Rating: 92

Hefeweissen is one of those elixirs that I have come to appreciate more and more, but this one I am quite happy to now be acquainted with and I am more than pleased to share it with you.

Franziskaner is German for Franciscan, and the bottle has a Franciscan friar on the label hoisting a tankard of brew.  The brew gets its name because when the brewery was founded it was located across the street from a Franciscan monastery in Munich. At least this is according the the earliest records found in 1363(!) where it was referred to as the "brewery next to the Franciscans."Several hundred years later, we are left with a delicious legacy.  Click here for more of the history of this brewery. On to the review of this worthwhile treat....

To start, the pour reveals a beautiful honey orange color and an explosive white head.  The head was thick and lingering. The beer is opaque as one would expect of a hefeweissen. The aroma was the least of the beers attributes.  It was not unpleasant, but it was very light.  I detected hints of soap and leather, undoubtedly from the yeast, and just a touch of ripe bananas.The body was delightful.  It was round and refreshing, creamy without being heavy - extremely well balanced.  This was complemented with a lively carbonation. Enough to note the pleasant bubbles, but not so much that it distracted from the experience.

The taste was just right. It was buttery and fruity, with just a touch of sour giving nice citrus flavors.  There is a touch of spice undertones throughout that definitely add to this drinks character.  While some hefewiessens need a squeeze of lemon or orange to enjoy, there is no need for one here.  Sure you could add it here (I did in a second taste just to be sure), but the balance in this one without the "brightener" is quite good au naturel. A medium finish follows without any bitter or unpleasant tones, leaving a pleasant memory to anticipate the next taste.

To put it simply, the Franziskaner hefe-Weisse is one of the best hefeweissen's I have had.  I highly recommend it and will go out of my way to find it again.