Beer of the Week

The beer: Cucumber Lemon Hefeweizen

Brewed by: Lost Barrel Brewing, Middleburg, Virginia

Description (from Untappd): "This classic wheat ale was brewed with fresh cucumber and zesty lemon for a refreshing, citrusy flavor with a hint of spice."

Would I buy it again? This was one of those beer that I didn't expect to like, but was so weird I couldn't help but try. I've never seen a cucumber beer before. And unfortunately, there's a reason for that. Theoretically, this should be nice and refreshing, a pleasant summer beer, but it just doesn't work. It's a little too cucumber-y and not lemon-y enough. I'm glad I tried it, but it's just not very good, and I would not buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Provocative Photography

The brewery: Rough Edges Brewing, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Description (from Untappd): "A full-bodied [wheat beer, with] banana, clove, and a hint of vanilla."

Would I buy it again? Another week, another hefeweizen. Oops. I prefer this one to last week's simply because this one doesn't taste like raspberries. It doesn't do anything spectacular, it just sort of tastes like a wheat beer should. And that's enough for me, especially on those hot summer days.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Gneiss Weiss

Brewed by: Gneiss Brewing Company, Limerick, Maine

Description (from the can): Gneiss Weiss is our take on a classic German hefeweizen. Soft, clean, and crisp with ester-produced of banana (isoamyl acetate). Very restrained phenolic presence. Cascade hops provide a somewhat nontraditional lemon/citrus finish. Pairs well with delicate and robust food alike."

Would I buy it again?: I love the name, but unfortunately the beer is just not great. Sure, the tasting notes on the can say all these fancy things, but the reality is that I just didn't taste any of it. This felt more like a homebrew, if I'm being honest, particularly when it came to the lack of a full head. It's not awful; it's certainly drinkable, but there are so many better hefeweizens out there.

Beer of the Week

The beer: The PastryArchy Banana Bread Pudding

Brewed by: DuClaw Brewing Company, Rosedale, Maryland

Description (from the website): "Sip this banana-forward banana bread pudding delight & your senses will be enveloped in aromas of banana, chocolate, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & confection. Delivered on a backdrop of a classic spiced Hefeweizen, it’s light-to medium-bodied & slightly sweet. Enjoy in traditional Hefeweizen vase, glassware of your choice, or straight from the can!"

Would I buy it again?: I was really intrigued by the combination of things going on with this beer, and that overcame my hesitation with DuClaw beers, which tend to lack subtlety. I was prepared to not like this, but actually, it's pretty good. The banana bread strikes a good balance with the hefeweizen, and while I wouldn't exactly call it easy to drink, it's not heavy either. I would definitely buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Fool's Gold Imperial Peanut Butter Hefeweizen

Brewed by: Rusty Rail Brewing Company, Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania

Description (from the website): "Banana flavors give way to a peanut butter aroma & subtle peanut butter flavor."

Would I buy it again?: It's back to beer, and we've got a weird one. Imperial peanut butter hefeweizen is not a combination I ever expected to see, and unfortunately, I'm not sure it's worked. I didn't really enjoy this; I think that I'm just not a fan of peanut butter in beer. I will say this though, you really can taste the peanut butter.

Now, a while ago I reviewed a blackberry porter that reminded me of blackberry jelly, and I said that I'd like to buy a peanut butter beer, combine the two, and make a PB&J beer cocktail. It was a while ago (I've had this beer sitting around for months), but I did do that, and while it wasn't quite as good as I was hoping for – they didn't mix quite as well as I was hoping for and the cocktail was quite thick and tough to drink quickly – I did like it better than this alone. 

Beer of the Week

The beer: Never Say Hefeweizen

Brewed by: Cushwa Brewing Company, Williamsport, Maryland

Description (from the website): "This German style wheat beer (weissbier) produces unique flavors of banana and cloves with an often dry and tart edge."

Would I buy it again?: It's a locally brewed hefeweizen, so yes, I would. I like the style of beer, I like this particular version, not much else to say about it. It's a good solid beer for the summer. Also, I enjoy saying the word "Cushwa," so it's got that going for it as well. Never underestimate the power of funny words.

Beer of the Week

The beer: No Limits Hefeweizen

Brewed by: Two Roads Brewing Company, Stratford, Connecticut

Description (from the website): "Brewmaster Phil Markowski has taken a “bahn” less traveled to create our version of the classic Bavarian wheat brew – perfect for the warming temperatures. Beautifully cloudy with a generous head of foam, a wonderful fruit aroma and a dry finish, our Hefeweizen is a refreshing version of the original; with just a little bit more of everything."

Would I buy it again?: I wouldn't go rushing out for one, but I definitely wouldn't say no. I like hefeweizens, and this was a decent hefeweizen. Very drinkable, with a bit of interesting taste to it.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Feed The Monkey Hefeweizen

Brewed by: Jailbreak Brewing Company, Laurel, Maryland

Description (from the website): "A German style hefeweizen that combines traditional notes of clove and banana with subtle citrus aromas and flavors to provide balance and complexity. With this hefeweizen, there’s no fruit required — we’ve got that covered."

Would I buy it again?: Yes, I would. I mean, it's a pretty standard hefeweizen, and I like those. It's very easy to drink, and it's great after a long day on the golf course. It's kind of strange that I've never seen it before, considering the brewery is close and this is a year-round beer. You'd think with a name like Feed The Monkey, I'd remember it.

Beer of the Week

The beer: The Love Wheat Beer

Brewed by: Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet, VA

Description (from the website): "The Love is an unfiltered wheat beer, also known as a Hefeweizen. It is distinguished by its extremely light body and fruity aroma, finished with spicy notes."

Would I buy it again?: Well, I like hefeweizens, and this was a perfectly decent example of a hefeweizen. So I'll say yes, but qualify that by saying that I'm not going to be busting down any doors in pursuit of one. Starr Hill does make a double bock though, which is my favorite style of beer, and theirs is very good. Not my favorite double bock, but excellent nonetheless. So I will definitely buy Starr Hill beer in the future.