Judge’s Review: 96 Rating – Andechser Weissbier Hell by Kloster Andechs

Hefeweizen / Weissbier | Year-Round | Germany

By John C. Tull

Judges Rating: 96
Aroma: 24
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 37
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 19

Andechser Weissbier Hell by Kloster Andechs was judged as Weissbier, Style 10A per the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines.
A wonderful expression of yeast and wheat malt aromas emanate from this beer. A classic balance of banana and clove esters and phenols, respectively, is evident with a touch of black pepper in the deep background. Malt aromas are bready and “wheat-like” for a lack of any better descriptors. The appearance is somewhat cloudy from suspended yeast and proteins, more the former than the latter I suspect. The color would be medium-gold, but has an orange-like cast due to the cloudiness. A thin, fine head of tiny white bubbles clings to the glass’s edge and floats in amoebic, veiling formations across about 1/5th of the surface.
The flavor matches the aroma with a rich, wheat malt sweetness and full character backed by those same ester and phenol components that met the nose. A very faint hint of oxidation is the only slightly marring quality detectable in the flavor. The mouthfeel is medium with a sensation of fullness that is tempered with a crisp, heavy dose of carbonation that provides a contrast on the palate in the finish. This is a truly world-class example of this style.