Top Texas Hefeweizen Beers You Should Try

My first Hefeweizen beer was in Amsterdam Hoegaarden Blanche, Brouwerij van Hoegaarden many years ago before I moved to Texas. I still remember the delicious taste of it spiced with coriander and orange peel.

Hefeweizen is a south German style of wheat beer ‘weissbier’ which is made with at least 50% wheat. Per Wikipedia, The Hefeweizen style is particularly noted for its low hop bitterness (about 15 IBUs) and relatively high carbonation (approaching four volumes), considered important to balance the beer’s relatively malty sweetness. Another balancing flavor note unique to Hefeweizen beer is its phenolic character; its signature phenol is 4-vinyl guaiacol, a metabolite of ferulic acid, the result of fermentation by top-fermenting yeast appropriate for the style. Hefeweizen’s phenolic character has been described as “clove” and “medicinal” (“Band-aid”) but also smoky. Other more typical but less assertive flavour notes produced by Weißbier yeast include “banana” (amyl acetate), “bubble gum”, and sometimes “vanilla” (vanillin).

I have compiled a list of local Texas Hefeweizen beers you should try ( I tried them all).

HefeWeizen by Live Oak Brewing Austin, Texas.

Modeled after the classic wheat beers of Bavaria, HefeWeizen is cloudy and straw-colored with a meringue-like head that lingers to the bottom of the glass. Brewed with equal parts wheat and barley malts and few hops, this beer features a unique yeast strain that produces harmonious notes of clove, banana, and vanilla. A proper execution of the classic style, this idiosyncratic Bavarian style is perfectly at home here in Texas.

Foudreweizen by Jester King Brewery Austin, Texas (limited release).

Farmhouse Wheat Beer Fermented in an Oak Foudre. Foudreweizen is Jester King’s second collaboration with the extraordinary Live Oak Brewing Co. in Austin, Texas. Wort brewed at Live Oak and inoculated with their Hefeweizen yeast was slowly transformed and taken into different directions by the native yeast and bacteria alive in the walls of one of Jester King’s foudres. Unfiltered, unpasteurized, and 100% naturally conditioned.

El Hefe Weizen by No Label Brewing Katy, Texas.

A traditional German Hefeweizen. This beer is light and refreshing with strong notes of banana, cloves and citrus.

Blur Texas Hefe by Circle Brewing Austin, Texas.

Blur is a unique blend of traditional Bavarian styling with a little Texan ingenuity. This Texas twist on the German wheat beer brings a hint of caramel to a crisp and refreshing style. The citrus aroma plays off the light and creamy body.

Sex A Peel by Infamous Brewing Austin, Texas.

American Pale Wheat Ale brewed with coriander, seeds of paradise & sweet orange peel. Balanced with citra hops.

Shiner Hefeweizen by Spoetzl Brewery Shiner, Texas.

Since 1909, every drop of Shiner beer has been brewed at the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, TX (population 2,069).

Big Bend Hefeweizen by Big Bend Brewing Alpine, Texas.

Our Big Bend Hefeweizen embodies the openness and unique character of a region that’s all its own. West Texas is the secret ingredient—take a swallow and put yourself in the heart of it. The spirit of West Texas, now in a can.

Classic Hefe-Weizen by Pedernales Brewing Fredericksburg, Texas

Here at PBC we produce a ‘Classic Hefe-Weizen’ in the true Bavarian style. A light, cloudy, golden hue and thick frothy, foamy head tells of a very special yeast strain used to produce this bier. In true German style we use a specific yeast strain, delbruckii. While fermenting, the yeast itself is responsible for the flavors of banana & clove which makes this one of the most unique biers of the world. Peter has been brewing this recipe for many years and has collected more than a half of a dozen medals.

Blondine by New Braunfels Brewing Company, New Braunfels, Texas

Blondine is an 85% white wheat Hefeweizen brewed with a modified decoction mash to enhance the mild flavors of the malt. A light blend of Perle and Cascade hops play well on your palate with the prominent lactic sour notes. This bier is sour without being acidic and smooth without being sweet. Easily pairs with citrus, sweet seafood and fowl. Aged for 2-3 months before release. Released only in the brewery in 750 ml bottles and in very limited draft.