 

Paulaner Hefe Weissbier

Country - Germany 

Percentage - 5.5%

Brewing company - Brau Holding International AG

The name of the paulaners brewery refers to the order of friars the resided in Munich, who were part of the order o Saint francis of Palola. When poured in a paulaners weissbier glass, this is an amber orange colour beer with crazy effervesence ( 'atomic' as described by bernadette), with en excellent three finger head. the head is comprised of perfect tiny bubbles tightly stacked. this is not the most aromatic hefeweizen but still a moderate aroma of wheat and citrus notes are evident. This is a pleasent beer to comsume but not a complex one. The beer finishes with a slight bitterness that emphasisies the clove elements of the spicyness. The beer holds a head to the end with excellent lacing apparent. Whilst not as good a Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier it is still a good drop.

Vedict - Great

Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier

Country - Germany 

Percentage - 5.4

Brewing company - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihstephaner

When poured this a crystal clear gold coloured beer with good effervescence and a magnificent frothy head, with a large aroma of wheat evident. The beer tastes as though we're drinking a Hefe Weissbier but without the cloudiness. An understated sweetness followed by a gentle smooth bitterness of dry malt and spicy hops, excellent lacing is evident. This beer is another example of Bavarian excellence, the most outstanding thing is that this beer manages to be every bit as enticing as its cloudy cousin. Then there is the flavour, perfectly balanced and easy to drink. This beer is of such quality that it has won the gold medal Australian international beer awards 2003, 2004, 2006. A new bench mark!

Verdict - Perfect

Blance De Chambly White Beer on Lees

Country - Canada 

Percentage - 5.0%

Brewing Company - Sapporo Breweries Ltd

When poured this is a golden beer with moderate effervescence and a well retained head. The beer has a mild aroma of citrus and spice. Unfortunately this is a poorly balanced beer. The flavour is too intense, the overpowering floral and citrus taste makes this beer hard to imbibe detracting from any sweet wheat notes that could have made this beer good. This beer is nothing special and frankly costs too much for what your getting.

Verdict - Palatable

Schofferhofer Kristallweizen

Country - Germany

Percentage - 5.0%

Brewing Company - Binding Brauerei

This beer is a top fermenting German style filtered wheat beer. When poured a light golden coloured beer with mild effervescence and a frothy head. German Hallertau hops give this beer a pleasant aroma not hugely defined though. The flavour of the beer is strong with wheat and some roasted notes giving the beer a rounded taste. A friend Danny said this beer is a good accompaniment to vienna sausage or some sauerkraut. We found it interesting that this beer had government warnings regarding consumption during pregnancy, driving a car or whilst operating heavy machinery... why take all the fun out of life? Overall this beer has no great or defining characteristics, but isn't a bad drop.

Verdict - Good

La Trappe Witte Trappist

Country - Netherlands 

Percentage - 5.5%

Brewing Company - De Koningshoven Breweries

This beer was recommended to us by a friends father in-law who had lived in Belgium for some years.He couldn't say a bad thing about it but he was reasonably intoxicated at the time though. When poured a light amber beer that has surprisingly only a slight cloudiness, not what we expected from a wheat beer. The aroma is pleasant enough but it's not as vibrant as other wheat beers. This is a fresh, crisp beer with a medium length aftertaste. Being a lighter wheat beer we think this beer would be best enjoyed on a hot day.

Verdict - Great

Hoegaarden Witbier

Country - Belguim

Percentage - 4.9%

Brewing Company - Anheuser-Busch InBev

This beer is considered the original Belgium wheat beer so hopefully its pretty good. When poured, a very pale beer with a poor head, however it still manages produce a moderate wheat aroma. The flavour is strong with citrus and spice almost overwhelming the wheat, created by the addition of coriander and dried curacao orange peel in the brewing process. This is a refreshing beer that wouldn't be bad on any given summer afternoon.

Verdict - Good     

Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier

Country - Germany 

Percentage - 5.4%

Brewing Company - Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan

When poured into a Weihenstephaner glass, this beer presents as a cloudy deep golden beer with excellent effervescence and an impressive creamy 2" head. A pleasing aroma of wheat and banana is evident. This is a full bodied beer with rich wheat flavours and fruity overtones that excite the palate. All this is held together with perfect carbonation. It is difficult to find a better weissbier out there. Just fantastic.

Verdict - Pure Genius 

Erdinger Weissbier

Country - Germany

Percentage - 5.3%

Brewing Company - PrivatBrauerei Seit

When poured this beer has a cloudy appearance as to be expected with a wheat beer. A strong well rounded aroma with a rich note of wheat. This beer tastes great with a sweet overtone and a short mellow aftertaste. The beer is better on tap if you can get it (as most beers are) however has no trouble holding its own in a bottle. A quality beer in an always enjoyable 500mL serving size, certainly one to drink again.

Verdict - Excellent  

Wicked Elf Witbier

Country - Australia

Percentage - 5.0%

Brewing Company - The Little Brewing Company

This beer yet again shows the quality of beer that The Little Brewing Company (Port Macquarie) is able to produce, which is a surprise to us as we certainly didn't expect world class beer to be produced only a few hours drive away. Based on a Belgian wheat beer style, this is a cloudy beer with intense aromatics. This follows through in the taste; a complex yet pleasing flavour filled with wheat and hops, which is maintained for a long lasting aftertaste. A fine drop if your after something to excite your taste buds or just a break from the normal.

Verdict - Exceptional