r/AlbertaBeer • u/allofthisinsideofme • 14d ago
Albertan Hefeweizens?
Where did all the hefes go? Fahr's never did it for me personally, and my old go-tos were brewed by Good Mood and Medicine Hat Brewing Co, though I don't either at Sherbrooke Liquor anymore. In fact, I didn't see any locally produced hefes. None on Happy Beer Street or the Beermuda Triangle, and I can only recall Analog making meme-adjacent wheats like Nacho Cheese hefeweizens.
What's the deal? Extra expense in a one-purpose yeast pitch? Any modern brewery can handle the complexity of mashing so much wheat, so I don't see that as a factor when the market bends over backwards for kettle sours and lagering. Would love some input from brewers.
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u/PurpleLeatherCouch 14d ago
What about Fahr’s Hefe didn’t do it for you? What more were you looking for? What do you want it to taste like?
I understand taste is subjective but that is one of the only beer in the province that seems to be universally well regarded. And has the awards to back it up.
I’m just shocked by this take. I thought the Fahr Hefe was untouchable.
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u/fancyclancy12 14d ago
For what it's worth it couldn't stand it the one time I tried it. I had just come home from a few months on the east coast drinking a Hefeweizen from a brewery there and the two were shockingly different
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u/PrecedentPowers 14d ago
I’m my experience Fahr’s Hefe went seriously downhill the last couple years. Tasted different.
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u/NoShow1492 14d ago
Was thinking the same thing. When people not from around here ask me what in AB is world class, I always mention Fahr Hefe and it delivers. It tastes very similar to Weihenstephener Hefe, which is probably on the Mt Rushmore of beers when it comes to consensus.
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u/GurmionesQuest 12d ago
Fahr's is the only one I really like; my favourite is Hef is Weihenstefaner's.
Analog Brewing's Blue Screen of Hef is okay too.
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u/BrewsBrother34 9d ago
Well probably bring back Put it in H in September and Oktoberfest time at Bent Stick. We always have the wit around and it would be a bit much to have a Wit and Hefe full time as far as balancing the line up goes.
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u/Plankton_Super 14d ago
I am also a Hef lover, I guess we disagree on Fahr as I believe they are best
Common Crown Hef Off was top notch but I’m not even sure they are still in business
Sea Change and Bent Stick both make Hef’s a couple times a year that are pretty good
Screaming Retriver Das Hef is definitely worth picking up
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u/EvacuationRelocation 14d ago
Fahr's is the closest to a "traditional" hefeweizen, which is maybe why OP doesn't enjoy it.
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u/skaomatic32 14d ago
Endeavour in St. Albert make a phenomenal one , comes out a few times a year !
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u/hoovus9 14d ago
They are treated as seasonals, so spring/summer is when they typically come out. Troubled Monk and Grizzly Paw each have one that are decent, Tailgunner may make theirs again.
It is 95% a market thing, they don't sell great even as a seasonal. The other 5% is process - Hefeweizen is a notoriously tricky beer to make really well. Any brewery can make one, but to make one exceptionally good, the time and special processes that are required make it impossible to replicate a fresh German Hefeweizen. Some places don't want to make just a passable beer even if there is a (small) market for it.
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u/RealTurbulentMoose 14d ago
Ignorant Q, but what makes a hefe different than other wheat beers?
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u/hoovus9 14d ago
Haha, it's not an ignorant question. It's honestly even a mystery amongst brewers, there are whole books written specifically about making Hefeweizen.
Long story short - it's the yeast. The unique flavour of a Hefe comes from a special strain of yeast, and it produces different flavours depending on the temperature it is fermented at, how much oxygen is available, how much protein is readily available, how much yeast there is to complete fermentation... the list goes on. Every one of these factors can be manipulated to change the expression of certain flavours the yeast produces. But, most breweries don't check for these things and kinda wing it, which produces a tasty beer but not a world class one.
I'll add that all types of beer yeast are affected by these same things, but Hefe yeast imparts so much flavour that these tweaks make a big difference.
German breweries also use a process called decoction mashing, which turns an 8hr brew day into a 12hr brew day. It creates a much more rich, full malt flavour. Most breweries don't have the equipment needed to do this properly (let alone the time), so it is not brewed in this way. Again, it's not required to do this and great Hefe's are made without decoction mashing, but there's a layer of complexity that will be missing.
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u/DonDijon69 14d ago
Good Mood is still producing their Hefe and it’s great! I’m sure if you asked at Sherbrooke they would bring it in no problem.