Hefeweizen, is a variety of wheat beer in which the yeast is not filtered out. Though Kristallweizen (clear), Dunkelweizen (dark) and Weizenstarkbier (higher alcohol content) varieties are available, they are not considered true hefeweizen unless left unfiltered. The filtration which takes the yeast out of Kristallweizen also strips the wheat proteins which make Hefeweizen cloudy. Bavarian weizen beers are fermented with a special strain of top-fermenting yeast, which is largely responsible for the distinctive flavor.

Hefeweizen is the most popular variety of wheat beer in the United States, though most American hefeweizen has a lower wheat content (the difference being made up by the inclusion of barley malt). Hefeweizens are frequently served with a slice of lemon or orange in the U.S., but this practice is frowned upon in Germany, where the lemon slice is common only for Kristallweizen. The addition of a lemon or orange wedge is also frowned upon by beer connoisseurs because it eliminates the head.

Names

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• Hefe-Weizen
• Hefeweißbier
• ''Hefeweiße
• Weizenstarkbier (not necessarily a hefeweizen unless left unfiltered)

Leo.org's online dictionary translates das Hefeweizen as "beer brewed from wheat." Die Hefe is translated as "barm" (yeast formed on fermenting malt liquors) as well as "yeast"; also der Weizen is translated as "wheat." Weiß is translated as "white", bier is "beer," and stark can be translated as "strong" or "potent" etc.

Note: "Der", "die", and "das" are all translated as "the", they represent the three gramatical genders in the German language (male, female, and neuter respectively).

American Breweries brewing Hefeweizen

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Numerous breweries offer unfiltered wheat beers either seasonally or year-round. Amongst the Hefeweizens and unfiltered wheat beers available in the US are:

• Matt Brewing Company Saranac Hefeweizen - seasonally available
• Summit Brewing Company Hefeweizen - seasonally available
• Boulevard Brewing Company Unfiltered Wheat - available year-round
• Samuel Adams (beer) - available year-round
• Widmer Brothers Brewery America's Original - available year-round

See also

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• German beer
• Wheat beer
• Wheat beer glass
• ß- The German letter known as the "Eszett" (similar to the largely abandoned English letter "ſ" or the Long s).

External links

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• Leo.org - Main webpage (in German)
• Dict.Leo.org - Leo's German/English translation page (in English). Note: Pronunciations can be heard in Leo by clicking the lower case blue "i" to the right of the German word and then clicking on the word "Aussprache."
• GermanBeerGuide.co.uk - A British website's guide to Hefeweizen

German loanwords | Beer and breweries in Germany | Beer styles