Meer over Weizen
Which weizen are you looking for?
- Hefeweizen: 'Hefe' means yeast. Unfiltered and cloudy, with a light, creamy mouthfeel. According to the BJCP 4.3–5.6%. Most of our weizens are hefeweizens.
- Kristallweizen: filtered and clear. Aroma and flavour are similar to hefeweizen, but without the yeast flavour and the fuller mouthfeel: cleaner and drier.
- Weizenbock: weizen at bock or doppelbock strength, 6.5–9% according to the BJCP. The dark version is the most common.
Coriander and orange peel are what you look for in Belgian witbier. Prefer something strong and malty, without wheat: bock. Alcohol-free weizens are also popular in Germany; everything without alcohol is under alcohol-free & low-alcohol.
Where banana and clove come from
The banana comes from esters that the yeast makes during fermentation, mainly isoamyl acetate. The clove comes from 4-vinylguaiacol. Many brewing yeasts can no longer make that compound, and in most styles it counts as an off-flavour; weizen yeast does make it. Bubblegum (strawberry with banana), sourness and smoke are faults according to the BJCP. If a weizen feels sweet, that comes from the low bitterness, not from leftover sugar.
What you'll find at Hoptimaal
Mainly German weizens, from Schneider Weisse, Augustiner, Weihenstephan and Rothaus to Kundmüller, Rittmayer, Keesmann, Grasser and Zur Sonne Bischberg. From the Netherlands we have De Eeuwige Jeugd, Gallivant, Eem, Brouwerij Kees and Van Moll, among others, and from Hungary Mad Scientist. With every beer you see the current Untappd score.
Pouring
Drink weizen young and fresh; according to the BJCP it often doesn't keep well. A hefeweizen is usually swirled while pouring so the yeast comes along. That gives a more yeasty flavour and a fuller mouthfeel. It isn't mandatory: in competitions the BJCP lets the brewer state whether the yeast should be included.
Buy weizenbier at Hoptimaal
At Hoptimaal you buy weizenbier online or in our shop at Leeghwater 5 in Amersfoort, by the bottle or can, from German classics to Dutch weizens. Order before 3 pm on working days and we ship the same day. Shipping within the Netherlands is free from €75.
Looking for a weizenbock? Set the filter to alcohol percentage, highest first: according to the BJCP a regular weizen is 4.3–5.6%, a weizenbock starts at 6.5%.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between weizen, weissbier and hefeweizen?
Weizen and weissbier are two names for the same German wheat beer; the BJCP uses Weissbier. Hefeweizen is the unfiltered version with yeast, kristallweizen the filtered one. In old Bavaria, by the way, 'weiß' beer didn't necessarily mean wheat beer: that was the name for the top-fermented beers made from barley and wheat, as opposed to the bottom-fermented Braunbier.
Does weizen comply with the Reinheitsgebot?
Not with the text of 1516: that mentions only barley, hops and water. With the current German rules it does, because top-fermented beer there may contain malt from other grains, such as wheat malt. At least half of the grain in weizen is malted wheat.
Is weizen the same as witbier?
No. Both are cloudy wheat beers with lively carbonation, but witbier uses unmalted wheat and gets its spiciness from coriander and orange peel. Weizen is at least half malted wheat, and the yeast makes the banana and clove. More in the Beer School on weizen.
