Not too hard to figure out what Kristallweissbier is – crystal clear white (wheat) beer. Weihenstephan has twelve different beers in their rotation and two Non-Alcoholics, but, “with its elegant appearance, (the Kristallweissbier) is the specialty of the brewery.”
I don’t know what that means. Is it their favorite? It’s surely not their flagship (which would be their Hefe). What makes it the specialty? Maybe they think it’s the best example of a Kristalweizen. It’s got the highest score on Beer Advocate and Ratebeer for the style, so I guess they’ve got something going for them.
I have to tell you, tasting this beer was quite a trip. It’s got all the aromatics and taste profiles of a Hefeweizen but none of the weight. It’s like a Hefe Light. In some other countries, Light means less alcohol and not less calories like it does in the states. The one thing about this one is that it probably isn’t going to work as well as a beer served above 45 degrees like a thicker Hefe might. Cleaner than a hefe and delivers on the palate like a pilsner.
This style can also be found under the name Klarweiss (Klar – clear, right?) Certainly an interesting choice if you’re looking for a wheat beer without the weight.
Just The Facts
Appearance: Clear Gold
Smell: Banana, Clove, yeasty notes
Taste: Spicy and sweet up front with the notes of banana on the first taste
Mouthfeel: Light Bodied, medium carbonation
Drinkability: Sessionable as anything out there
If you like this, you might like:
Hefeweizen, Lager
Where to find them online
