Yazoo Hefeweizen

Review Date 6/258/2015  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Hefeweizen    Brewery: Yazoo   Country: USA   State: Tennessee   $ Per OZ: $.12   ABV: 5%

Is there anything more refreshing in summer than a hefeweizen? I don’t think so. Ever since I had my first hefeweizen (a Spaten Franziskaner over 30 years ago) I’ve been hooked on these tart, refreshing German brews. The rest, as they say, has been history. Since then, I’ve sampled hundreds of different hefeweizens both in the classic German styles (hefeweizen and dunkelweizen mit hefe) and the newer American versions as well. I still prefer the Bavarian style with its unique yeast signature the most.

The latest example of the style I love so much to pass my lips: Yazoo Hefeweizen from the Yazoo Brewing Company of Nashville, TN. I’m going to put it right out there: is there any style these guys can’t do right? I don’t think so. A recent trip to Nashville yielded a number of Yazoo beers, and they all blew my socks off. This one was no exception.

The brewery says about Yazoo Hefeweizen:

An authentic example of a Bavarian Hefeweizen.  This beer is made with mostly wheat malt and uses a true Hefeweizen yeast that gives it a fruity banana aroma with just a hint of cloves.  The tart finish makes this the perfect summer beer.

Yazoo Hefeweizen has an alcohol content of 5% by volume with 18 IBUs. It runs $8.99 a six-pack in Nashville, or did when I was there. My sample was bottled on 2-12-15.

Yazoo Hefeweizen pours to a brilliant golden color with a thick fluffy white head formation and a delicious nose of tart crisp wheat and bananas.  Taking a sip, the beer is packed with fresh bready wheat notes with a tart crackery character too, slightly toasty, a little spicy clove, more banana, and subtle hints of vanilla. After rousing and adding the yeast, it becomes slightly nutty as well. The finish is extremely tart from all that wheat-this is a damned fine beer, one of the best American-brewed Bavarian hefes I’ve had in a while. You really get that 70% wheat malt.

I’m going to give it 4.5 stars (it’s not as good as the Germans make), but it’s damned close and wonderful especially for $8.99 a six. Don’t miss it, if you can get it.