A taste of… Sierra Nevada Kellerweis

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
1075 East 20th Street
Chico, CA 95928-6722
(530) 893-3520

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Sierra Nevada Kellerweis was purchased for $3.04(USD) at Gristede’s Supermarket in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There is a date code on the neck of the bottle: “9233 C2 1030”.

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: This traditional looking cloudy lemon gold yellow brew is very effervescent and sports a dense white head of sparkling tiny and small bubbles. The Belgian lace is sparse but there.

Aroma: The first aromas are of bitter orange and some sharp citric notes. The second “nose” revealed notes of eucalyptus. The third nosedive had the olfactory receptors ready and they found a smoother under note of floral greens.

Flavor: After the first refreshing sensation I actually found some bubblegum flavors in an American wheat beer! The second sip brought out a “chardonnay” sensation followed by an almost tannic dryness. The third sip featured a return of the bubblegum through the curtain of citric sting.

Mouth feel: This is a creamy brew with a firm but not flabby body.

Finish: A quick exit is made by all but the slightest metallic kiss at the end.

Comments: This is the first American brewed hefeweizen (with the exception of High Point wheat brews) to resemble the Bavarian brew. However, this is not an imitation. It is rather a take on a style and ends up individual.

Food & Beer: With the spikes of wheat and citric I would be tempted to enjoy this with a salad of early spring garden dressed with a touch of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon.

The Brewery: http://www.sierranevada.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/140/48434

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/sierra-nevada-kellerweis-hefeweizen/100383/