Bayhawk Hefe Weizen

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

Filtered(?) uncloudy pour, but it says unfiltered. Odd. Kind of a hybrid american/german wheat as the hefe aspects of this beer (banana/clove, etc...) are present but very very light and there's a touch more hops than usual in a true hefe. Meh.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

I hate the American "hefeweizens" that pour filtered clear and are nothing hefe at all (UFO). But, what is more disappointing is the American wheat that is labelled hefeweizen and pours unfiltered, but is a complete American imposter. Why not just call your beer a wheat beer, and we'll all assume it is an American wheat before ordering or tasting. In any event... this one poured an ufiltered pale golden color (not a lot of depth to the color). The initial head was nice and there was great lacing. The aroma was all citrus and wheat-like, though. No bananas, no cloves. Flavor featured some hoppping, somewhat reminisicent of a poor man's Widmer Hefe (although the Widmer was better and stronger). The mouthfeel was moderate and carbonated.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

A rather standard American Hefewezien, if ever there was one, in that there is zero Banana&Clove aroma. In addition, this is a little more bitter than the norm -- barely registers on my hophead palate, but hoppier than the standard, it seems.

Big billowy head of foam, served with a slice of lemon on the side of the glass (god I hate that!). Very sweet and citrus-like aroma, with hints of some esters in the mix.

Generally clean flavor profile, with Tettnanger and maybe some Cascade (or Centennial?) hops. Not exactly approprite for the style, especially in the greater-than-the-norm quantity, but interesting enough, just the same.

Pretty drinkable as a Summer beer, but probably nothing that I would order on a routine basis. But worth a try if you're not really in the mood for an Imperial Stout or big-ass IPA -- as if! :)
//TB