Schneider Weisse Hefe-Weizenbier

Schneider Weisse Hefe-Weizenbier
5.4% alc 500ml
$2.60 per bottle LCBO

A relatively recent growth market in the North American beer industry is wheat beer. Wheat beer is a type of beer that involves a large percentage of wheat in the brewing process, and its name is also influenced by its unfiltered, unpasteurized, pale, and foggy state. This type of beer has been available for over a decade now in the US and Canada and is usually called 'white beer'. The recent surge of popularity has seen increased competition in choices of wheat beer. In Canada, Rickard`s and Keith`s have moved swiftly to offer a Canadian white beer option against the many European wheat beers now available in the LCBO.

I have tried both Keith's White and Rickard's White, and I am not a fan of either. Popular - Yes. Distinctive and Tasty - No. I feel both beers nearly require a wedge or slice of fruit to put life into them - Do not trust any beer that is partnered with a piece of fruit. Yes, Corona too. I thought I would try a wheat beer that dates back before the 'white beer' craze. There are two types of wheat beer - Wit and weiss. Both words mean white in translation, however Wit is a Belgian style wheat beer, where certain flavours are used in brewing such as Citrus fruits, and Weiss is a German style wheat beer where wheat matches barley malt 50/50 in the brewing process. Yesterday, I found a bottle hiding in the LCBO fridge like a lonely alcoholic. It cried out to me, “Drink!”. It's name was 'Schneider Weisse Hefe-Weizenbier'. The bottle states it to be 'the Original German Wheat Beer'. Good start so far.

The bottle is very classy and old-fashioned, and comes from Munich, Bavaria. It is probably the darkest wheat beer I have ever seen. The dark amber hue of Schneider Weisse compared to other wheat beer colours like the bright sun-split colour of Hoegaarden is very distinct. The head is thick, and long-lasting. The taste.... Amazing. It is very, very smoky, and has a dry fruitiness to it as well. Compared to other wheat beers that boast orange, and lemon peel flavours, the Schneider Weisse tastes of rich, darker fruits like blackcurrants, cranberries, and apples. It is not overpoweringly fruity and sweet, but more dry and bitter.

Overall -
I give it 4/5. Excellent overall for taste, and appearance. I am not giving it 5/5, as I still need to try a few more wheat beers to really test whether I am talking out of my ass, or if I am in fact right on the money.

Slàinte