König Ludwig Weiss (Royal Bavarian Hefe-Weizen)
While the Hefeweizen style makes for a great afternoon relaxer during warm summer months, I tend to find these enjoyable throughout the year. I recently ran across this brew for the very first time, and its unique bottle shape, labeling and presentation definitely made a quick impact. I drink lots of Hefeweizens and they all tend to be marketed much the same way, but Konigs just has that special look that says I can be different because I taste great. Whether the package intentionally carries that message or not will be the topic for another discussion. But if modesty were to prevail, its a sentiment that plays extremely well with this brew. This is a very noble beer that displays sensational characteristic at ever turn. A superb pungent aroma capitalized by strong lemon and orange citrus aromas, a subtle wheat and malt blend, and even a hint of spiciness such as clove. The aroma reminds me quite a bit of some of the better Wit beers from Germany. When first pouring I failed to give the bottle a good swish to start, which resulted in an extremely clear pour, closer to a Kristall rather than a Hefeweizen. I quickly stopped pouring, gave the bottle a gentle whirl and poured some more. Far better results this time with a massive white foamy head plus plenty of yeast influenced cloudiness throughout. The head slowly gives way to a solid surface foam after some time. Virtually no lacing, but a decent 1/8" collar on glass. This is an exceptionally well-balanced Hefeweizen, extremely smooth and almost creamy in complexion. Its creamy in a unique way, its not exactly malt creamy but it has a nice robust flavor, palette pleasing creaminess that works extremely well. Strong fruit flavors announce their presence in ever sip, including orange, lemon, and even some banana. An interesting brew that provides striking similarities to the likes of a Schneider Weiss and a Hoegaarden Wit. Seeing as those two are among my favorites brews, this Konig hits my palette perfectly. Freshness dated with the most precise point yet Best Before: April 19, 2003 (3:59 a.m.) [ STATS:&gt;&gt; SERVING: 500ml bottle / ABV: unlisted / PRICE: $3.49 USD ]