Beer of the Weekend #74: Trader Joe’s Bavarian Style Hefeweizen
The beer this weekend is Trader Joe’s Bavarian Style Hefeweizen brewed by the Trader Joe’s Brewing Company of San Jose, California.
Actually, TJ’s doesn’t brew its own beer. I read online that their brand name beers are brewed under contract by the Gordon Biersch Brewing Company of San Jose.
True to my word, I’m sampling the domestic hefeweizens before moving on to the German — real — versions. It’s warmer today, closer to summer-like temperatures and ideal hefe drinking weather. In fact, we just had a brownout, likely due to the inland overtaxing the power grid with air conditioning. The lights dimmed, my iMac turned off (thankfully I saved this in Word), and outside my window the only illumination in the city came from low-watt lights over front doors. Frankly, it can stay close to summer-like temperatures in my opinion. I hate it when it gets warm here. The LA/OC area is basically a desert, so the air becomes very dry. It’s hell on me: my eyes dry out and I become dehydrated. A good hefeweizen is just the thing for replenishment.
I did make my weekly visit to the BevMo! on Beach today (I’ll get to that tomorrow night — hint, hint), but I bought this BotW from the Trader Joe’s on Brookhurst and Hamilton in Huntington Beach. I’ve never drank a TJ’s band name brew, so I’m eager to try the hefe. TJ’s offers a diverse range of styles: German Style Pilsner, Oktoberfest, Summer Brew (apparently a Kölsch, which is a style I’m dying to try), Bock, Doppelbock, Bohemian Lager, and Vienna Style Lager. There are also two Trader José styles, and a dunkelweizen. I almost bought the dunkelweizen, but decided to try the helles version first. Of course, that means I’ll have to sample the dunkel at some point, taking away a week to try a German hefe. It doesn’t matter, though: I’m hard pressed to find domestic wheats — especially good domestic wheats — so I might as well spend another weekend cozying up to a TJ’s brand beer.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles.
Appearance: Poured a cloudy harvest orange. A light eggshell colored head developed, which was not as thick as most of the hefes I’m used to. It dissipated to a thin lacing with a ring around the outside.
Smell: Very potent. I sniffed the bottle after opening and said, “Wow.” It was more than I expected. Spicy cloves up front are followed by banana and fruity, almost strawberry, bubblegum.
Taste: Again, I’m very impressed. It’s much like the smell. Prominent clove spice and bananas followed by fruity bubblegum.
Drinkability: It’s smooth drinking hefe goodness; well balanced and deliciously flavorful. I think that makes it toothsome. Just the thing I need on a warm, brownout plagued SoCal night. I’m definitely trying TJ’s Dunkelweizen.
Fun facts about TJBSH:
-Serving temperature: 45-50°F.
-Alcohol content: 5.3 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends German cuisine, tangy cheese (Brick, Edam, and Feta), salad, and meat (poultry, fish, and shellfish).
-Really, there’s not much more I can find about this brew.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
Actually, TJ’s doesn’t brew its own beer. I read online that their brand name beers are brewed under contract by the Gordon Biersch Brewing Company of San Jose.
True to my word, I’m sampling the domestic hefeweizens before moving on to the German — real — versions. It’s warmer today, closer to summer-like temperatures and ideal hefe drinking weather. In fact, we just had a brownout, likely due to the inland overtaxing the power grid with air conditioning. The lights dimmed, my iMac turned off (thankfully I saved this in Word), and outside my window the only illumination in the city came from low-watt lights over front doors. Frankly, it can stay close to summer-like temperatures in my opinion. I hate it when it gets warm here. The LA/OC area is basically a desert, so the air becomes very dry. It’s hell on me: my eyes dry out and I become dehydrated. A good hefeweizen is just the thing for replenishment.
I did make my weekly visit to the BevMo! on Beach today (I’ll get to that tomorrow night — hint, hint), but I bought this BotW from the Trader Joe’s on Brookhurst and Hamilton in Huntington Beach. I’ve never drank a TJ’s band name brew, so I’m eager to try the hefe. TJ’s offers a diverse range of styles: German Style Pilsner, Oktoberfest, Summer Brew (apparently a Kölsch, which is a style I’m dying to try), Bock, Doppelbock, Bohemian Lager, and Vienna Style Lager. There are also two Trader José styles, and a dunkelweizen. I almost bought the dunkelweizen, but decided to try the helles version first. Of course, that means I’ll have to sample the dunkel at some point, taking away a week to try a German hefe. It doesn’t matter, though: I’m hard pressed to find domestic wheats — especially good domestic wheats — so I might as well spend another weekend cozying up to a TJ’s brand beer.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles.
Appearance: Poured a cloudy harvest orange. A light eggshell colored head developed, which was not as thick as most of the hefes I’m used to. It dissipated to a thin lacing with a ring around the outside.
Smell: Very potent. I sniffed the bottle after opening and said, “Wow.” It was more than I expected. Spicy cloves up front are followed by banana and fruity, almost strawberry, bubblegum.
Taste: Again, I’m very impressed. It’s much like the smell. Prominent clove spice and bananas followed by fruity bubblegum.
Drinkability: It’s smooth drinking hefe goodness; well balanced and deliciously flavorful. I think that makes it toothsome. Just the thing I need on a warm, brownout plagued SoCal night. I’m definitely trying TJ’s Dunkelweizen.
Fun facts about TJBSH:
-Serving temperature: 45-50°F.
-Alcohol content: 5.3 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends German cuisine, tangy cheese (Brick, Edam, and Feta), salad, and meat (poultry, fish, and shellfish).
-Really, there’s not much more I can find about this brew.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
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